Comments on: How to Start Charging Your Dream Rates (and Get Away With It) http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/ Freelance Advice and Freelance Jobs - FreelanceSwitch Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:51:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Ask Nubby #3: Time and Money Management for Freelancers | Nubbytwiglet.com http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-21548 Ask Nubby #3: Time and Money Management for Freelancers | Nubbytwiglet.com Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:41:46 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-21548 [...] but the dream doesn’t always align with the reality. In order to charge these rates, Freelance Switch suggests that your clients: 1. Need to believe you’re worth it 2. Must be able to afford it [...] […] but the dream doesn’t always align with the reality. In order to charge these rates, Freelance Switch suggests that your clients: 1. Need to believe you’re worth it 2. Must be able to afford it […]

]]> By: How to Charge Your Dream Rate : Women’s Earning Institute http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-18716 How to Charge Your Dream Rate : Women’s Earning Institute Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:12:23 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-18716 [...] is an awesome article posted on Freelance.com called How to Start Charging Your Dream Rates (and Get Away With It) Skellie writes about the three factors that will determine whether your clients accept your [...] […] is an awesome article posted on Freelance.com called How to Start Charging Your Dream Rates (and Get Away With It) Skellie writes about the three factors that will determine whether your clients accept your […]

]]> By: Men with Pens Web Content Writers and Freelance Writing Services http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-18059 Men with Pens Web Content Writers and Freelance Writing Services Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:21:04 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-18059 [...] your take on it? How do you feel when someone tells you to charge what you’re worth? Are you wondering about your rates? Do you examine them all the time? Do you feel that your service’s dollar value is equal to [...] […] your take on it? How do you feel when someone tells you to charge what you’re worth? Are you wondering about your rates? Do you examine them all the time? Do you feel that your service’s dollar value is equal to […]

]]> By: Karen Burns, Working Girl » Earn Your Worth http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-17028 Karen Burns, Working Girl » Earn Your Worth Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:58:03 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-17028 [...] Better to do it for free than for less than your full fee.  (For more inspiration, here’s a great post from Freelance Switch on how to set your dream [...] […] Better to do it for free than for less than your full fee.  (For more inspiration, here’s a great post from Freelance Switch on how to set your dream […]

]]> By: Kelly http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-16698 Kelly Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:41:07 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-16698 Skellie, You made some great points here. I think Rich McCoy's comments hit it squarely, also. Let the client see all the elements, then they can discuss removing elements, just as they would if building a house ("oh I guess I don't need the granite countertops after all") or even at the grocery store ("I'll skip the filet mignon this week"). Plus, seeing all the elements involved, time and "deliverables," tells the client that you don't just sit on your behind until an hour before a project's due at the printer's or wherever and then whip it out of your genetically-amazing creative mind; you sweat your work just like they sweat theirs. It is also critical, in this day and age, to show them the ROI. If there is any way for you to quantify: money saved; time saved; or best yet, <b>money made,</b> by using your services, DO THAT in your proposal. Nobody likes to leave money on the table. Shh!! Promise you won't tell-- The secret to charging your dream rates, which I was given long ago by a colleague is this phrase, to be used in your initial meeting (data-gathering, pre-presentation) with client: "I'll put food on the table next week whether we do business or not, so I want you to make sure you feel we're a good fit." Use it and mean it. When you <em>don't</em> sound desperate and <em>do</em> sound busy, clients want to work with you. Regards, Kelly Skellie,

You made some great points here. I think Rich McCoy’s comments hit it squarely, also. Let the client see all the elements, then they can discuss removing elements, just as they would if building a house (”oh I guess I don’t need the granite countertops after all”) or even at the grocery store (”I’ll skip the filet mignon this week”). Plus, seeing all the elements involved, time and “deliverables,” tells the client that you don’t just sit on your behind until an hour before a project’s due at the printer’s or wherever and then whip it out of your genetically-amazing creative mind; you sweat your work just like they sweat theirs.

