Being in Charge of What You Charge
EDITOR'S NOTE
That's a regular question when you're self-employed, "How do you know what to charge?"
There're only two questions to answer here:
1. Why are you doing this?
2. What clients/projects do you want to work for?
If you know why you're doing this then you know where to draw the line in terms of your payment rates. If you still can't connect money with the need to do what you love, then try to make the question money specific, for how much money would you continue doing what you do? Like, "If I don't make X amount of money, then I prefer to do something else for a living. My passion will be just my side gig." This is your base rate.
The second question is interrelated to the first one and gives you some space to variate. Do you want exciting projects, clients who can afford you, clients who understand that quality is an investment? Are you willing to take on projects you don't feel passionate about but pay the bill? This is your flexible rate. This comes on top of your base rate, which is non-negotiable.
Answer these two questions and you'll know what to charge.
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In all honesty, if you don't know what to charge or if you're afraid to charge what you need then you risk going nowhere with what you do. It's always us deciding when it's worth it.
Sofia Simeonidou
Freelance Storyteller-Editor at www.sofiasimeonidou.com
