I keep seeing freelancers charge way too little for rush work

I've been doing this for about five years now, and a pattern I keep spotting is people charging maybe 10% extra for a 24-hour turnaround. That's a huge mistake. Last month, a client needed a full website copy rewrite in a single day, a job that normally takes a week. I quoted them triple my normal rate, and they paid it without a blink. The stress and the fact you have to drop everything else for one client is a real cost. If you don't price that panic button high enough, you end up burned out and resentful, working all night for peanuts. I learned this the hard way after my third 'rush fee' project left me exhausted for days. It's not just about the hours, it's about the mental toll. What's the highest rush fee you've ever successfully charged?

2 comments

2 Comments

betty1261mo ago

Triple the price for one day of work seems a bit much.

jason_fisher41mo ago

A podcast I listened to said rush fees should be at least double, never just a small bump. They argued it's the only way to make the stress and schedule wreck worth it. I totally agree after seeing friends get burned on cheap rush jobs.