My rate talk script used to be a total mess... now I just send a PDF first.

I used to just say my rate over a call and then get a long pause... it was awkward. Now, before any call, I send a simple one-page PDF that lists my rate, what it includes, and two past project results. I started this about 4 months ago after a client in Denver said 'I need to see the value.' On the call now, I just ask if they got the doc and we talk from there. Has anyone else tried sending something written before the money talk?

5 comments

5 Comments

the_ben19d ago

Does sending that PDF ever backfire by making you seem too rigid before you even talk? I worry some clients might see a set price sheet and just walk away without a conversation. How do you handle it if they come back and say your rate is too high after reading your document?

the_alice19d ago

Honestly if they walk away from a price sheet, they weren't going to pay my rate anyway. When someone says it's too high, I just say my rates reflect my experience and leave it at that.

kimblack7d ago

Hey @the_ben, do you ever worry that sending a price sheet first makes it harder to explain the value behind your rate?

garcia.cameron7d ago

Ever had a client ask for a breakdown after they see the sheet? I tell them the price covers stuff like site cleanup and a full warranty, which cheaper guys often skip. If they still say it's too high, @kimblack, I ask what part they'd cut to save money. Their answer shows if they get the value or just want the lowest number.

craig.parker19d ago

Been there. If they balk at the sheet, they wanted cheap work, not quality. My sheet lists what they GET for the rate, like unlimited revisions or a fast turnaround. Sometimes I'll ask what part of the scope seems off to them. But if their budget is half my rate, it was never a fit. Saves everyone time.