How to talk about money with clients.
Setting your rate is an internal affair, for the most part. You make the call, and you ultimately live with the decision. Once you are done with that, however, you have to actually talk about those rates with clients. This is frightening territory for many freelancers. A combination of a lack of confidence and a fear of not landing the clients we need to pay the bills creates a fog of nervousness and doubt whenever we try talking about money.
To survive as a freelancer, you need to learn to talk about money. Confidently, firmly, and clearly. Failing at this part of the process means failing at it all. Over the years of building and growing my freelance work from two nights a week into a full-time, family-supporting business, I’ve learned (through painful trial and error) a few helpful principles that you can build into your freelancing framework. (more…)
