Charging for your services
Tip #1: Don’t be afraid to charge for your services
Tip #2: Set out reasonable expectations
Tip #3: Set out the timeframe
Tip #4: Deliver
Tip #5: Feedback and referrals
A topic being bandied about tonight at Web Wednesdays was ‘charging for your services’
At which point in time should a business start ‘charging for their services’?
The answer is this ~ from the start
Don’t be afraid to charge for your services
Not only will you benefit, but you will be able to provide more resources than if you offer a free service.
You’re effectively selling your time, and unless you’re a charity - time is precious
What are you worth per hour? and is this a fair representation for the work to be undertaken?
I’ll discuss setting hourly rates (or set-project rates) in a future blog
Set out reasonable expectations
When there is no tangible product, often the benefits are not seen by the client for some time.
Put in writing what you will offer, what is chargeable, what is free, and what outside resources the client will need to procure, so that there is no confusion and no reason to contest the invoice that you send.
Set out the timeframe
When can the client reasonably expect to receive your services?
Sales targets are often achieved over a specific timeframe. Bear this in mind when indicating ROI *.
Deliver
Self explanatory, and may lead to future work and referrals
Feedback and referrals
This step is often overlooked but is one of the most vital and binds all the others together
Often you can gain information to help make your customers experience a better one next time round
Referrals, a free form of advertising, can bring an added income stream to your businesses, and helps increase your goodwill, an asset in the eyes of the financial world.
ROI = Return on Investment
i.e how much you will make vs the outlay
