Define the Fine Print
I recently had a conversation with a client that was an eyeopener. Some times you truly need to be reminded!
When we order something or pay a bill, how often do we look at hidden fees? Read why were we charge that? Fees, are in most cases, the metered restitution for a service rendered, that perhaps you did not request or even knew was going to be done.
But what do you do when you are at the opposite end of that transaction, when you have no choice but to pass on that cost to your client?
Some people will fight you on the fees, if they have ambiguous explanations for the fees. So one way to protect yourself is to finely define what you offer with that fee. Usually these fees are for something that consumes time, like packing or extra glitter on a card.
Here are some tips on identifying and defining the black holes that suck up your time in which you may have to charge a fee;
- Do you offer a service or are you a retailer? What is the most you spend doing? Retailers may charge a handling fee for packing or gift wrapping. In my client`s case, it was designing and revising her designs. The girl actually felt bad about charging clients, but later resented not asking for the money she felt she was worth. It was those two activities that consumed her time and she was not even paid for it! So what do you do?
- Quantify the worth of your time. Give your time a price and be paid for your services. Either a flat fee if you are a beginner or an hourly rate if you are a pro. Clearly define upfront what your fees are either on the product page or when you meet your client.
- Give them a time appraisal. Big corporations require their workers to provide from time to time, a time appraisal of what they do from week to week. Tell your client what they get for their money. If it`s a service like designing, how many hours of work, or how many designs and if any revisions are included.
- Get paid upfront. No matter how great your client is, get paid upfront for your services. Think about it this way, if your client after seeing your work, may ‘feel’ your work was not worth that much, she may not want to pay you. It is not up to your client to define what you are worth. It is up to you. It`s always easier to have buyer`s remorse when you are about to pay.
- Fees are non refundable. Paypal makes it so fees paid for services rendered are not refundable. If your client cannot return your time, you can`t return the money. With that said, always practice ethics. If the agreement to the fees paid included the delivery of a finished product, then a portion of it must be refundable if nothing was turned over. Defining what portions of the monies are refundable on the contract will protect you if someone demands a full refund.
