What to Charge as a Recording Engineer or Producer
By Written by Peter McVeigh
There's no price list. How to work out a rate that covers your costs and how to explain it to clients.
Asking what to charge is a bit like asking how long a song should be. There isn't one number, and rates vary hugely by location, experience, genre and client. So this guide doesn't give you a figure. It gives you a way to work out your own, and to feel able to defend it.
Start with what it costs you to work
Work out what you need before looking at anyone else's prices. Add up a year of:
Your studio or room costs, if any.
Equipment, plug-ins, software and repairs.
Insurance, phone, internet and travel.
Accountant and tax.
Your pension and time off.
What you need to live on.
Then be honest about how many days you can actually bill. Not every working day is paid. Admin, marketing, quoting, chasing invoices, learning and quiet periods all take time.
A made-up example
Say you need 30,000 a year in total, before tax, in whatever currency you use. If you think you can bill 120 days, that's 250 a day just to reach your target. Bill only 80 days and it's 375 a day. The point isn't the figure. It's that low numbers of billable days have a big effect, and a rate which feels high for one day can be perfectly modest over a year.
Then look at the market
Now compare. Ask people you trust what they charge. Look at the published rates of studios near you. See whether there's an organisation for your role or country with useful guidance, such as a musicians' union or producers' guild. Rates only help if they're for similar work, so compare like with like. A commercial studio with a building to run isn't directly comparable to a home setup.
Ways to price the work
Method: Works well for: Watch out for
Hourly: Short jobs, editing, unclear tasks: Clients counting minutes
Day rate: Recording sessions: Define the length of a day
Per track: Mixing and mastering: Limit the number of revisions
Project fee: Whole EPs or albums: Scope creep
Fee and points: Producing: See our article on points
How to say it
Say the price calmly, and don't apologise for it. Explain what's included: for example, "That's £X per track, which includes two rounds of changes and your stems." If a budget is too small, change the scope rather than simply working for less. You could mix fewer tracks, have the band edit their own takes or do the recording only. Our Studio Quote Builder helps you lay this out clearly.
When it's OK to go lower
There are good reasons to lower your rate: an exciting artist, a new genre you want to get into, or a quiet month. Do it on purpose, and for a stated reason. Tell the client what the usual rate is and why this is different, so the discount doesn't become your new price. Set a limit on how much of this kind of work you'll do.
Raising your rates
Tell existing clients in advance. New clients can start at the new rate straight away. A good time to raise rates is when you're consistently busy, or when you've got new skills or credits to point to. Losing a few clients who only came for the price is often a fair trade.
Don't forget tax
If you're self-employed, part of each payment isn't really yours, because some of it will go on tax. If you pass a registration threshold for a tax such as VAT, your prices may also need to change. Rules vary, so ask an accountant.
What to do next
Do the sum above with real numbers. Then write your rates on our Studio Rate Card Template, which you'll find on the Documents page. Having it written down makes it much easier to say out loud.
Disclaimer
General information for independent musicians, not legal, tax or financial advice. Deals and rules vary, so check your own contract and take professional advice before relying on this.