That $9 coffee at a diner in Akron made me rethink my rates

I was sitting at a counter last Thursday waiting on my order and realized the barista earned more per hour than I do on some projects. Has anyone else calculated their effective hourly rate after expenses and wanted to cry?

3 comments

3 Comments

hunt.hayden9d ago

Doesn't it just hit you right in the gut when you do that math? I sat down with my calculator after a slow month and realized I was making less than minimum wage on some of those jobs, it was brutal. All that driving and supply costs just eat up every dollar, you know? I had to totally rethink how I price things after that, it's wild how easy it is to sell yourself short without even realizing it (until you do the numbers).

ray_burns9d agoTop Commenter

Wait, you caught yourself making less than minimum wage on jobs? That's a tough pill to swallow right there, especially after all the time and gas you put in. Those supply costs really are the silent killer nobody talks about until you actually add them up. Sounds like you got a wake-up call that a lot of folks probably need but never take.

wade_anderson6d ago

Watched a guy at the next table tip more than I made on a logo project last week.