Finding Out What Other Graphic Artists Are Charging

Question: As a home-based graphic designer, I find my biggest challenge is pricing. I have a set hourly target rate, but I wonder if I’m charging enough. Is there a way I can get a sample of what others charge, so I can tell whether my rates are fair? Colleagues are very private about fees when I ask them.

--Terry Houseworth, Tustin

Answer: You should be able to get information about pricing in a number of ways. Try online resources for home-based businesses and for your niche in particular. Creative Business (https://www.creativebusiness.com) has terrific information for designers on how to run their business, and Recourses (https://www.recourses.com), which targets creative businesses such as designers, also might be helpful.

Trade publications for designers typically have a lot of good business information. How magazine, available at some newsstands, is an industry trade journal that might have pricing surveys in its archives and that has an online forum where you might pose your questions at https://www.howdesign.com.

Another option would be to do a cold-call survey of professional fees for graphic design. Ask questions about pricing on a straightforward basis--you’ll find that some people will be very helpful and others won’t. Many firms routinely quote hourly fees to callers; others do not disclose such information on the telephone. If people inquire about why you’re calling, you can say that you’re new to the business and want to gauge the market or simply that you’re researching graphic design pricing--which is true.

There’s no need to hire a survey firm. The information is available if you are willing to take the time to dig it out yourself and you’re able to let rejection roll off your back if you find some people are rude or unwilling to help.

--Sharon Berman, marketing consultant, Berbay Corp., Tarzana

Q: My car repair service ended in bankruptcy six years ago, after one year in operation. Yet I was recently denied credit because of it. How can I rebuild my credit?

--Conrad Mendoza, Los Angeles

A: Section 605(a)(1) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act allows a consumer credit reporting agency to list the filing of a bankruptcy petition for as long as 10 years. Assuming that you filed your bankruptcy petition as a sole proprietor, you have four years to go before the bankruptcy must be erased from your credit record.

Erasing the stigma of bankruptcy is not the whole solution, however. Studies show that after a consumer files a bankruptcy petition, he or she will pay in excess of 50% more to finance a car or home. Here are some practical ways to minimize the extra fees and interest that you will have to pay while you reestablish your credit worthiness: Try to minimize your expenses and maximize your savings. Potential creditors generally prefer a debt-to-income ratio of less than 20%, excluding your home mortgage payment.

As you qualify for new credit (such as taking advantage of new, secured credit cards), pay your bills on time. If you have trouble keeping organized, try purchasing a computer program such as Quicken. This will ensure that your checkbook is balanced, which is the touchstone of consumer financial success. If you don’t have a computer, mark on a calendar the day each bill is due, and try to mail each off a week early to avoid late payment fees and finance charges. If you save, keep track of your expenses and diligently pay your bills, your credit file will soon be rebuilt.

--Wes Avery, certified bankruptcy law specialist and partner, Sulmeyer, Kupetz, Baumann & Rothman, Los Angeles

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If you have a question about how to start or operate a small business, mail it to Karen E. Klein, Los Angeles Times, 1333 S. Mayflower Ave., Suite 100, Monrovia, CA 91016, or e-mail it to kklein6349@aol.com. Include your name, address and telephone number. This column is designed to answer questions of general interest. It should not be construed as legal advice.