#233 Raise Your Prices Guilt Free VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR
Aug 19, 2020
Are you ready to raise your prices? Are you feeling a little bit of guilt at the thought of what people are suggesting you charge? Keep reading.
When I started out, I didn't have a financial safety net, as a result, there was quite a bit of urgency around making money. I needed to feed the family and find a place to live - let's say things weren't good.
I really struggled because I wanted to give it all away. I didn't know how to square my heart to serve with the "profit motive".
Many folks are hobbyists - doing what they love - not to pay the bills but for other reasons. This post is not intended for you. If you're someone who wants to charge market value for your products and services and you're struggling with internal guilt around the price tag, continue reading.
As a matter of fact, if you feel judging feelings coming up right now toward those of us who charge large, you are in the right place.
I did what most business owners do - I did market research. Holy cow! I couldn't believe how much people were charging for the things that I was doing for FREE or at a very low cost.
When I was in the military, I did not worry about whether I was getting paid enough for what I was doing. Now that I was responsible for my own quality of life and having enough money coming in was definitely going to impact how I lived, charging what I was worth was a must.
Oh the guilt.
Looking back, I think that I didn't understand the concept of the exchange of value. What I do know is that a heart to serve can co-exist with a profit motive. I give a ton of value for the money I charge. I also have a service component or social enterprise built into my business.
I've also learned that the clients that were around me in those early days, the folks who demanded a lot without paying - they're no longer in my world. I deliver value that is equal to my price and I feel confident when I quote a job. No guilt here.
