How I price freelance projects now
Why I stopped quoting hours, and the three questions I ask before sending any number.
I used to quote hours. Clients compared my hours with someone cheaper, and I lost the projects I wanted most.
Price the outcome
A checkout that converts better is worth more than the time it takes to build. I now start every quote from what the work changes for the client's business.
Three questions first
- What happens if this project does not ship?
- How will we know it worked?
- Who decides, and by when?
The answers tell me more about the right price than any estimate sheet.
Offer options
Every proposal has three versions: a focused one, the recommended one and an ambitious one. People like choosing; they dislike being told yes or no.
Write the scope down
Anything not in the proposal is a new conversation, not a favour. It keeps the relationship friendly long after launch.
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