I want to talk today about why designers struggle to get paid what they are worth. We talk about how to get paid a lot, but what is it that causes us to get stuck?
Well, it often has to do with confidence.
It has to do with the confidence you have in explaining what you do and how a design job is going to work. Your confidence reflects directly to your client. If your client isn’t confident that you know exactly what you’re doing, it’s going to be rocky and get out of control.
And that’s when you end up not getting paid what you’re worth.
One of the things I’ve noticed is that designers often have a hard time talking about money. If you can’t talk about money comfortably, as in no negative or edgy energy, you are in trouble.
Remember, when you ask about a client’s budget, they think you’re asking how much money they have. That’s when they back off from you.
Then, because you don’t know what to do next, you end up leaving it alone. Not talking about money causes you to miss a key piece of your programming, and you’re not building confidence with your client.
When it comes to how much the design job will cost, you often quote $150 per hour. But that’s really an open-ended statement. It sounds really expensive, and it doesn’t actually tell the client what the design job will cost. That scenario will also scare off your potential clients. And you can’t flip your hours into a fee because you don’t have a budget.
Now, not knowing how to do this is not your fault. No one ever taught you.
Watch the video above where I explain what you can do if you’re uncomfortable talking about money. It’s important for you to take a look at what your story around money really is. I know it’s a tricky subject, and there’s a lot of emotional baggage tied to it.
Money isn’t good or bad. It’s just an energy form that we use to exchange goods and services with. It’s vital for you to get square with your money story, which often stems from experiences during your childhood that have turned into rules and beliefs that run your life. I also share in the video how you can discover what’s underneath your money story and let go of the old beliefs that don’t serve you anymore. When you do that, you can step into money conversations, get budgets, and get fees with ease…
and get paid what you’re worth.
If you like this kind of direction and support with what’s going on in your design business, I would like to invite you to my new,
FREE webinar series, Master Interior Design Fees (Like a Pro, With a Pro!)
It’s a three-part series where I’ll teach you how to transition from being the bargain-basement designer who undersells your talents to a creative whose services have a high value.
In this FREE training, I will teach you how to wow your clients, stay in control of your job, and instantly create more revenue.
Start running your business like a pro and register to attend now. But don’t wait too long to sign up as spots are filling up quickly, and the first segment starts this Monday!
Until next time, design something beautiful and get paid what you’re worth.