Standard Engagements
We offer two basic types of engagement:
- Prepaid time & expenses (for smaller engagements): For some simpler projects, our clients purchase prepaid blocks of 50 hours at $175/hr. Upon completion, they can leave the balance on the books for later, or we can return the remainder.
- Retainer (for larger engagements): For ongoing relationships, we usually set up a non-refundable monthly retainer (e.g., $10-20k/mo.) that allows us to dedicate the time needed and work without having to stop often to provide new estimates on small pieces of work.
Some things you should know
- We’re worth every penny. We have one of the most talented branding and marketing teams in the country, and we’ve done work for everyone from one-person startups to Fortune 500 companies. We know our stuff.
- Our estimates are accurate. Or more accurate than most, anyway. You’ll know what you’re getting into, and we’re good about sticking to our estimates. If something changes over the course of the project due to new information, changing markets, additional scope, etc., we’ll contact you as soon as possible to find out how you’d like to proceed.
- We don’t offer discounts. We believe in dealing fairly with our clients, so we charge everyone exactly the same rate.
- We don’t work on spec. Asking an agency to design something so you can decide whether to hire them is like asking a doctor to prescribe medication to determine whether you want her to diagnose you. It’s a bad idea for everyone involved.
- We don’t jump through RFP hoops. RFPs are a terrible way to hire an agency, and we rarely respond to them. Even when we do, we won’t follow all the instructions, just on general principle. If you want an agency that’s really good at taking orders, Forty’s not for you.