✦Business · 11 recordsSet your prices

Most independent pricing is a number that felt sayable once and never changed. This does the arithmetic — what an hour actually costs once unpaid time is counted — then tests a higher number on the next enquiry rather than the whole client list.

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Free on any plan. You will see this list again in the app, and nothing is created until you press install.

✦ Everything it creates

The whole plan, before you install it

Goal

A rate I can say without flinching Month 3

Derived from what an hour actually costs, then tested.

Do the arithmetic Week 4

Billable hours are far fewer than worked hours.

  • Work out what I need to earn a yearDo firstDay 7
  • Count the hours I can genuinely billDo firstWeek 2
  • Set the number that follows from those twoDo firstWeek 4

Test it Month 3

On new enquiries, where a no costs nothing.

  • Quote the new number on the next enquiryWeek 6
  • Quote it three more times before judging itMonth 2
  • Raise existing clients with noticeDo firstMonth 3

Routines

  • Log the hours actually billedweekly
✦ It comes with a note

If nobody ever says it is too expensive

The price is too low. Some people should decline, and the fear of hearing it once is what keeps most independents underpriced for years.\n\nBillable hours are far fewer than worked hours once admin, sales and gaps are counted. That is the number that makes a rate real.

✦ Questions

Set your prices, answered.

Start from what you need to earn, divided by the hours you can actually bill — which is far fewer than the hours you work, once admin, sales and gaps between jobs are counted. That number is usually a surprise.
On new enquiries first. It tests the number where a no costs you nothing, and by the time you raise existing clients you have evidence rather than nerves, which changes how the conversation goes.
Some should. If nobody ever says it, the price is too low — the plan says so plainly, because the fear of hearing it once is what keeps most independents underpriced for years.
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