Comments on: How Much is Your Time Worth? http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs - FreelanceSwitch Sat, 30 Aug 2008 05:03:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: דברים קטנים » שינויים לכאן ולכאן (שעוד לא ממש הולכים לשומקום)‏ http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-26382 דברים קטנים » שינויים לכאן ולכאן (שעוד לא ממש הולכים לשומקום)‏ Sun, 03 Aug 2008 01:37:25 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-26382 [...] מעניין בבלוג (המומלץ!) Freelance Switch מנסה להתמודד עם השאלה הפילוסופית של "כמה הזמן שלי שווה", ומציע את הפתרון המחשבתי הבא: In fact, if you were selling shoes and a [...] […] מעניין בבלוג (המומלץ!) Freelance Switch מנסה להתמודד עם השאלה הפילוסופית של “כמה הזמן שלי שווה”, ומציע את הפתרון המחשבתי הבא: In fact, if you were selling shoes and a […]

]]> By: MUCKING OUT THE BLOGPILE… http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-18548 MUCKING OUT THE BLOGPILE… Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:00:49 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-18548 [...] the pile. The end result is that I have to go back and do a bit of shoveling. Today’s item is How Much is Your Time Worth? digg_url="http://havecoffeewillwrite.com/?p=7021"; digg_skin = [...] […] the pile. The end result is that I have to go back and do a bit of shoveling. Today’s item is How Much is Your Time Worth? digg_url=”http://havecoffeewillwrite.com/?p=7021″; digg_skin = […]

]]> By: The Baldchemist http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-18377 The Baldchemist Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:29:51 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-18377 Thanks for the very timely reminder. Regarding Piccaso; When being challenged about the price of his work. The punter had asked how Picasso could justify thousands of dollars for one of his works when the canvas, oils brushes and frame only cost 100 dollars. Picasso replied "heres a hundred bucks- you do it". The Baldchemist Thanks for the very timely reminder. Regarding Piccaso; When being challenged about the price of his work. The punter had asked how Picasso could justify thousands of dollars for one of his works when the canvas, oils brushes and frame only cost 100 dollars. Picasso replied “heres a hundred bucks- you do it”.
The Baldchemist

]]> By: Matthew Cornell http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-17839 Matthew Cornell Fri, 07 Mar 2008 14:02:35 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-17839 Excellent, excellent point. When I started my self-employed career, I promised myself to use these principles (my favorite writing is Alan Weiss's "Value based fees"). You *will* get pushback, though, so be prepared. As you say, charging for time is very accepted and expected - you have to get creative, firm, and stick to your approach. And be willing to walk away from work. This takes self-esteem and a rock-solid belief in your value; it's probably the biggest issue blocking taking this direction. An example: I have a good client who returned and asked for me on retainer. She wanted a very standard approach like she has with her lawyers: $/hr. I considered it, then decided to counter-propose the kind of unlimited access arrangement Weiss recommends. I haven't heard back, but I'm sure she'll reject it. Which is fine. My time is potentially *much* more valuable than even $300/hr. One hour with a client could pay off in the thousands (time saved, improved focus, mind freed for new product and sales ideas, etc.) Is this risky? Sure. Does this bolster my opinion of myself? Yes. Does it send this CEO a message? Maybe. Thanks! Excellent, excellent point. When I started my self-employed career, I promised myself to use these principles (my favorite writing is Alan Weiss’s “Value based fees”). You *will* get pushback, though, so be prepared. As you say, charging for time is very accepted and expected - you have to get creative, firm, and stick to your approach. And be willing to walk away from work. This takes self-esteem and a rock-solid belief in your value; it’s probably the biggest issue blocking taking this direction.

An example: I have a good client who returned and asked for me on retainer. She wanted a very standard approach like she has with her lawyers: $/hr. I considered it, then decided to counter-propose the kind of unlimited access arrangement Weiss recommends. I haven’t heard back, but I’m sure she’ll reject it. Which is fine. My time is potentially *much* more valuable than even $300/hr. One hour with a client could pay off in the thousands (time saved, improved focus, mind freed for new product and sales ideas, etc.) Is this risky? Sure. Does this bolster my opinion of myself? Yes. Does it send this CEO a message? Maybe.

Thanks!

