What things really cost
Researched price ranges with sources you can audit — no invented averages. Every guide names where its numbers come from.
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Four of the questions people most often arrive with.
Real price ranges for small-business website design — what separates a $500 template job from an $8,000 custom build, and where to put your money.
$300per month$95–$500BookkeeperReal monthly price ranges for bookkeeping — what small businesses pay and what drives the number.
$75per session$40–$150Personal trainerReal per-session rates for personal training — why one trainer charges $45 and another $140, and which price actually gets you results.
$3,500per event$1,500–$10,000Event plannerWhat event planning actually costs — flat fees vs. percentage pricing, day-of vs. full-service, and where planners earn their fee back.
Design
13Hourly rates for graphic designers — why quotes span $35 to $120, and how to tell craft from clip art.
$100per hour$60–$160Motion designerHourly rates for motion designers and animators — why the range runs $60 to $160, and what drives a quote up.
$900per month$400–$2,000Social media designerMonthly retainer rates for social media design — why they range from $400 to $2,000, and what changes the number.
$90per hour$50–$150UI/UX designerHourly rates for UI and UX designers — why the range runs from $50 to $150, and what you're actually paying for beyond the screens.
$1,000per project$200–$3,000IllustratorReal project prices for custom illustration — why quotes range from $200 to $3,000, and why usage rights matter as much as the drawing.
$1,000per project$300–$2,500Apparel designerReal project prices for apparel and merch design — why quotes range from $300 to $2,500, and what production reality adds.
$800per project$300–$2,000Book cover designerReal project prices for book cover design — why quotes range from $300 to $2,000, and what separates a cover that sells from one that just exists.
$650per project$250–$1,500Email designerReal project prices for email design — templates and campaigns — why quotes range from $250 to $1,500, and where coding hides the cost.
$850per project$100–$5,000Brand designerReal price ranges for logo and identity design — what moves a quote from $100 to $5,000, and where the money actually goes.
$2,500per project$800–$6,000Packaging designerReal project prices for packaging design — why quotes range from $800 to $6,000, and where die lines and print reality drive the cost.
$1,000per project$300–$2,500Presentation designerReal project prices for pitch decks and presentation design — why quotes span $300 to $2,500, and what actually earns the higher end.
$800per project$250–$2,000Print designerReal project prices for print design — brochures, flyers, and collateral — why quotes span $250 to $2,000, and where print prep hides.
$2,500per project$500–$8,000Web designerReal price ranges for small-business website design — what separates a $500 template job from an $8,000 custom build, and where to put your money.
Development
13Hourly rates for backend developers — databases, APIs, and server logic — and why this work costs more than it appears to.
$90per hour$50–$160Frontend developerHourly rate ranges for frontend developers — what separates a $50/hour rate from a $160/hour one, and how to budget for interface work.
$110per hour$60–$180Full-stack developerHourly rates for full-stack developers — why quotes range from $60 to $180, and when one generalist beats hiring two specialists.
$30,000per project$5,000–$80,000Mobile app developerReal project prices for mobile apps — why quotes span $5,000 to $80,000, and what actually drives an app budget.
$55per hour$35–$90QA testerHourly rates for QA testers — why quotes range from $35 to $90, and why skipping this is more expensive than paying for it.
$4,500per project$1,000–$12,000Shopify developerReal project prices for Shopify stores — why quotes range from $1,000 to $12,000, and what pushes a build past the theme tier.
$5,000per project$1,500–$15,000Web developerReal project price ranges for hiring a web developer — why quotes run from $1,500 to $15,000 and what actually drives the number.
$4,000per project$1,000–$10,000Webflow developerReal project prices for Webflow sites — why quotes range from $1,000 to $10,000, and what earns the higher end.
$3,000per project$800–$8,000WordPress developerReal project prices for WordPress sites — why quotes range from $800 to $8,000, and what separates a theme install from a real build.
$6,500per project$2,000–$15,000API developerReal project prices for API development and integrations — why quotes range from $2,000 to $15,000, and what makes this work cost what it does.
$2,000per project$500–$5,000Automation specialistReal project prices for workflow automation — why quotes range from $500 to $5,000, and how to tell a durable build from a fragile one.
$8,000per project$2,000–$20,000E-commerce developerReal project prices for e-commerce builds — why quotes range from $2,000 to $20,000, and what drives an online store's budget.
$1,500per month$500–$3,000SEO specialistMonthly retainer rates for SEO — why they range from $500 to $3,000, and how to spot the difference between work and invoices.
Coaching
13Real session rates for business coaching — why quotes range from $150 to $500, and how to tell a worthwhile coach from an expensive pep talk.
$175per session$100–$350Career coachReal session rates for career coaching — why quotes range from $100 to $350, and how to tell a useful coach from a résumé mill.
$300per session$150–$500Leadership coachReal session rates for leadership coaching — why quotes range from $150 to $500, and what earns the top of that range.
$150per session$75–$250Life coachReal session rates for life coaching — why quotes range from $75 to $250, and how to hire one without getting burned.
$250per session$125–$400Marketing coachReal session rates for marketing coaching — why quotes range from $125 to $400, and when coaching beats hiring the work out.
$150per session$75–$250Mindset coachReal session rates for mindset coaching — why quotes range from $75 to $250, and how to hire one without getting sold a program.
$150per session$75–$300Productivity coachReal session rates for productivity coaching — why quotes range from $75 to $300, and how to tell a system from a sales pitch.
