The Calligrapher’s Business Handbook
Pricing & Policies for Lettering Artists
✨ AMAZON BUSINESS OF ART BESTSELLER ✨
There’s a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the business of calligraphy. I wrote this straightforward guide to answer the questions I hear most from peers and students—about pricing, contracts, client communication, and the realities of freelance lettering. It’s a practical reference, designed to clear up confusion and outline the strategies used by working professionals.
You’ll learn how professional calligraphers price their work, when to charge an hourly versus a flat rate, how copyright works with client commissions, what a fair contract should cover, whether there’s ever a good reason to work for free, and much, much more.
Whether you’re new to creative freelancing, making a career shift, or looking to boost your existing calligraphy business, this handbook offers clear, practical guidance. I’ve packed it with insights drawn from over a decade of real-world experience as a professional calligrapher.
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Your calligraphy business questions, answered:
What prices do professional calligraphers charge for their services?
When should I charge a flat rate and when should I charge by the hour?
I’ve heard I should charge a lot more to design a company logo than to design lettering for an individual to use personally, but why?
What is the protocol when a company wants to buy the copyright to my work? (Wait, do I even own the copyright to my work if a client hired me to make it?)
What are exclusive rights? How are nonexclusive rights different?
What should a fair project contract include?
When, if ever, should I agree to do work for free or for considerably less than my standard rate?
What are the best ways to advertise on a budget?
Do I need to go to art or design school to become a successful lettering artist?
Praise for The Calligrapher’s Business Handbook
“This book should be a staple in the library of any calligrapher who wishes to pursue the art as a business. It is simply a wealth of useful and practical information. … This is a volume that certainly should not be missed!”
― Paper & Ink Arts
“I wish I had found this sooner in my business. Stop debating, you NEED this if you want to create calligraphy for other people in any way.”
— Vivian, Amazon reviewer
“If you’re interested in making some income from your dip pen talent, I highly recommend The Calligrapher’s Business Handbook! Molly’s transparency about pricing and process is unrivaled, and I think that a lot of calligraphy businesses will get a running start because of her generosity in sharing information.”
— Lindsay Bugbee, The Postman’s Knock
“If you are a professional calligrapher, this is the book you’ve been waiting for. The author anticipated all the questions I’ve had which have made me nervous about my business. I found the chapter about licensing and commercial lettering especially useful since this is something I’d never read about on any calligraphy forum or blog post. I have so much more confidence now to turn this side business into something more.”
— Mandy, Amazon reviewer
“This book and Molly’s Skillshare classes have changed the game for my hand lettering business. Definitely worth the money and you will learn a ton!”
— Avery, Amazon reviewer
