Should freelancers charge more than regular employees? Hell, yeah!
It’s a shame to see independent contractors underbidding each other left and right just to win that project, until they end up with less than half their original bid – and sometimes to almost nothing compared to what they’re really worth.
Freelancers aren’t ordinary workers, and this alone justifies why we shouldn’t be selling ourselves short. To explain further, here are the reasons why we should be charging more than the average salaried laborer:
1. Freelancers are Flexibile
We are not bound by the standards set in an office. Unlike employees, we do not have to be confined within our “rank” in the workplace, or toil from 9 to 5, or answer to a boss. We can make our own decisions and work anytime, for as long as we want. Because there is no office politics, there’s nothing to prevent us from doing our thing our way, just to get the job done.
2. Freelancers are Resourceful and Creative
Freelancers go the extra mile – because they can. As independent workers, there’s no limit to what we can do. Every talent and skill that we have is utilized, and this is what clients pay us for. We bring more to the table in less time than an ordinary employee; we manage our own schedules and are consummate multi-taskers. A freelancer often works alone, but has multiple responsibilities.
3. Freelancers are Cost and Time Efficient
Because we’re flexible and resourceful, our services are actually cost efficient and time efficient. We can do the job of ten people, but we could be paid half the price. We don’t bill our clients for coffee breaks or idle time. They don’t have to worry about providing us with office equipment or workspace – we’ve supplied our own! They may call us in the middle of the night, but put it this way: our inconvenience is their convenience, and it’s something they will never get from a 9 to 5 worker. Charging them extra for that is totally justified.
And finally, all transactions are done between you and the client – no one else. Negotiations and payments are done directly; there are no third parties involved to botch the deal or pad the rates just to get a cut from the fee.
4. Freelancers can Empathize
Because we are ourselves businessmen, we understand our clients, and know how they feel. Regular office employees normally care only for their designated positions; the state that the business is in doesn’t matter much as long as they get paid to do their work. But for freelancers, we seriously believe that our client’s success is also our success. For this reason, we put extra effort into what we do, and sometimes sacrifice our own personal activities to accommodate their needs.
5. Freelancers are More Vulnerable to Risk
While it may appear that freelancers like to live on the edge, they normally have little to no protection in case they run into trouble. Employees get to enjoy the security of a regular salary plus work benefits like paid leaves or accident insurance, but we have none of those. Instead, we are left to put into practice our own safety measures. Charging more than an employee is one way of putting personal insurance into place.
6. Freelancers Need to Entice
When we enter a store and find a cheap version of what we’re looking for, we automatically think that the product is of poor quality – that’s how the consumer’s mind works. The same rationale goes for a freelancer’s rates: a prospective client who catches a low bid on his project might think the freelancer’s service is poor. By then, these things could be running through his head: the freelancer lacks the skills, training, and resources; the freelancer isn’t dependable; the freelancer is spamming. This is not smart marketing at all, and could potentially hurt your business.
Charging more than an employee is a way of inviting confidence and trust. It screams “expert”, “highly reliable”, and “getting your money’s worth”. Clients are drawn to workers who are sure of themselves and what they can offer. Defend your higher rates, and give them your best.
