Writer
Marisol Vega
Freelance brand designer · Oakland, CA
Marisol started freelancing in 2017 after five years at a midsize agency. Her studio works with small businesses, restaurants, and independent professionals, mostly on branding, packaging, and web identity. She writes for Chimpcharge about the pricing, client work, and operational side of being a one person studio.
6 articles
Articles by Marisol
How to set freelance rates that actually pay your bills
Most pricing advice for freelancers starts with the wrong number. Here is a more honest way to work out what you should charge.
The middle of the freelance market is hollowing out
Freelance writing volume dropped 32% in the last year. The cheap end of creative work is collapsing. The high end is doing fine. Where you land depends on a single question.
When AI makes you faster, hourly billing eats your business
If a 10 hour project is now a 4 hour project, hourly billing means a 60% pay cut for the same outcome. The math behind why value pricing is no longer optional.
Why scope creep happens, and what to do when it does
Scope creep is rarely about bad clients. It is about unclear scope. Here is how to spot it early and handle it without burning the relationship.
When (and how) to raise your rates
Most freelancers wait too long, then raise rates badly. Here is a calmer way to do it that does not blow up the business.
How to say no to bad clients without burning bridges
The hardest skill in freelancing is not saying yes. It is saying no early enough that you do not regret saying yes.