Learn how to charge more money and increase your leverage in business. Discover the downsides of the subscription business model and explore a hybrid model. Find out why selling time punishes you and how to communicate your value effectively. Master complimentary skills to increase your value and scale through price increases.
Increasing prices allows you to scale your business more efficiently than getting more customers.
Switching from hourly billing to fixed deliverables or performance pricing aligns your pricing with the value you provide to clients.
Deep dives
The Importance of Charging More for Your Services
Charging more money for your services is a key strategy to increase leverage in your business. By focusing on price and fulfillment, you can ensure that for each hour you work, you get more out in return. Scaling your business by increasing prices is more efficient than trying to get more customers. Positioning yourself as a business instead of a freelancer allows you to command higher rates. Additionally, stacking complimentary skills and continuously increasing the value you provide to clients are effective ways to charge higher prices.
The Problem with Selling Time and Hourly Billing
Selling time for money and using hourly billing can be detrimental to your business. It creates a disconnect between what clients want, fast results, and the need to work more hours to make more money. Hourly billing also limits your ability to charge based on the value you create. Instead, consider switching to fixed deliverables or performance pricing to align your pricing with the outcomes and value you provide to clients.
Overcoming the Fear of Asking for Higher Prices
Many entrepreneurs hesitate to charge higher prices due to fear of rejection. However, the people who get paid the most are the ones who ask for it. To overcome this fear, start by testing the 'FU price' with clients who are not an ideal fit. This allows you to explore higher prices without the fear of losing out on money. Remember that there is no ceiling to pricing, and continually increasing your prices with each new client and project is a key strategy to scale your business.
Increasing Value and Stacking Complimentary Skills
To charge higher prices, it is essential to constantly increase the value you provide to clients. Surrounding your core skill with complimentary skills allows you to create more value and solve a wider range of problems. Additionally, positioning yourself as a business rather than a freelancer enables you to command higher rates. By stacking skills and consistently improving, you can deliver better results and charge more money for your services.