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You Can Be Generous and Still Charge for the Work You Do

By Angelique Mercurio

You write the proposal, read it back, and hover over the price. Before the client has said a word, you've already thought about lowering it. Then you add an extra call or offer to include something you usually charge for. You want them to feel taken care of. A few weeks later, you're wondering how a job you were excited about ended up taking over your schedule.

I appreciate business owners who know what they bring to the table and treat people with kindness. Those qualities can live in the same conversation. You can care about a client's budget, explain what's included, and give them room to decide.

Start with what it actually takes to deliver the service

Pick one offer and walk through it from the first inquiry to the last follow-up. A photographer may spend an hour shooting, then several more hours planning, editing, and delivering the gallery. A tradesperson may spend time sourcing materials, traveling, and answering questions before the job even starts. A coach may review notes and prepare resources between sessions.

Put those hours and direct costs on paper. Then ask yourself, if I booked three more of these next month at this price and with this scope, would I be glad I did? Your answer can point you toward the real issue. You might need to adjust the rate, narrow what's included, or change how many appointments you offer.

Give clients a sentence they can understand

Practice saying the price and what the client receives in one breath. For example, "This package is $__ and includes the planning call, the session, and the final deliverables. If you'd like additional support, I can price that separately."

It helps to have a response ready for extra requests, too. Try, "I can add that. Let me send you the cost and timing before we get started." You're giving the client a choice and protecting time you've already committed elsewhere.

Make it easy for the right people to find and refer you

I laugh at the idea that someone could be flirting and I'd just think, wow, they're nice. Business has its own version of that. People can enjoy your posts, like your personality, and still miss that you offer exactly the service they need.

Say who the offer is for, what they can bring to it, and what to do next. Tell referral partners something they can remember. "If you know a service provider who's busy but keeps undercharging for custom work, I can help them review their pricing and what's included" gives someone a person to picture.

If you'd like help working through your pricing, packaging, or how to talk about your offer, bring one service to a Signature Strategy Session. We'll look at what's happening and choose three changes you can act on.

Two hours · $222.22 · Virtual nationwide or in Middletown, New York, by appointment

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