Undercharging won’t get You more clients

If I charge less, I'll get more clients.
That's what I told myself for years.

I'd look at other designers charging 3x my rates and think, They must be struggling to find work. Meanwhile, I was the one working nights and weekends just to pay rent.

Cheap prices don't bring more clients. They bring the wrong ones—the ones who demand more, pay late, and don't respect your time.

Your skills got better.Your work improved.More people wanted to work with you.

But your prices? Still the same.

And here's the truth—low rates don't bring better opportunities. They bring clients who demand more, pay late, and never respect your time.

If you want better clients and fair pay, you have to stop selling yourself short.

The Mistake I Made

When I started freelancing, I thought lower prices meant more opportunities.

I believed:

• If I charge less, I'll get more clients.
• Once I have more experience, then I'll raise my rates.

So, I kept my prices low. And at first, it worked—I got clients, I stayed busy.

But here's what actually happened: I worked long hours but barely made enough. Clients micromanaged me and pushed for extra work. The best clients? They went to someone else—because my pricing made me look inexperienced.

Then one day, after months of work, a client asked for a discount—again. I wanted to say no, but I was afraid they'd leave. That's when it hit me: undercharging wasn't helping me—it was keeping me stuck.

I realized that whether I worked on 10 projects or 1, the effort and energy were the same.

Why Most Freelancers Stay Stuck

Many freelancers undercharge because they believe:

• If I charge less, I'll get more clients.
• I'm not experienced enough to charge more.
• If I raise my rates, clients will leave.
• No one will pay higher prices for my work.

But here's the truth: The right clients aren't looking for the cheapest option. They're looking for the best fit.

So, how do you start charging what you're worth?

Step 1: Raise Your Prices—Even Just a Little

Raising your rates doesn't mean doubling them overnight. It means small, steady increases.

Here's what I did: On my next project, I raised my rate by 10%. I didn't overthink it—I just tested it. The client said yes without hesitation.

That's when I realized: I was the one holding myself back—not my clients.

Try this: Raise your price by 10% on your next project. A small step, but a big shift.

Step 2: Stop Saying Yes to the Wrong Clients

Not every client is a good client. Low-paying clients are often the most demanding.

I noticed:

• The ones who paid the least asked for the most.
• They took up my time but didn't respect my work.
• And when I tried to set boundaries, they pushed back.

So, I made a simple decision: I stopped saying yes to bad clients.

Instead, I focused on:

• Clients who cared about quality, not just price.
• Positioning myself as an expert, not an order-taker.
• Standing by my rates—no more discounts out of fear.

And better clients started showing up.

Step 3: Make It Easy for Clients to See Your Value

Higher prices only work if clients believe you're worth it.

That means:

• Your portfolio should show the problems you solve, not just your skills.
• Your testimonials should highlight real results, not just "great to work with!"
• The way you talk about your work should sound confident—not apologetic.

If you present yourself as a professional, clients will treat you like one.

Today's Action Steps

1. Look at your current pricing. Would you pay what you charge?
2. Raise your rate by 10% for your next project or client.
3. Identify one low-value client relationship you should reconsider.

If you found this helpful, share it with other designers who might need it too.

See you in another one!
Let's grow together 🙌