Things to Consider When Accepting Rush Freelance Job

When you have a freelance job, you will be facing different types of jobs. There will even be some jobs that are quite challenging for you. Some are even totally new to you but you eventually come to learn that. Some are so familiar and easy for you. There are also some design jobs that have short deadlines. These jobs are what we call rush jobs. Many freelance designers accept rush work especially because it comes with a bonus.

But it is not that easy to work on a rush project. There are so many things that one needs to look into when accepting a rush freelance job. You should not just say yes at once. Weigh things well so that you can be sure of what you are getting into. Here are the things that you need to consider when accepting a rush freelance job:

1. Check if you can rearrange your current work loads.

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For sure, you are working on some projects at the moment when a client requested for you to do some rush work for them. Determine if you can stop working on the projects to insert the rush work. If not, then do not accept it. You have to learn to prioritize projects.

2. Make sure you had good agreement with the client.

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It is very important that everything you agreed with your client is clear. Doing this will ensure you no trouble and misunderstandings in the end. Talk about the design process, the payments, the requirements from their end and all the other details of the project. Be sure not to miss anything and put it in a contract.

3. Evaluate your skills.

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You have to check yourself if you can really do a rush job on a certain project. Assess your skills if you are capable of doing the project in a limited time. If you think you cannot, then do not do it. Accepting a project in a rush without the right skills might not be good for you because you could come up with an average design only. You might even lose your client with this.

4. Determine if it is of your line of interest.

It would be a lot easier to work on a project that is in your line of interest. Also, check if the project is familiar to you. If it is, then you can accept the rush job. For sure, you already know the design process and you can easily finish it. But if you are not specializing on that and you think that you are not so good at it also, then say no to the project. You can refer the client to other designers who are good at it.

5. Limit number of revisions.

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It is important to agree with the client on the number of revisions you can do for the project. Since it is a rush project, you can limit the number of revisions because revising it a lot of times could affect the deadline. So, consider a reasonable limit to the revisions included in the project.

6. Determine the type of client.

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There are different types of clients. If your client had been your client for a long time, then you can give special attention by accepting the rush job. At least, you are also sure that the client will stick to whatever you will agree for you have already established a relationship with them. But if you have doubts about a client especially if he is new, then you can drop him or refer him to other designers.

7. Agree on the design limitations.

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Since it is a rush work, you will not be able to do some meticulous designing. Look into the design specifications if it can really be done in just a short span of time. There are designs that not really require much process in order to finish it but there are also some that undergoes a long design process. So, talk about the limitations with your client and explain well to them why you cannot do such thing for the project.

8. Know the exact deadline.

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Knowing the exact deadline of the project can also help you to determine if you can work on the project or not. Of course, you also have to consider your schedule. Aside from that, take a look at how long you can finish the project for rush time. The deadline can also help you to determine how much you can ask for the project.

9. Cost of project is higher.

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A rush project’s rate is different because the designer will exert double effort in trying to finish it on a short deadline. So, do not hesitate to ask for a higher fee. Your client knows that if it is rush work, the fee is always higher.

10. Agree on the down payment.

There are instances that once it is a rush job, the down payment being asked is larger than a normal job. This is because the designer wants to make sure that the client will really continue with the project especially that he would be spending longer hours just to finish it. It is also an assurance for the designer that he will get what he deserve.

It’s Your Turn Now

Everyone would agree that doing rush work is stressful and requires more effort due to the limited time for work. This could be the reason why some designers do not accept rush work. How about you? Do you accept rush design jobs? How do you handle it and what are the things that you consider before you accept it? It is now your turn to speak. Share to us your thoughts in this.