Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
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Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
How Much Should You Charge Startups for UI/UX Design?
UI/UX designers working with startups typically charge $80–$150/hour or $4,000–$20,000 for project-based work. Pre-seed startups often require budget flexibility, while Series A/B companies have established design budgets and pay market rates.
Floor
$80
per hour
Typical
$125
per hour
Premium
$190
per hour
Find your exact rate
Typical project work, moderate complexity.
Factor in AI tool subscriptions
Your Rate
Day Rate
$450
Project Est.
$2,200
Retainer
$8,350/mo
Was this helpful?
Community Data
What do you actually charge?
Anonymous. Helps improve market benchmarks.
What changes the price
- Funding stage (bootstrapped, pre-seed, seed, Series A+)
- Whether equity is offered alongside cash
- Speed of iteration and design velocity required
- Number of products or platforms to design
- Availability requirements (part-time vs. full-time equivalent)
- Technical co-founder's design opinions and involvement
- Pivot risk and likelihood of scope changes
- Access to user research and customer interviews
Real quote breakdowns
Pre-Seed Startup MVP Design
A 2-person pre-seed startup needs an MVP designed: 12 screens for a task management app. Budget-conscious engagement with clear scope and no revisions beyond 1 round.
Breakdown
44 hours at $125/hour = $5,500. Includes UX flows, wireframes, high-fidelity Figma screens, and a basic component set. One revision round. No research phase.
Series A Startup — Monthly Design Retainer
A Series A B2B SaaS company (recently raised $4M) needs a part-time design lead: 3 days per week for feature design, design system maintenance, and design QA.
Breakdown
12 days/month at $800/day (blended from $130/hour x 6-hr effective day). Total $9,600/month on a 3-month minimum engagement.
Seed-Stage Consumer App with Equity
A seed-stage consumer app offers 0.5% equity plus a reduced cash rate. Designer agrees to $90/hr for a 200-hour engagement covering full app design and brand.
Breakdown
200 hours at $90/hour = $18,000 cash. Equity component (0.5%) valued separately at potential future payout. Rate represents a 25% discount from market rate in exchange for equity.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take equity instead of cash from a startup?
Only accept equity as a supplement to cash, not a replacement. Cap equity arrangements at a 20–30% discount on your market rate. Treat equity as a lottery ticket — never rely on it for income. Get equity agreements reviewed by a lawyer.
How do I handle startup clients who constantly change direction?
Startups pivot. Build a change order clause into your contract: any scope change more than 20% of the original brief triggers a re-quote. This protects your time and educates clients on the cost of indecision.
What's a fair minimum engagement length for startup design work?
Require a 6–12 week minimum for project work and a 3-month minimum for retainers. This gives you enough time to actually move the product forward and protects you from early cancellations after heavy ramp-up investment.
How do I vet a startup client before committing?
Check their funding status (Crunchbase), ask who the design decision-maker is, request a written brief, and require a 25–50% deposit before starting. A client who won't pay a deposit is a red flag regardless of their funding stage.