Do You Let Potential Clients See Your Rate Card Before They Contact You?

By Dan Smith

The topic of freelance writing rates is one that is almost guaranteed to always divide writers. From those who believe writers should occasionally write for free to those who think there should be a minimum per word figure that applies right across the board, talking about freelance writing rates is a discussion that everyone always has an opinion on.

Today, I don’t want to look at what you should actually be charging for your work or how you should increase your freelance writing rates, but something I’ve toyed with for several years now — whether or not you should publicly display your rate card.

When I first started out, I didn’t put my freelance writing rates on display. If people wanted to know how much I charged, they had to contact me or I would approach them with my price per word. The main reason behind this is I was under the impression that a potential client would not work with me because they thought my rates were completely wrong (either too cheap, so they thought my work would be of a poor quality, or too expensive and they’d walk away immediately).

As time went on, I published my rates on my website / blog, which doubled as a portfolio. I spoke to a few other writers and became convinced that if a potential client saw my rates and thought they were too expensive, I didn’t want to be working with them anyway — but that was after a few years of building up my confidence as a writer.

I haven’t taken any new clients on in a while and I took my portfolio website / blog down a few weeks ago as I didn’t get the chance to update it regularly enough, but I do still have a rate card that I stick to if people approach me for work. However, I feel slightly better knowing that my rates aren’t available for the entire world to see.

I’m not entirely sure why, though.

Thinking about it, I believe it’s because if a potential client doesn’t know how much I charge and they contact me, I’ve already got a foot in the door. It might only be a little part of my foot, but it’s in nonetheless and from then on, I can either barter with the client if need be or refer them to another freelance writer.

I am trying to get my portfolio website / blog back online, however and I’m wondering whether stating my rates is going to be beneficial or not, as by not doing it, I increase the chance of getting regular e-mails about potential work that isn’t suitable — e-mails which could easily be avoided. Conversely, by showing my rates, I wonder whether it will portray a more professional but friendly image — how much easier would it be if you could go to a company who provide a service you need and be able to find out how much it is going to cost you straightaway?

At the moment, I’m sat on the fence.

Do you display your rate card publicly? If you do, why? If not, will you ever consider doing so?

Image: Schipul