It's so hard for me to charge my worth

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amother

Yesterday at 11:06 pm

Who determines what my worth is?
I teach a certain skill in group classes, and I'm frequently asked if I would take on private students. I almost always turn them down because I'm too embarrassed to charge what my time is worth.
Sometimes camps or schools want to hire me for an activity and I have a really hard time charging them so I undervalue myself.
I always either feel bad for the person who is asking or I am afraid of losing the job.
Anyone else have this? How do I get over it?
(And finances are very tight . It's not like I cannot use the money.)

hkwl2

Yesterday at 11:08 pm

amother OP wrote:

Follow Michelle Mozes on Instagram. My DH was having a similar issue to what you’re describing when he started his business. I sent him in her direction and it gave him the confidence to create set prices and stick with it.

amother

Azalea

Yesterday at 11:08 pm

I would say I wouldn’t mind taking on a one on one student but I have to make $___ an hour for it to be worth it for me.

You’ll get a few no’s but once you get a few yesses you’ll be more confident and maybe even up your price.

amother

Poppy

Today at 12:28 am

Very much relate. What helped was, when I named a price thinking in my head that I will get laughed out of the room, and instead, the client didn't blink and said ok and wrote out a check. That was shocking. Challenge yourself or force yourself to do this a few times and you will feel encouraged when your customers take you seriously.

I also acknowledged to myself that I am not interested in spending time on a client if I'm not making $x money. I would start to feel resentful and upset with myself for agreeing to a lower fee. I tried to remind myself of those feelings before naming my price so that I wouldn't regret it.

synthy ↓

Today at 12:31 am

Think of an amount that makes you slightly uncomfortable, then double it.

amother

Crocus

Today at 1:25 am

I totally get you! No advice tho lol

effess

Today at 1:33 am

My policy is, charge the amount that will make you happy you did it. And then want to do it again.

amother

Antiquewhite

Today at 2:05 am

When I started a service, for the first year or so I knew I was undercharging but I looked at it as an investment because I used those clients to perfect my skill and learn on the job, so to speak.

The next year I raised my price and tested the waters by stating it very confidently when people asked what I charge. One or two people said "I'll let you know" but most hired me. Recently, people heard about me by word of mouth and judging by the amount of recommendation I got, I realized that I have something valuable to offer. I raised my price slightly and now I'm keeping it here. I state the price as part of the rest of the information in my initial response.

If you act confident in your abilities people pick up on it and pay for what they value.

amother

Amethyst

Today at 5:57 am

It was hard for me too. I finally raised my price this year and so happy I did.

amother

Opal

Today at 6:32 am

I work privately and have the same problem. My therapist really encouraged me to raise my fees. So I charge what om worth for new clients but still haven't had the heart to raise my prices on my old clients.

oneofakind

Today at 8:04 am

Charge the going rate. If everyone charges that, so can you.

amother

Plum

Today at 8:23 am

synthy wrote:

Think of an amount that makes you slightly uncomfortable, then double it.

Why?

↑ synthy

Today at 8:40 am

amother Plum wrote:

Why?

I didn’t make it up. But for someone like us, at a minimum it’s a good excessive to reframe. “I don’t think they’ll want to pay more than $300 so I’ll charge that to make sure I get the sale. Hmm, 350? What about $700?”
Obviously if the going rate is way less than that there’s no point in being unreasonable. But for most people who have a problem charging their worth this should get pretty close to accurate.

You don’t want to charge less and have more customers. Maybe the first year yes, but once you have established that people like your work you need to focus on bigger opportunities. More clients for less doesn’t equal the same amount of money as less clients for more, it just means you are more overworked and get burnt out faster.

Also, if you charge too little, others will perceive you as being lower quality. If you confidently state your (even overpriced) price they’ll assume that’s what you’re worth.

But like everything, use common sense. If most people drop you once they hear your price it’s obviously too high.

amother

Purple

Today at 8:47 am

Aim for some people to say no because the fees too high. If everyone says yes, it means you’re undercharging.

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