Learned It From Experience: L.I.F.E. Lesson #12
You started working with a client when you were new in your design business, so you charged them $50 an hour. Your hourly rate is now $125. Every month when the billing comes up you see that this client is still being billed at the $50 an hour rate.
What to do?
All the things run through your mind like
“Should I raise their rate?”
“How do I tell them I’m doing that?”
“I can’t possibly do it.”
“They will leave me.”
“They will be mad at me.”
The list goes on and on. It really boils down to imposter syndrome and your fear of standing up for what it is you deserve.
It is also about expectations. When we set expectations for our clients, there are fewer surprises and miscommunications.
First, let’s look at imposter syndrome. This is something you’ll have to work on, having the confidence to ask for the rate you are worth isn’t easy. It takes practice but you will feel so much better once you do. You don’t have to take a client that is at $50 all the way to your full rate at once. But you can let them know that your current rate is $125 and that they have been at the lower rate for longer than they should have. Here come the expectations. Let them know what they can expect. If it’s October, tell them that on January 1st their rate will increase to ’xyz’ whatever rate you feel is fair for that client.
Then moving forward, you can start adding that to all your invoices in the Fall before your rates go up on January 1st. If they expect it and can prepare that it is coming they can process it on their own time.
We often avoid the hard conversations, but then those conversations become even harder because we never addressed them. Take the tough stuff on. You will sleep better once you do!
This business isn’t always beautiful designs and rainbows. There are a lot of issues and tough conversations. We are the client’s designer, but also we are often their therapist and financial advisor. Know your limits and set realistic expectations not only for your clients but for yourself.
Do you need personalized support while building your design business? That is exactly what you will receive as a member of MYDB (Manage Your Design Business), where you’ll learn to thrive as an interior designer.
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