Pricing your work for what it's worth

Valerie
July 21, 2009

I had to make a crucial decision and surprisingly, it wasn’t when I started my business, but rather right in the middle of my success.

I had to decide if it was going to be more important for me to accommodate my clients and their budgets or accommodate my rent. Guess what? The rent won! I have had so many of my clients try to negotiate with me on my prices. I’m sure that all freelancers have. And don’t get me wrong, there are times when negotiation is fair and reasonable. But please do not, I repeat, DO NOT allow pushy clients to make you feel that you are overpriced simply because you are charging what you feel that you’re worth. Of course, you must account for your competition and their pricing. You don’t want to charge $1,000 for a job that is only worth $500. But, there is a difference between being overpriced and being confident. Now, if you’re like me, you have a heart for nonprofit organizations and religious organizations that may not have the funds to afford the type of graphic design that you offer. If this is the case, perhaps you’d be interested in creating a separate division of your company that is dedicated to pro-bono or discounted work for a particular type of client. Or, you might want to do a trade off and choose particular events that your favorite churches or charities put on and exchange design work in order to be listed as a sponsor. You could do these projects on a regular basis or at specific times, but keep it regulated. Your time is valuable, and its worth should not be compromised due to cheap clients. What do you think? Do you have trouble sticking to your guns, price-wise?

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