Before You Agree to Work for Free or Cheap, Remember How Much You Invested in Yourself.
Sometimes working for free can be a good idea if you can acquire valuable skills not found elsewhere. But other times, when people ask you to do something for free or negotiate a low price, it’s just an insult that you shouldn’t tolerate.
Andrew Griffiths writes on Inc that the projects that have caused him the most grief over the years have always been free or cheap. However, many people find it difficult to say no to projects or discuss their rates (I am one of them). To overcome this, Griffiths recommends calculating how much time and money you put into your career to get to this point:
I suggest that you stop right now and think about the following. How many hours did you actually spend studying what you are doing? How much time did you spend on self-education? How much money have you invested in your chosen business? How much does it cost you to get to this point?
[…] You must value this investment and have self-esteem in order to charge you the appropriate fee.
If you always get low bids or are being asked to do a job to “ grab attention, ” it might be time to rethink your marketing and the types of customers you are reaching out to. There’s also a flowchart to help you decide when to work for free (if it’s for your mom, then yes).
Note that next time someone wants you to work for free | Inc.