As you can probably tell from my profile, I've just started customizing, and my only finished pieces so far have been a few custom Funko figures that weren't terribly complicated. Well, I tweeted my recent Funko FemShep (Mass Effect) at some Bioware people and they shared it around, and then Jennifer Hale herself retweeted it, and now I have at least one person who's willing to pay me to make another one. That's really cool, and now I'm thinking more seriously of starting an Etsy shop, but I've never taken a commission for anything before and I'm not sure of the best way to start or how to charge. A flat rate? Parts + labor for anything complicated, and just don't accept any commissions I'm not positive I can do? Ask for payment up front or on completion? Good to send regular progress updates, or might that get annoying? As I do with most things, I'm probably overthinking this, but I'd like to do it right.
Yes, what Dr. Nightmare said! Additionally, if you put an hourly tag on it, if you're slow and plodding like I am, you find out that you're making far below minimum wage. I end up working on a figure for 20 or more hours, but you know, I do it while I'm puttering around with something else while everything dries or hardens. However, you're still doing something creative and expressing yourself through art, and hopefully spending time (lots of it) doing something you enjoy - and making a piece you're proud of is priceless. That said, don't get into this hobby to get rich! Not saying that that won't happen, but you've gotta be really dedicated, just like anything in life.
Yeah, you're overthinking it lol. There's no right way to do anything.
Basic info I tell everyone is to charge for: •All parts you have to buy •All shipping •Sometimes for supplies too, like if you have to buy some goofy one-off color paint you'll never use again. •After that, charge your labor fee.
That fee is up to you, whatever you think your time is worth. I charge like $50 starting, and it rises with complexity. Sometimes I charge like $150, but I still only get like $50 because everything else goes to parts and supplies haha.
I charge half the total up front, the other half before I ship.
As for WIPs and stuff, they usually ask for that on their own, I snap them anytime they request them.
Please wait...
Basic info I tell everyone is to charge for:
•All parts you have to buy
•All shipping
•Sometimes for supplies too, like if you have to buy some goofy one-off color paint you'll never use again.
•After that, charge your labor fee.
That fee is up to you, whatever you think your time is worth. I charge like $50 starting, and it rises with complexity. Sometimes I charge like $150, but I still only get like $50 because everything else goes to parts and supplies haha.
I charge half the total up front, the other half before I ship.
As for WIPs and stuff, they usually ask for that on their own, I snap them anytime they request them.