Lessons

Every hour the job really takes

What it is

The hours one complete job consumes — including the parts you never invoice.

Why it matters

Delivery is the visible half. The quote, the calls, the two rounds of revisions, the chasing of the payment: all of it is the job. Count only the visible half and your rate is fiction.

The method

Take one recent job. Add the hours: talking about it, doing it, changing it, and getting paid for it. That is the real figure.

Example

Maryam thought a shoot took three hours. Two hours of editing and one of revisions made six. Her rate went from AED 133 an hour to AED 67 without anything changing.