Pin the rate before you accept

Headline pay can slide after fees and unpaid time. Pin those costs before you say yes.

A rate that looks high can slide once fees, unpaid messages and tax move. Pin those on paper. The remaining figure is what you can compare to the rest of the week.

Before you accept

List every fee the platform or client will take.
Count unpaid time: briefs, revisions, waiting.
Set aside tax as a line you will not let slide.