Rates Assessment - Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a number of questions and answers to walk you through filling in the Free Rates Assessment survey
You can return to the Free Rates Assessment page or start the Free Rates Assessment at any time.
Do I have to fill in all my rates?
No, you only need to fill in the rates you want assessed against industry averages that relate to your business.
However, we suggest that you do complete as many rates as you can in the assessment, so you get a comprehensive
picture of how well your rates compare overall.
How long will the survey take to complete?
The survey should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete if you have all your information ready.
What categories or service areas are covered in the survey?
Our assessment covers rates relating to six key charging areas in the communications industry;
- Account Service & Management
- Strategic Planning
- Creative & Design
- Digital
- Production
- Studio
How many rates do you report on in total?
We have over 60 charge-out rates in the assessment, across six different categories.
Do I have to complete the entire survey if I only have questions about a specific area?
No, you don't need to complete all the categories, only complete the ones that relate to your business. You can select which categories you'd like to complete, or you may wish to browse through the whole list before you make your choice.
We will only assess your business against the categories that you choose.
Something came up, can I come back later to finish completing my assessment?
Yes, you can park the survey and come back to complete it later if needed. Some people do this because they need to find or check their charge-out rates if they don't have them all to hand.
You will find your part-completed assessment saved in your Documents area, once signed in as a member.
What do I enter if we don't charge clients for a service but we still perform or provide that service?
If you provide your client with free or uncharged services, then you should put $0 as your rate for each of these services. Zero or free services are just as important to check, so you can be aware of the charging potential in your business.
What do I do if we don't offer that service?
If you do not offer a particular service listed in the report, then leave the field blank and we will ignore it during your assessment.
It is a good idea to fill in as many rates as you can within each category you choose to complete, to enable us to give you a comprehensive view of your business compared to the market averages.
Is there a limit to how many times I can fill in the survey?
Yes, your business can only complete each year's assessment for free twice. Each year, when we publish the new updated set of rates, we will invite you to come back and complete the report again for free.
What should I do if my rates are in a different currency but I want to compare them to Australia?
You should convert your rates to Australian dollar amounts and let us know on your assessment form what exchange rate you used.
You can find current exchange rates at www.xe.com.