Hi Reader,

Happy Friday!

Hope you've had a lovely week!

I've had two calls with new potential clients this week. One was an existing client looking to ramp up their efforts, and another was a completely new-to-me brand who found me via LinkedIn.

Goes to show, you never know who's watching!

P.S. This week on Instagram, I shared my June profit and loss numbers. See them here. And don't forget to give me a follow for regular tips and tricks!

Here's what I've been up to this week work-wise:

👉 I wrote 2 pieces for a client (an influencer marketing tool and a route optimisation platform)

👉 I refreshed 3 pieces for Shopify

👉 I edited 1 piece for Klaviyo

👉 I guested on a podcast

👉 I had an interview for a feature in the Metro

👉 I had 2 calls with new clients

⏱ Approx hours spent on client work this week: ~19

⏱ Approx hours spent on non-client work: ~2

💰 Total revenue this week: £3,450

Want to advertise your business, course, product, program, or software to 6,500+ freelancers and creative business owners? Check out the affordable sponsorship options here.

​
Check out my three practical courses that have helped 500+ people get more clients, earn more money, and create better content.

Friday Freelance Tip​​ ✨ ​

I thought I'd stuffed up a new enquiry this week.

After a back and forth with the client, they asked for my rate to do a one-month content plan. I listed out all the deliverables, my processes, a timeline, and a price.

They responded with "so, just to clarify, we get this [listed all the things included] for [price]?".

I immediately thought oh no, I've underpriced (again!), haven't I?

But I stuck to my guns and replied, telling them yes, that was correct.

A few minutes later, they got back to me saying our timelines and pricing didn't align and they were looking for something much quicker and cheaper.

No real loss there, as you know how I feel about my prices. I have other clients that pay them and I'd be doing them a disservice if I offered something for less just because a new client didn't have the budget.

And this got me thinking.

Despite having a rates sheet I send to new clients to give them a ballpark of my rates, pricing is never static.

It is not a number you land on once and then set in stone, nor is it something you should feel guilty for revisiting.

At the core of this is a tension that never fully disappears: the desire to be fair to the people who hire you and equally fair to yourself.

And that balancing act is much harder than it sounds, especially when you care deeply about doing good work and being someone people trust.

Because, the problem is, “fair” isn’t a fixed point.

It’s not (as we're led to believe) synonymous with “affordable,” and it’s definitely not a shortcut to “cheap.”

Fair, in the context of creative and freelance work, means the price makes sense given the depth of thinking, the quality of execution, the risk and responsibility you’re taking on, and the conditions that allow you to show up again tomorrow.

And what I've come to learn is this: clients rarely expect the lowest price.

What they really want is clarity. They want to understand what they’re paying for, feel confident that it aligns with the outcomes they’re chasing, and walk away knowing they made a smart investment.

In other words, they’re looking for predictability, transparency, and the assurance that the value exchange is mutually beneficial.

The best clients want a price that feels right, not just low.

Us freelancers, on the other hand, often find ourselves caught between the desire to be chosen and the need to protect the integrity of our business (and ultimately, "get paid what we're worth", whatever that means).

It’s no wonder pricing feels emotional.

Every number is a reflection not just of what you do, but how you see yourself, how much you trust your instincts, and whether you’re willing to risk walking away from work that might not serve you.

And this is precisely why pricing isn’t a one-time task.

Every quote is a quiet negotiation between what the work demands and what you need in return. And if you’re doing it well, you’re asking a harder, deeper question than simply "what should I charge?".

You're asking: Does this serve both of us? Or is one side losing out?

If you’re walking that tightrope right now, here are a few practical ways to stay balanced without burning out or selling yourself short:

👉 Set a minimum viable rate (MVR)

A.k.a. a non-negotiable floor you won’t drop below, no matter how exciting the project seems or how lovely the client is.

Your MVR is there to protect your energy, your motivation, and your ability to continue doing this work sustainably. If the price dips below that line, something will suffer, even if it’s not obvious right away.

👉 Ask better questions upfront

Like... “What does success look like for you?” and “What would make this feel like a win on your side?”

Because if the client’s definition of success involves extra rounds of feedback, deeper strategic input, or a faster timeline, that complexity needs to be accounted for in your fee.

👉 Stop trying to price for everyone.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to be “affordable” or “reasonable,” but we're not here to appease everyone.

A number that feels fair to your ideal client will always feel too high to someone looking for a bargain.

👉 Review your prices regularly, not just when you feel underpaid.

Look at what your work is achieving in the real world.

Are clients rebooking you with zero hesitation? Are your deliverables leading to real, measurable results? Those are signs that your pricing may have room to stretch.

👉 Leave room for nuance.

Not every project needs to follow the same rate sheet.

There are times when you’ll quote higher because the stakes are bigger, the timeline is tighter, or the client requires more emotional labour.

Pricing is more than a simple reflection of hours worked. It’s a messy, layered reflection of your experience, your energy, your reliability, and your ability to solve complex problems.

Ultimately, pricing is about how you frame your value, how you honour your limits, and how you build a business that lasts.

And hey, we all deserve to be well-paid, well-respected, and well-resourced.

We need more Freelance Money Diaries submissions!

As you know, I'm on a mission to bring more transparency around rates in the freelancing world. And, to do that, it really helps to see what other freelancers are earning. I'd absolutely love it (and be eternally grateful) if you share your finances with us (you can do it totally anonymously!).

As always, happy freelancing :)

Lizzie ✨

Interested in sponsoring Friday Freelance Tips? Get your brand, product, or service in front of 6,500+ freelancers, entrepreneurs, and founders. See sponsorship options here.

Follow me on Instagram and on Linkedin, where you can see the behind-the-scenes of my business.