As a designer how much should I charge?

[cheapfrills]

I was recently offered the chance to design for a small shop that will be opening online. My sole job would be to design, no pattern making or sewing required. The shop will just be starting out so there's not much money and I'm pretty to new to designing for anyone but my own personal wardrobe. What would be proper compensation?

Also does anyone know some good contract examples?

Or any other advice at that.

EDIT: For those who didn't understand I'll only be designing the clothes to someone who l will make and sell them and the shop will be online.

[madonnaontherocks]

oo i'd like to know about this too

[kate]

Check out nolo.com. They have books (available at the library, too) about starting your own crafts business and copyright, and they have sample contracts, too, in the crafts book. It's a good book, I have it and use it. I think the place to start is to find out how much money your designs are going to sell for (about) and also make sure to pay yourself by the hour. (Say it takes you two hours to make a design and you want to pay yourself $10/hour, so make sure $20 is added to the cost.) One big thing to know is if you hold the copyright to the design - if you can use the pattern to make stuff to sell yourself. If not charge more.

[CocoColette]

thats a tough one....i guess you should take into account what other designers/clothing retailers in the area charge...but then again if you are selling stuff thats way better quality and way better looking than the other stuff maybe upping your prices is a good idea.

bottom line, you dont want people choosing to buy from another retailer b/c they think its the same stuff for more money at your place

[cheapfrills]

I'm sorry I guess I didn't make my post quite clear I updated it