]]> By: Eric Davis http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16763 Eric Davis Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:33:01 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16763 I once heard a joke about pricing programming jobs: "Find out what your client's psychologist charges and charge a little less than that. Then the project will be a bargain for them" I once heard a joke about pricing programming jobs:

“Find out what your client’s psychologist charges and charge a little less than that. Then the project will be a bargain for them”

]]> By: Dwayne Charrington http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16660 Dwayne Charrington Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:19:42 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16660 This article contained some great advice. I have similar techniques I apply to my Freelancing every now and then to keep the money flowing. I think the reason so many Freelancers charge so little is the fact they want the work, they want to beat everyone else to the project and they'll charge low to prove a point. The ones that charge the lowest are usually the cheapest / quickest and nastiest Freelancers you will ever deal with. - Dwayne Charrington. http://www.dwaynecharrington.com This article contained some great advice. I have similar techniques I apply to my Freelancing every now and then to keep the money flowing.

I think the reason so many Freelancers charge so little is the fact they want the work, they want to beat everyone else to the project and they’ll charge low to prove a point. The ones that charge the lowest are usually the cheapest / quickest and nastiest Freelancers you will ever deal with.

- Dwayne Charrington.
http://www.dwaynecharrington.com

]]> By: Overheard in the Blogosphere 15 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16615 Overheard in the Blogosphere 15 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:51:29 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16615 [...] Ilise Benun Most of it works. Typo spamming, keyword stuffing, social network spamming, video spamming, google [...] […] Ilise Benun Most of it works. Typo spamming, keyword stuffing, social network spamming, video spamming, google […]

]]> By: Speed Linking- How Much is Your Time Worth « The Writer’s Project http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16593 Speed Linking- How Much is Your Time Worth « The Writer’s Project Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:59:11 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16593 [...] Linking- How Much is Your Time Worth This is good article about how to charge for your freelance work that I came across over at Freelance Switch. How do you [...] […] Linking- How Much is Your Time Worth This is good article about how to charge for your freelance work that I came across over at Freelance Switch. How do you […]

]]> By: Lindsey http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16532 Lindsey Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:39:45 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16532 I always get nervous when I employ a freelancer on an hourly basis. It leaves too much up in the air, and is just plain risky on my side of the equation. While you can alter this by writing a max number of hours into a contract, I think the better solution is to just price by the project. That way the employer knows the set fees, and if you get it done faster, it's a bonus for both parties. You can always have a clause that states the number of revisions, etc. before going into an hourly rate. Plus, as a freelancer, you can always base the project estimation on your hourly rate without outright stating that is what you're doing. I do, and it works great for me. I always get nervous when I employ a freelancer on an hourly basis. It leaves too much up in the air, and is just plain risky on my side of the equation. While you can alter this by writing a max number of hours into a contract, I think the better solution is to just price by the project. That way the employer knows the set fees, and if you get it done faster, it’s a bonus for both parties. You can always have a clause that states the number of revisions, etc. before going into an hourly rate. Plus, as a freelancer, you can always base the project estimation on your hourly rate without outright stating that is what you’re doing. I do, and it works great for me.

]]> By: elgee http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16515 elgee Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:16:03 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-much-is-your-time-worth/#comment-16515 The argument in the article seems logically inconsistent. It starts out by asserting that the value of the service being quoted should be viewed objectively (like that price of a pair of shoes), and that, "...It has nothing to do with you" But a few paragraphs later, the author says, "What you are selling is your brain, your attention and your creative imagination applied to a client’s specific problem, and that has a value. It’s not an objective value;" Well if what I'm selling is my brain, it has a LOT to do with me. One can't have it both ways. Either the service being sold should be viewed objectively, and the price of a web site (say) is the price of a web site. Or what's being sold is not objective at all, but rather the creative applicatoin of the supplier's brain, which should be evaluated on the quality of the creative ideas said brain produces. Which is it? The argument in the article seems logically inconsistent. It starts out by asserting that the value of the service being quoted should be viewed objectively (like that price of a pair of shoes), and that, “…It has nothing to do with you”

But a few paragraphs later, the author says, “What you are selling is your brain, your attention and your creative imagination applied to a client’s specific problem, and that has a value. It’s not an objective value;” Well if what I’m selling is my brain, it has a LOT to do with me.

One can’t have it both ways. Either the service being sold should be viewed objectively, and the price of a web site (say) is the price of a web site. Or what’s being sold is not objective at all, but rather the creative applicatoin of the supplier’s brain, which should be evaluated on the quality of the creative ideas said brain produces. Which is it?

]]>