Pretty sure I found out why most freelancers overcharge for their services

I read a study from a gig platform last month that said 73% of freelancers who bill hourly earn less than those who charge per project, even with the same workload. Found it buried in a blog post about pricing psychology on Freelancers Union. But here's the tricky part: I've had clients ghost me on flat rates because they thought I was padding the hours. So which side is actually right for a solo operation like mine? Anyone else run into this stats conflict and pick a lane?

2 comments

2 Comments

bell.jessica17h ago

Ngl, scope creep is just code for "I need a third coffee and a therapist.

blake_kelly1921h ago

Have you considered that the real issue isn't hourly vs flat rate but how you frame your pricing upfront? I spent six months testing both models and found the trick is to list your flat rate as "starting at X" with a clear scope document attached. That way clients see the value without thinking you're hiding hours (which happens way too often). The stats make sense because flat rate forces you to work efficiently, but you've gotta protect yourself from scope creep by building a revision limit into the agreement.