It is also critical, in this day and age, to show them the ROI. If there is any way for you to quantify: money saved; time saved; or best yet, money made, by using your services, DO THAT in your proposal. Nobody likes to leave money on the table.

Shh!! Promise you won’t tell–

The secret to charging your dream rates, which I was given long ago by a colleague is this phrase, to be used in your initial meeting (data-gathering, pre-presentation) with client: “I’ll put food on the table next week whether we do business or not, so I want you to make sure you feel we’re a good fit.” Use it and mean it. When you don’t sound desperate and do sound busy, clients want to work with you.

Regards,

Kelly

]]> By: Men with Pens Web Content Writers and Freelance Writing Services http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-16684 Men with Pens Web Content Writers and Freelance Writing Services Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:55:45 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-16684 [...] go forth and prosper. If you liked this post, share it with others! These icons link to social bookmarking sites where [...] […] go forth and prosper. If you liked this post, share it with others! These icons link to social bookmarking sites where […]

]]> By: BrianCoyDesign http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-16214 BrianCoyDesign Fri, 08 Feb 2008 21:21:17 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-16214 Great article! I fall into the trap of taking on to much work at one time. After readying this I'm realizing that I need to raise my rates as my personal time is non-existent and if more than one clients needs me then I should be able to charge more for the time/project. Great article! I fall into the trap of taking on to much work at one time. After readying this I’m realizing that I need to raise my rates as my personal time is non-existent and if more than one clients needs me then I should be able to charge more for the time/project.

]]> By: Lynn Cummings http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-15836 Lynn Cummings Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:58:42 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-15836 So far as I'm concerned, my project quotes are non-negotiable. Once you start "bargaining" with clients over your payment scale, you've immediately lost respect. This article is dead-on. That said, there are some key components that entitle a contractor to charge on a higher payscale: 1) Years of experience 2) A portfolio that reflects those years of experience 3) Continually researching, studying and learning new technologies, practices and tools When I first began my web dev business 12 years ago, I charged modestly, as is fitting. With experience and improvement at my craft, I began charging more. It's like anything else, really. In all these years, I can only remember a few times when a client actually asked for a reduced rate, and in every case these were friends or relatives. My best advice is to never, ever engage yourself in an argument with a client who tries to talk you into charging less. If you are charging a fair rate in accordance with the items above, then you do not need to defend your rates to clients. Simply move on with grace. If your experience and portfolio merit it, you will not have trouble finding work. Excellent article! So far as I’m concerned, my project quotes are non-negotiable. Once you start “bargaining” with clients over your payment scale, you’ve immediately lost respect. This article is dead-on.

That said, there are some key components that entitle a contractor to charge on a higher payscale:
1) Years of experience
2) A portfolio that reflects those years of experience
3) Continually researching, studying and learning new technologies, practices and tools

When I first began my web dev business 12 years ago, I charged modestly, as is fitting. With experience and improvement at my craft, I began charging more. It’s like anything else, really.

In all these years, I can only remember a few times when a client actually asked for a reduced rate, and in every case these were friends or relatives. My best advice is to never, ever engage yourself in an argument with a client who tries to talk you into charging less. If you are charging a fair rate in accordance with the items above, then you do not need to defend your rates to clients. Simply move on with grace. If your experience and portfolio merit it, you will not have trouble finding work.

Excellent article!

]]> By: Meryl.net » Links: 2008-02-01 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-15764 Meryl.net » Links: 2008-02-01 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:57:04 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-15764 [...] How to Start Charging Your Dream Rates [Link: Freelance Folder] [...] […] How to Start Charging Your Dream Rates [Link: Freelance Folder] […]

]]> By: January’s best webdesign resources | marriners.net http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-15710 January’s best webdesign resources | marriners.net Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:10:19 +0000 http://freelanceswitch.com/money/how-to-start-charging-your-dream-rates-and-get-away-with-it/#comment-15710 [...] Switch published yet another fabolus artical on how to charge your dream rates for your work, well worth checking [...] […] Switch published yet another fabolus artical on how to charge your dream rates for your work, well worth checking […]

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