Do you want to make more money?
Are you tired of working hard and not having anything to show for it?
Well, it could be as easy as simply raising your fees.
From my experience consulting with and presenting workshops and programs
for creative professionals, there is only a small percentage who are actually
charging appropriate fees for their creative services. Most are charging
far too little for their talent and are struggling to make ends meet -
even when they have enough customers.

HOW TO RAISE FEES

Just raise them. Look at what you've charged in the past and add another
10, 20, 40, 50 percent - or even more - to your current fees.
Another great way to start raising fees is to offer your client more
than one option (or package) when you present a proposal.
I suggest offering three options: a low, a middle, and a high option.
Make your lowest option what you are charging currently, and your middle
and high options even higher, making sure to keep the value of each option
in line with the pricing. That way, you will feel more comfortable with the
fees and your client will love that he is getting to make a choice.
It's a win-win.

WHAT IF PEOPLE THINK THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH?

The first (and most difficult) person you have to convince of the value
of your pricing is yourself. If you don't believe anyone will pay more for
your services, then they won't. Just look around you at the amount of money
people spend on every day items such as cars, houses, lawn service, meals,
house cleaning, clothing, and electronic devices. People are willing to
spend money (lots of money) on items they believe are valuable to them.
If the client thinks your prices are too high you are either selling to the
wrong type of person or you didn't do a good job uncovering what is important
and valuable to the customer - or both. If you aren't able to close a deal
because the client thinks your price is too high, then move on or brush up on
your sales and fact gathering skills.
(See the teleseminar series information below or
click here if you are interested in increasing your selling or fact gathering skills.)
You shouldn't get every potential customer that comes your way.
If you are I can guarantee you are charging too little.
It's OK if a few people don't hire you. In fact, it's a good thing.

HOW DO I CHARGE HIGHER FEES TO CURRENT OR REPEAT CLIENTS?

Great clients are those who are a breeze to work with, hire you for repeat business,
and/or refer lots of great clients to you. One way to ease these great clients
into higher fees is to let them know about the fee change and reinforce
how important they are to you. Tell them that fees are increasing
(or have increased) but since they are such a great customer
that you will give them a discount on the new fees for a period of time.
For example, if your current fees to the client are $1,000 and you raise
them to $2,000 then tell the client about the new fee, but that you will
discount the fee to $1,500 for any project they schedule for the remainder of the year.
Once the year is over, put your fees up to where they are for everyone else.
If you position this as a bonus to the client and not as an apology for
raising fees, the great clients will stay with you and pay the higher prices.
In the end, you have to remember:
you are providing a fantastic service and deserve to be paid appropriately for it.
Don't feel bad about charging or accepting fees and stop trying to figure
out what the client is willing to pay. If you understand what is important
to the client and can provide a service they feel is valuable,
money really won't be an issue. So, let go of your negative feelings about money
and start charging what you are worth.
Others are charging well for their services and you can, too!
Just get out of your own way and raise your prices today!