Erin, my main thought isn't too high or too low, but too complicated.

This was exactly my thought.

In the early days, my rates were very complex because I'd taken advice from some marketing gurus about creating multiple packages to meet every budget. That was a worse idea than even charging on a sliding scale.

In the end, I came up with three packages (one of which has only been used 3 times in 10 years!) and an ala carte option.

I do publish my rates, but when I was doing business consulting, I did not for precisely the reason Ginger mentioned. I found that it helped to publish a higher-end package of services as a basic estimate. Then, when people said, "That's great but I need you to do it for less" I was able to say, "Of course, which service would you like to cut?"

Most orgs went for the whole banana, but if they really, truly needed to negotiate, we could find a set of services that worked for both of us and I avoided feeling resentful.

This last point is key for me. In the beginning, I did a lot of negotiation and then ended up doing so much work, that I was paying them for the privilege.

Also, I felt no shame in adding what I like to call 'the hassle tax' for difficult groups...too many changes, negative energy, etc. Funnily enough, the clients I charged higher rates actually listened to what I said and got more out of it.

Oh, man, yes, everything what Bonny said!

Yeah, I agree with that feedback. Looking at that chart I wouldn`t know how much it was going to cost me to hire you. I wouldn`t know if my project was an overall rate or by page (how big a page?) or hourly and how many hours that would take, etc. Simpler is definitely better, so I could take a guess at how long and decide if it`s worth that amount of money to me.
 
The only peril I can see there is managing client expectations. We run into this a lot with recording clients. They are reticent to pay for extra time for preproduction, and don`t understand that the time they`re tracking in the studio is often a fraction of what they`ll need to pay overall (they`re welcome to come sit in on the mixing but usually hate it; it`s unimaginably tedious work). So a big part of our job is educating our clients up front as to what they can expect from the process. They are typically inexperienced clients, which I imagine your clientele will be as well. You`ll need to be able to educate them on what to expect working with you.

One problem with such a list is that it's a rare client who knows the difference between proofing and editing, particularly when the correct description is usually rewriting.

Ok, that makes total sense, and yep, I've been Reading Books on Business. Clearly, I need to edit: clarify and explain. KISS, right?

All right, that is the task for tomorrow.

Thanks, all!

Reading Books on Business

Oh lord. Save me from the adjacent websites!

It's like a frickin' disease! I can't seem to just know that I know what I need to know and not every theory is going to fit me.

For me, it's 2 parts fear and 3 parts procrastination, over 1 part curiosity.

Erk.

Oh my god, I am obsessed, bonny. It's like a sickness; my first instinct when I don't know something is to research the hell out of it.

I think I have 25 books checked out on Wordpress, business taxes, marketing, freelancing...it's crazy.

I've skimmed several, tossed a couple, and am working my way slowly through a few.

And of course, the internet. I've finally come to the point where I'm not READING everything, and I'm starting drafting stuff.

Erin, insent

Yeah, the process of reading everything in order to have the perfect website can take four or five years.

Hey, guys. A couple of questions...

Ok, I re-worked the services and rates section. Take a gander, if you would, and let me know if what I have now id better, too much, just right. [link]

(Note: website is still in beta; if you have any feedback about other parts of the website, I welcome them, too.)

Is it still too complicated? I tried to make it simple, information and friendly.

Question the 2nd -- How do people deal with payment issues? My Paypal account is through my personal email and goes into our general checking account; do I need to set up a merchant account, with a button and everything, or do I just give out PayPal info to clients when we have a contract? I think I need to start a separate business account, and sync that account to my wordslinger email addy.

Also, I know some people don't use PayPal. I don't want to get into the complicated world of credit cards, and I certainly don't want to be dealing with e-transfers; I don't want to give my account number out.

I'm thinking PayPal, check or money order. And I am going to require 1/2 of the payment down before I start a project.

Does this jibe with standard practices? Advice, warnings, good ideas?

Thanks!