November 2020
ACA Professional Minimum Rates
SCRIPT/CONCEPT + ILLUSTRATION Assumes artist is also writing, or responsible for creative concepts | ||||||
PER STAGE | TOTAL | |||||
Draft / rough / pencils | Final art | Full colour | Inclusive of all stages | Is the work for advertising, external corporate use or cover art? | If client wants full ownership / rights to the work? | |
Thumbnail sketches/concept art (per A4 page) | $45 + | $45 + | $45 = | $135 | Add another 20% | Add another 100%, and/or discuss a royalty arrangement |
Single panel (up to ⅓ page) | $80 + | $150 + | $170 = | $400 | Add another 20% | Add another 100%, and/or discuss a royalty arrangement |
Multi-panel / half page | $150 + | $350 + | $400 = | $900 | Add another 20% | Add another 100%, and/or discuss a royalty arrangement |
Full page | $250 + | $700 + | $950 = | $1900 | Add another 20% | Add another 100%, and/or discuss a royalty arrangement |
ILLUSTRATION ONLY Assumes artist is provided with full brief/concept/script | ||||||
PER STAGE | TOTAL | |||||
Draft / rough / pencils | Final art | Full colour | Inclusive of all stages | Is the work for advertising, external corporate use or cover art? | If client wants full ownership / rights to the work? | |
Single panel (up to ⅓ page) | $45 + | $120 + | $150 = | $315 | Add another 20% | Add another 100%, and/or discuss a royalty arrangement |
Multi-panel / half page | $75 + | $200 + | $300 = | $575 | Add another 20% | Add another 100%, and/or discuss a royalty arrangement |
Full page rate | $150 + | $400 + | $750 = | $1300 | Add another 20% | Add another 100%, and/or discuss a royalty arrangement |
EVENTS, PERFORMANCE & PUBLIC ART | ||||||
Live caricature | $220/hour | |||||
Graphic recording | $220/hour | |||||
Visual facilitation (running event + recording) | $220/hour | |||||
ACA recommended practices
These are recommended rates only.
These are standard professional minimum rates. Emerging practitioners could consider charging 75-100% of standard professional rate where appropriate.
When working with non-profits or community organisations, we recommend making your own judgment about any applicable discounts on the standard professional rate, and we suggest making sure these clients know they are receiving a discount.
We recommend making your own judgment about applicable discounts based on volume.
Rates assume one round of revisions inclusive. Where additional rounds are required by a client (due to indecision or scope creep), we recommend charging per extra round. In cases where a client requests freelance work to be done on-site (at their office, for example), we recommend an additional charge taking into account your travel costs (car, public transport, etc) and/or the provision of your own tools (computer, etc).
If substantial travel (outside of your home town/city) is required, we recommend making sure your travel and accommodation (if applicable) are being paid for in advance by the client.
These rates assume publishing online or in print (by a media outlet or private commissioner) or internal use only (by a company or organisation).
These fees assume a single use/reproduction of the work. If the work is being reproduced multiple times, used on merchandise for sale or an exclusive license is required by a client, we recommend negotiating an additional license fee taking this into account.
Original art and copyright ownership of the artwork remain the property of the artist unless assigned to a client, in writing. We do not recommend members sign contracts assigning full, exclusive ownership of their work “in perpetuity”, nor do we recommend members sign contracts with a “moral rights waiver” clause. Some clients are unaware they have included such clauses, and many will happily make adjustments or removals when they are requested.
When giving a client exclusive use of a work, we recommend including a clause in your contract allowing yourself the right to use the work, or a portion of it, for your own promotion (in online showreels/portfolios, or at events/workshops, for example).
For more detailed comics industry/book publishing rates, consult the Australian Society of Authors. For more detailed scriptwriting rates, consult the Australian Writers Guild. For rates in the wider arts industry, including for public art, consult the National Association of Visual Artists. For more about asserting your copyright or licensing your art, consult Copyright Agency.