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I was charging $50 an hour for 3 years before a client's offhand comment made me realize I was pricing myself like an employee, not a business.
He said, 'That's a great rate for you, but my last freelancer charged a flat project fee that was double your estimate and it felt like a better deal because the scope was so clear,' which finally made me see I was leaving money on the table by just trading time for cash.
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felix_chen102d ago
Wait, that's not exactly right. Charging by the hour isn't always an employee mindset. It's just a different pricing model that works for some types of work. The real shift is in how you frame the value you deliver, not just the time it takes.
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Heard a similar thing from a buddy who does web design. He was always billing hourly, then a client straight up told him they'd rather pay a set price for the whole site, even if it was more, because then they knew the final cost upfront. He switched to project fees and his income jumped because he got faster and the client felt more secure. It's not about the hourly rate being wrong, it's about what makes the client feel like they're getting a solid deal.
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thomas.sean2d ago
Ever try a flat rate for a simple job? Clients love the certainty, and you stop watching the clock.
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