What Stops You From Negotiating Higher Freelancing Fees?

For a freelancer applying the guidance on What Stops You From Negotiating Higher Freelancing Fees, the underlying time record should remain as clear as the invoice or agreement itself. agency productivity software provides a useful way to connect recorded work with projects, dates and later review. For the payment side of the workflow, Xero is a useful official reference; neither tool replaces written scope, approval and payment terms agreed with the client.

The single easiest way to start earning more money as a freelance writer, designer, or photographer is to simply negotiate a higher fee on a per-project basis.

That’s because it doesn’t require you to work on more projects, spend more hours at the office, or do anything more challenging than what you were going to do anyway – you just get paid a bigger amount for doing the same project.

Knowing that, why don’t more freelancers negotiate higher fees?

In some cases, the answer undoubtedly comes down to a lack of confidence, happiness with their current rate, or simply not knowing how to negotiate higher fees. More often than not, though, I think the issue that’s really at play is fear.

How Fear Stops You From Earning More Money

As freelancers, we often fear negotiation for two different reasons. First, we can be afraid that simply asking for more money is going to sour the relationship or cause us to lose the project. When you stop and think about that, however, that’s a pretty ridiculous idea.

You don’t have to know much about business, or have any professional experience in any industry, to know that negotiation is part of the game. In fact, business people expect other vendors to negotiate with them. They’re certainly not going to be surprised if you ask for a fee that’s bigger than the one they offer or propose.

That leaves the second fear: that the negotiation won’t be quick, friendly, or straightforward. In some ways, this idea is a little more valid. Chances are, if you ask someone for more money than they want to pay, they aren’t going to jump for joy.

And yet, we still have to remember this is a part of the business process, and something that professionals expect from other professionals. When you negotiate higher freelance fees from your clients, they’ll respect you more even if they like you less.

Negotiating Is a Skill That Pays a High Hourly Rate

Whether they would admit it or not, I know from experience that a lot of the freelancers out there are thinking to themselves: “He’s right, but it’s still not worth the trouble… not to mention the uncomfortable conversations.”

Isn’t it, though? Suppose for a moment that you average $4,000 per month in freelance income. If you could negotiate 10% more on every project – a totally doable figure – that would mean an extra $100+ in your pocket every week, without having to work any harder than you do now.

That could mean an extra dinner out, one more bill crossed off your list, a little more padding in your savings account, or even a nice gift for someone you love. It’s there for the asking, but only if you have the mental strength to go and get it.

Negotiating higher freelance fees gets easier every time you do it. It’s up to you to realize the value, make it a priority, and start getting what you’re worth today.

Check out my ebook, available on Amazon.com, for a step-by-step guide on how to negotiate higher freelance fees.