I prefer meeting with first-time clients in person. I want to make sure that I fully understand your requirements and that the brief is as succinct as possible. This ensures a more accurate and satisfactory outcome. Alternatively, if it is not possible to meet or you are looking to commission me on additional projects, I require an in-depth brief (by way of email) detailing all your requirements – the more detail, the better. It is preferable if you can provide a project budget beforehand, but I understand that is not always possible.

Once I have all the information I need, I will send you a quote via email for your approval. For first-time clients I will need the following company details:

Company name / VAT number (if applicable) / Physical or Postal address / Name & number of contact person / Email address.

On approval of the cost estimate, I require a 50% deposit* (my banking details are indicated on the quote). This payment secures your booking and allows me to schedule your work. Work can only start once the payment reflects in my bank account. I unfortunately am unable to offer credit facilities. *Please note that Terms and Conditions apply. Please email me and I will send you a copy of my Full Terms & Conditions.

Your project will then be scheduled into the existing workflow and final deadlines and delivery dates will be communicated to you via email. Any delays with regards to approvals, checking of proofs, supplying of text, pictures or content will affect the final delivery date. I will always strive to deliver on time but it is contingent on the client’s ability to provide what is needed. The delivery of concept deadlines/final artwork deadlines depends on various factors, including but not limited to:

1. Number of projects already scheduled
2. The urgency of the delivery deadline
3. Your commitment and delivery of required content, information (i.e. text, pictures, reference material etc)
4. Your approval and feedback on any questions or reverts.

The answer is dependent on so many variables. I need to be supplied with the most detailed information and requirements before I am able to accurately determine a project’s cost. Let’s discuss your requirements and ensure that we are both on the same page when it comes to expectations and deliverables. A client cannot expect to pay for a Fiat and get a Ferrari. Likewise, I am not going to charge you for a Ferrari when all you really need is a Fiat.

My cost estimates are valid for 30 days whilst the printing quotes are valid for 14 days due to the fluctuation of paper prices and other factors not within my control.

Yes, I have standard Terms & Conditions which are available (via email) on request and are sent with my cost estimates. On acceptance of a cost estimate and/or on commencement of any and all work undertaken, you automatically agree to Mrs Smith’s FULL Terms & Conditions. You agree that you have the authority to enter into an agreement and to bind your respective business/company/organisation to all the terms and conditions therein.

A 50% deposit is required upfront in order to secure your project and to schedule the project workflow. The balance of payment (and all additional invoices) is due on completion of the project. Interest is charged on all outstanding accounts over 30 days. The 50% deposit is non-refundable if work has commenced on the project as well as all moneys required for the proportionate amount of work completed.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned and a client’s job is never printed or they change their minds during the project. If an element has been designed, e.g. a brochure that doesn’t need to be printed, the design work will still be invoiced. If it has been designed, it needs to be paid for.

Mrs Smith endeavours to honour original estimates but more often than not clients want to add additional content, change various elements, or requirements change and it means I have to pursue a new direction within the project but I will always consult with you on the need for additional payments if the changes warrant it.

Mrs Smith will charge you for the changing and resupplying of final artwork if it has already been supplied. It is the client’s responsibility to check and approve everything before the final files are handed over to avoid additional costs.

Unless it is requested or specified in the cost estimate, the client pays for and is given print-ready files – usually a PDF – supplied for printing/production and/or distribution i.e. emailing or uploading onto a website. So if you commission me to design an A4 poster, I will supply you with a high-resolution PDF for printing. I do not give out the open/source files.

If open files are requested in the initial briefing, these source files will be provided at an additional cost, dependent on certain criteria. Alternatively, if the client requires files that will be used as templates with editable information, this will be accommodated upfront and the appropriate files in the correct formats will be supplied.

It is the client’s responsibility to clearly convey their requirements, from the outset, as this will help to streamline the entire project and ensure the deliverables are as expected.

Mrs Smith’s cost estimate makes allowance for a ‘reasonable’ set of corrections. This typically involves 2 rounds of minor changes (essentially two (2) proofs for approval/checking) such as text/copy changes, colour changes and minor modifications to the design and layout. If your changes are going to affect more than 50% of the design or take as much time as it did to initially create the designs, then a new cost estimate will be submitted for approval.

Unfortunately, there are no refunds but I will always endeavour to provide you with a design solution that best fulfills your requirements, understanding that the design work produced will be according to your brief and requirements as briefed at the start of the project. It is the client’s responsibility to provide as thorough a brief as possible upfront to avoid unnecessary issues, delays or incorrect deliverables.

Mrs Smith offers printing/print management as a service to my clients. I have preferred printers with whom I have built relationships and worked with over many years. It is important to understand that in order to cover the administration and coordination involved with a print/production job, I add a standard mark-up to the final print/production costs.

This mark-up covers the time and effort spent in obtaining quotes, liaising with printers and making sure that the final printed product is of the highest quality and is in fact correct. The mark-up becomes compensation for my expertise, experience, time and the initial cash outlay for a print job (sometimes it is a 50% deposit. Other times it is full payment upfront) until the client settles the final invoice.

If you prefer handling the printing and production yourself but you require my advice and assistance with your printers etc, I may charge a Print Management fee to cover the costs of providing such a service.

Artwork can be reprinted but the additional costs to do so are for your account.

Mrs Smith does not accept any responsibility for final, approved artwork that is printed and the Terms & Conditions clearly state liability in this regard. It is the client’s responsibility to check the final proofs and make sure that there are no errors or omissions.

I am not able to guarantee that a reprinted job will meet deadlines as the printer’s workflow is not within my control.

I advise clients to do a colour check on the machine or, for an additional cost, request a machine proof from the printer. It is not possible to guarantee a final printed or reprinted product due to many different factors that pertain to printing. Everything from humidity, types of paper used, printer’s machines, etc affect the final quality and result of a job. Printing something now and the same item in six month’s time can result in differences, even if only slight. I will, however do my best to deliver a quality product that is worthy of an endorsement. Because printing depends on so many different factors, it is almost impossible to know upfront what it will cost.

All of the factors listed below affect delivery and lead times, colour results, pricing, etc. It is always best to obtain print and production quotes once we have a final design because we will then know all the details such as size, quantities, finishes, colours, number of pages, etc and will allow for a more accurate costing. There are many variables such as:

1. Printing process (Litho vs Digital)
2. Quantities – 25 vs 10 000 (Economies of scale)
3. Paper stock used
4. Spot (Pantone®) vs full colour CMYK
5. Finishes (i.e. spot UV varnish, binding, etc)