Fixed-bid pricing works when the scope is genuinely well-defined, a logo, a five-page site, a single article. It breaks down fast when scope is fuzzy, because every ambiguity becomes free work you agreed to in advance.
Estimate the hours as if you were billing hourly, using your real rate. Then add 15-25% on top as a buffer for revisions and the inevitable "just one more small thing." Clients rarely push back on this because they're seeing one number, not your math.
The fastest way a fixed-bid project turns unprofitable is scope creep with no mechanism to bill for it. State a fixed number of revision rounds in the proposal or contract, and anything beyond that becomes a paid change order, see the Change Order generator for exactly this.
A project with an unclear client, a tight deadline, or unfamiliar technology carries more risk than the raw hours suggest. It's reasonable to price that risk in directly, a rushed or ambiguous fixed-bid project should cost more than an identical one with a clear brief and a relaxed timeline.
A fixed price with no deposit puts 100% of the payment risk on you. A 30-50% deposit before work starts is standard and protects you if the client disappears mid-project.
Rate calculator · Estimate / quote generator · Change order generator