Know The Value Of Your Work

Your time is not free therefore the value of the work is not $0.

If you are a freelancer, I want to advise you to not let a potential client intimidate you because they feel your price is too high. Negotiating is a natural part of business, it’s a right for both the customer and the service provider. But if you know what your work is worth set your price and stick with it.

You customer will pay full price for a new phone or a new laptop because they know and accept the value of the product they are getting. But for some reason art, for example, is not perceived as a commodity with value. It may have spun out of nothingness in terms of raw materials and the time taken may make it seem effortless. But this does not take away from the value placed on it by its creator.

So the next time your asked to baked a cake, design a flyer, create a custom jewellery piece, let them know your price. If they agree to pay, take a nonrefundable deposit on the project.

This is to cover for both your efforts and the time spent. Your time is not free therefore the value of the work put in whether the customer likes it or not is not $0. You are in this to make money, not for smiles and thank yous.