yes you are right D, but if you are asked to reduce your price and do so willingly this looks just as bad as the dodgy garage mentioned above, seemingly overcharging in the first place.
Set your rate and stick to it. If you have to reduce to meet a client's budget, make it clear you won't be spending so much time on it and that's how, and why you are reducing.
Don't under value yourself and your skills, it is surprisingly liberating, and gives you more confidence, and your clients will see this.
How long is a piece of string! The only thing you can do if they have given you no idea of budget on which to base your design propostion of what they will get for their money, is to base it purely on your time.
Literally write down how long you think you would like spend on each part of the design process.
ie
1) Research/reference
2) Initial ideas thumbnails
3) 1st worked up visuals based on their feed back from seeing (2)
4) Amends /variations on chosen design at stage (3)
5) Artwork production of logo
6) Application to company materials ie stationery.......
....and so on
Finally coming up with a total 'your studio time' x hourly rate
You can even show them your rough calculation so they can see how long and where the money is being spent. This also speeds up the process sometimes as they can see time=money, and they shouldn't faff about too much.
If they come back saying its sounds too expensive then maybe you are allowing too much time, and could adjust you quote by limiting the number of logo design options at stage one, so not giving them too much choice to waste their time pondering on and asking for further variations.
Ideally though it's always best to be up front and ask for a budget.
