Yeah, that is sometimes a hard question...
You have to consider several things and the last one is considering whether this could be too expensive.
You have your amount of work, your hardware/software, your electricity bill and maybe even rent for studio.
You also have to be fair to yourself whether your work can be done faster by "real" professionals.
Either you offer a fixed price, a rate per second/minute animation or an hourly rate...
"The average cost for 60-seconds of animation is about $7,972 according to recent research,
but that price is not typical for most styles of business animated video.
The large average is the result of expensive types of animation including stop motion
and 3D animation which are frequently used for full-feature films which drive the average up.
Most studios will produce 1 minute of animation for between about $2,500 and $10,000.
Some can achieve basic animation for $1,000 per minute and in situations such as Pixar films,
you can expect animation to cost upwards of $100,000 per finished minute.
As you can see, the industry has so many possibilities
that determining the average cost of 1 minute animation can certainly be challenging."
Surely we can not compare our work with a big animation studio but don't sell your work for peanuts!
I set my rate at the moment at 40,- € per hour as I also have to pay rent for my studio:
This is surely not a dream rate, but I can live with it. (Still have a 20 hour daily rut job week at a basic school)
So, regarding 30 seconds TV spot, set your hourly rate, multiply with amount of hours and divide by 30 (price per sec) or double (price per min.).
See what numbers come out. Consider whether you and your work are worth it!
Regarding "how about if you are adding VFX to a live action video you shot for a local restaurant or other business?
Is the pricing different than if it was for a regional chain company?"
If you set an hourly rate, I would say no.
Though this is a moment where considering going higher because of chain company might work.
Sometimes you might even get your dream rate. Or not, and don't get the job...
But I think the first steps are doing animations (what you love to do) for money at all!
With some luck, you get more and more and you can raise your rate...
Yeah, hard decisions...
Toystorylab on Vimeo : 
Crassitudes (my "Alter Ego") on Youtube: 
Edited
2 Years Ago by
toystorylab