To Charge for Design Revisions or Not to Charge--the DebateWhen it comes to design – or any creative work – revisions are a fact of life. It’s nearly impossible to hit a design job out of the park on just one try.  Designers and agencies often struggle when it comes to balancing revisions and profitability, however. Revisions take time and resources, but it’s important to satisfy a client’s needs and vision. Companies deal with design revisions in one of two ways: they either build them into a flat-fee structure, or they charge extra for revisions. 

From the Designer’s Perspective

Designers charge extra for revisions because that work takes up their time. While a client may think that changing a single element is easy, they don’t often know enough about design to truly understand how much work goes into a single revision, let alone several rounds of revisions. Designers charge extra for this as a way to protect themselves from loss.

From a business perspective, charging for revisions makes sense. Designers would never remain profitable if they allowed clients to request endless amounts of revisions for free. Charging for design can encourage clients to be decisive when it comes to finalizing a project, however, those charges can get out of hand, and extra bills are not the ideal way to satisfy a customer.  

Sometimes it’s You – Sometimes It’s Them. So Who Pays?

Design clients can often be finicky. Why not? You’re looking for a design that captures the essence of your company, and you want that design to meet your expectations. It’s common for clients to switch gears throughout the course of revisions. They may see an element in its final form and decide that particular look isn’t quite right for their business.

Other times, however, it’s the designers themselves that cause several rounds of revisions. Sometimes they just don’t capture the vision you’re looking for. Missteps can come from miscommunication, changes in the creative plan, changes in your business environment, and more. You may have found the world’s most talented designers, but sometimes it can take a few tries before they nail a particular project.

Should you, the client, have to pay extra in these situations? Companies that charge for revisions may take advantage of the fact that clients often change their minds when it comes to what they need or want out of a design. It is also inherently unfair to put you on the hook if it takes a few tries before the team nails down a concept that works.

Design is a creative process that can take a while to get off the ground. When agencies charge for revisions, it raises the total price of the project and leaves a bad taste in the client’s mouth. When fee schedules allow for revisions, however, it frees up both the design team and the client to be free with the creative process, to take risks, to change their minds, and work until they get it 100 percent correct.

Flat-Fee Schedules: A Sign of Design Maturity

It is often new designers or design firms that will charge for revisions. Why? Because they simply haven’t been in the business long enough to know how to set up a pricing structure that allows them to remain profitable while keeping clients satisfied with the process.  Revisions are impossible to avoid in any form of creative work. Firms that include revisions in their fee schedules have become confident in their process and their ability to create designs that meet their customers’ expectations, reducing the need for excessive revisions.

If your company is looking for professional graphic design, contact The NetMen Corp today for more information on our process. Our clients enjoy the benefits of transparent pricing and experienced designers who know what it takes to get a job done right. 

10 Questions ti Ask a Graphic Design Company About The Author:  is CEO of The Netmen Corp.