$225per session$100–$400Public speaking coachReal session rates for public speaking coaching — why quotes range from $100 to $400, and what changes the number.
$275per session$150–$450Sales coachReal session rates for sales coaching — why quotes range from $150 to $450, and how to tell a proven closer from a motivational act.
$250per session$100–$500Startup mentorReal session rates for startup mentorship — why quotes range from $100 to $500, and when you should pay for it at all.
$125per session$60–$250Writing coachReal session rates for writing coaching — why quotes range from $60 to $250, and how coaching differs from editing.
$350per session$200–$600Executive coachReal session rates for executive coaching — why quotes range from $200 to $600, and what separates a seasoned coach from an expensive listener.
$150per session$75–$300Interview coachReal session rates for interview coaching — why quotes range from $75 to $300, and what a session should actually include.
Wellness
13Real price ranges for private breathwork sessions — per-session rates and what moves the quote.
$150per session$75–$250Health coachReal price ranges for health coaching — per-session rates, package pricing, and what drives the number.
$110per session$60–$180Massage therapistReal price ranges for a massage session — per-session rates by type, and what moves the number up or down.
$90per session$50–$150Meditation teacherReal price ranges for private meditation instruction — per-session rates and what moves the quote.
$90per session$50–$140Mobility coachReal price ranges for mobility coaching — per-session rates and what changes the quote.
$120per session$70–$200NutritionistReal price ranges for working with a nutritionist or dietitian — session fees, package pricing, and what changes the number.
$75per session$40–$150Personal trainerReal per-session rates for personal training — why one trainer charges $45 and another $140, and which price actually gets you results.
$100per session$60–$160Pilates instructorReal price ranges for private and reformer Pilates sessions — what you pay per session and what changes the quote.
$100per session$60–$150Prenatal fitness instructorReal price ranges for prenatal and postpartum fitness sessions — per-session rates and what moves the number.
$100per private session$60–$150Yoga instructorReal price ranges for private yoga instruction — per-session rates, package deals, and what pushes a quote up or down.
$150per month$80–$300Running coachReal price ranges for running coaching — monthly plans, one-off sessions, and what changes the price.
$200per session$100–$350Sleep coachReal price ranges for sleep coaching — per-session rates, program pricing, and what drives the number.
$100per session$50–$160Strength coachReal price ranges for strength coaching — per-session rates and what moves the quote up or down.
Finance
13Real hourly price ranges for billing help — what businesses pay and what drives the rate.
$300per month$95–$500BookkeeperReal monthly price ranges for bookkeeping — what small businesses pay and what drives the number.
$2,500per project$1,000–$5,000Business plan writerReal project price ranges for a written business plan — what you pay and what drives the number.
$100per hour$50–$150Financial analystReal hourly price ranges for freelance financial analysis — what you pay and what drives the rate.
$250per hour$150–$400Financial plannerReal hourly price ranges for financial planning — what you pay and how fee structures differ.
$6,000per month$3,000–$12,000Fractional CFOReal monthly price ranges for a fractional CFO — what growing businesses pay and what drives the retainer.
$100per hour$60–$150Grant writerReal hourly price ranges for grant writing — what nonprofits and businesses pay and what moves the rate.
$120per month$50–$250Payroll specialistReal monthly price ranges for payroll help — what small employers pay and what moves the fee.
$100per hour$50–$150QuickBooks consultantReal hourly price ranges for QuickBooks setup and cleanup help — what you pay and what moves the rate.
$300per hour$150–$500Tax advisorReal hourly price ranges for tax advisory and planning — what you pay and what drives the rate.
$500per filing$200–$1,500Tax preparerReal price ranges for tax preparation — per-filing fees and what drives the cost up.
$150per hour$40–$400AccountantWhat accountants and CPAs actually charge per hour, per month, and per return — and why the rate you pay is four times what an accountant earns.
$55per hour$30–$80Accounts receivable specialistReal hourly price ranges for AR help — what businesses pay to get invoices collected and what moves the rate.
Events
13Real per-person price ranges for event catering — what you pay and what drives the number.
$1,500per event$600–$3,500DJReal per-event price ranges for hiring a DJ — what you pay and what moves the quote.
$1,500per event$500–$4,000Live musicianReal per-event price ranges for live music — solo acts to full bands — and what moves the quote.
$800per event$400–$1,500Photo booth operatorReal per-event price ranges for photo booth rental and operation — what you pay and what moves the quote.
$3,500per event$1,000–$8,000VideographerReal per-event price ranges for videography — what you pay and what drives the quote up.
$3,000per event$800–$15,000Wedding plannerReal wedding planner pricing — day-of coordination vs. full-service planning, percentage fees, and what you actually get at each tier.
$100per hour$50–$150AV technicianReal hourly price ranges for audio-visual technicians — what you pay and what drives the rate.
$55per hour$35–$75Event bartenderReal hourly price ranges for hiring a bartender — what you pay and what moves the rate.
$2,500per event$800–$5,000Event decoratorReal per-event price ranges for event decorating and styling — what you pay and what drives the number.
$2,000per event$500–$6,000FloristReal per-event price ranges for event and wedding florals — what you pay and what drives the quote.
$1,200per event$400–$2,500Event host / MCReal per-event price ranges for an emcee or event host — what you pay and what drives the number.
$250per hour$150–$400Event photographerReal hourly price ranges for event photography — what you pay and what drives the quote.
$3,500per event$1,500–$10,000Event plannerWhat event planning actually costs — flat fees vs. percentage pricing, day-of vs. full-service, and where planners earn their fee back.