1. What is a decent PR budget?
Our lower limit for a comprehensive national mandate is CHF 60,000 per year. A full-service mandate requires double. Strong intermittent PR events are possible with a budget of only CHF 30,000. The effective budget is always determined by how ambitious your goals are.
2. When will the first costs be incurred? Are proposals free?
A first contact meeting with the agency and – if desired – a case story presentation are free of charge. Of course, quotes for standard services are also free. Concept workshops and concept development are available at an attractive fixed price. We participate in pitches if the conditions are fair.
3. How do you charge for PR services? What is a retainer arrangement?
For long-term mandates, a retainer of 1/12 of the total budget of all re-occurring PR services is charged on a monthly basis. A retainer is the partial payment of the annual budget in 12 equal installments. At the end of the year, the agency provides a report of the services performed and synchronizes the budget with a credit note or an invoice for the outstanding balance.
For project assignments, the time involved is recorded electronically and then billed monthly at the hourly rates applicable.
Our hourly rates are consistent with the guidelines of the association of PR agencies in Switzerland (BPRA). We check and then pass on invoices for third-party services. Any agency commissions or provisions due to us are credited to our clients’ accounts in full. Costs incurred for telephone calls, photocopies, travel, and so on are billed separately on an itemized invoice.
4. Are you willing to work on a success basis?
No. The BPRA’s (Association of PR Agencies in Switzerland) professional code of ethics forbids success-based PR work. This is a positive thing as it would dramatically invite abuse of the media.
5. Are you willing to work for a fixed price?
For precisely defined agency services, we are prepared to work for a fixed price, if requested by our clients.
