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"Why are you working for free?!" That's what I want to say. So, what's all this about?

One of my clients is working with a graphic designer. I see the exchanged messages.

Today, the designer wrote this:

"If I'm in the process of learning or understanding something, I won't keep track of time. However, once I start building and designing again, I'll resume time tracking."

NOT OK.

"Learning" something in this context is part of the service the designer provides.

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

Let's break this down some.

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲:

1. You do not get paid.

(Even if you love your work, when you boil it down, work is a transaction of your time and expertise for money.)

2. You do not accurately know how long the project took once you finish.

3. The client does not accurately know how long the project took once the designer finishes, so the client has no correct reference point in case they want to get a similar project from another designer.

("The first designer only took 3 hours. Why did it take you 6.5?"

4. You devalue your time and expertise.

Service providers: Charge for your time.