Hourly vs. Flat Rate Charging in Marketing
When it comes to marketing services, pricing can feel like a maze—hourly rates, flat fees, bundled packages—it’s a lot. But here’s the truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Hourly and flat rate charging both have their place, and your favorite "terribly" good marketing agency, TerriblyBranded, has mastered the art of using both. In this blog, we’re breaking it all down: why both pricing methods exist, when they’re typically used, and how TerriblyBranded delivers the best of both worlds to meet your needs.
Hourly Charging: Flexibility at Its Best
Hourly charging is the ultimate “pay as you go” model. It’s perfect for projects where you’re not 100% sure of the scope or when you need on-the-spot marketing magic. Think of it as hiring your favorite marketing friend (us) to dive in and help whenever you need it.
When We Use Hourly Rates:
Open-Ended Projects: For those “we’ll figure it out as we go” situations, hourly keeps things fair and flexible.
Consulting & Strategy: Need a one-time brainstorming session? Hourly is the way to go.
Custom Work: If it’s a quick website tweak or troubleshooting something funky, hourly gets it done without overcommitting.
Time-Intensive Tasks: Projects like analytics audits, research, or content revisions are often unpredictable, making hourly a practical choice.
Why It Works:
You’re in Control: Pay for what you need, no more, no less.
Transparency: Every hour is accounted for, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Flexibility: Hourly rates adapt as projects evolve.
Flat Rate Charging: Predictable & Practical
Flat rates are all about simplicity. With a fixed price for a specific deliverable or service, this model is perfect for projects with clear outcomes—no surprises, just results.
When Flat Rates Make Sense:
Defined Deliverables: Logo designs, monthly social media management, or influencer campaigns all fall under this umbrella.
Packages for Days: If you love bundling services (who doesn’t?), flat rates make it easy to know what you’re paying upfront.
Budget-Friendly Projects: When you’re looking to avoid any surprise costs, flat rates are where it’s at.
Why It Works:
Clarity: You know exactly what you’re getting for the price.
Ease: No need to track hours—just enjoy the final product.
Why TerriblyBranded Does Both
Here’s the thing: we don’t believe in boxing our clients into one pricing model. Marketing is as diverse as our clients, so we offer both hourly and flat rate options to keep things flexible and tailored.
Hourly Rates: Perfect for one-off projects, quick fixes, or strategic sessions.
Flat Rates: Great for full-scale campaigns, bundled services, and ongoing work that needs structure.
Why It’s Better Here:
Customization: Your project is unique, so your pricing should be too.
Value-Driven: Whether it’s hourly or flat, we focus on delivering results that make your investment worth every penny.
Straightforward Vibes: Southern hospitality is at the core of how we do business—we’re transparent, approachable, and here to make things easy.
How We Balance Both
At TerriblyBranded, it’s not about one pricing model being “better” than the other—it’s about what works best for you. Some clients love the flexibility of hourly billing, while others prefer the predictability of flat rates. For hybrid projects, we even combine the two, ensuring you get the most value from our services.
The Bottom Line
Pricing isn’t complicated when you’ve got the right partner. At TerriblyBranded, we take the stress out of choosing between hourly and flat rates. Whether you’re looking for quick solutions or big-picture strategy, we’ve got the flexibility and expertise to make it happen—always with a smile and a touch of southern charm.
Ready to work with a team that gets it?
Let’s chat and figure out the best way to bring your vision to life. Reach out today, and we’ll make marketing work for you—hourly, flat, or somewhere in between.