When to charge a rush fee for custom orders
Custom requests with short lead times consume schedule flexibility. Here is how niche operators in Taiwan set rush fees without alienating loyal clients.
A florist in North District Taichung called us after accepting a wedding arch order with ten days’ notice — half her usual minimum. The materials were manageable; the problem was displacing two corporate standing orders she had already confirmed. She completed the arch, lost one corporate client, and earned less per hour than her standard wedding work.
Rush fees exist to cover displacement, not to punish clients. They signal that accepting a short-notice request has a real cost in declined or rescheduled work.
Define what counts as rush
Write down your standard lead time for each service category: everyday arrangements, event installations, custom baked goods, portrait sessions. Rush is any request inside that window. For many operators in Taiwan, wedding florals need 21–30 days while small bouquet orders need 48 hours.
Calculate the displacement cost
List what you would decline or delay to fulfil the rush job. If that displaced work equals TWD 8,000 in margin, your rush fee should approach that figure — not a arbitrary 20% markup on materials.
Communicate before quoting
When a client asks “can you do it by Friday?”, respond with your standard timeline first, then offer the rush option with the fee stated plainly. Clients who value speed will pay; those who hesitate were often price-sensitive anyway.
Seasonal adjustment
During Lunar New Year or wedding peak, your calendar has less slack. Raise rush thresholds or fees during those windows and publish the dates on your booking page so the rule feels consistent, not personal.
Rush fees feel awkward until they are written down. Once they are part of your price sheet, the conversation shifts from negotiation to scheduling.