Freelance CAD work - hourly rate?

[pstruck]

I have been asked to do a small private job for a contractor contact of mine, drawing up a few minor civil engineering works on AutoCAD. I have not ventured into freelance work before and have no idea what sort of hourly rate I should be asking. Anyone doing this sort of sideline work care to suggest what the 'going rate' is for such things?

[bucksmanuk]

Unfortunately, you have picked the 2 poorer paying aspects of freelance work
Civils
AutoCAD
Dependent upon where you worked, this is going to be £20-23/hr. As it’s just a short term thing; you might be able to squeeze another £3-4/hr. an hour on top of that.
Unless you have some rare knowledge that others don’t, this could put another £3-4/hr on top of that again.
Are these drawings going to be checked by someone competent? – To absolve you of your professional responsibilities….

Someone else with greater experience of this should be along shortly..

[pstruck]

Thanks.

It's is only a very small job. Just a few hours of an evening/weekend to help someone out. I'm not relying on this for income to support the family. A bit of beer money really!

[pstruck]

My contractor acquaintance has no CAD capability, but needs a couple of drawings producing. He asked if I could assist. I really can't imagine it's going to be more tha about 4 or 5 hours work.

[pstruck]

Not intentionally avoiding answering your questions. To be honest I don't know the answers yet. I imagine he will want it to be a casual arrangement, probably off the books. The drawings will not be used for construction, merely to indicate outline options for discussion with a client. My involvement will cease then. If his work on this particular job progresses beyond this then formal design input will be required (not from me).

[anonymous-user]

Over the years I've worked as an employee, contract and self employed. I have always avoided takimng a fee for small tasks that use my proffessional skill when engaged as an employee as I did not carry PI cover or end up comitted if the work grew, and of course complicating my tax position. My advice would be to try and do it for expenses, I've got away with doing small scale things like this and being paid interview expenses, the PI issue can be huge I know some one currently being sued for a design job gone wrong.