I’ve spoken a lot in recent months about why your version of success will have an impact on your business. What success means to you will affect everything from your business finances to the kind of customers you work with. This is because what you want from your business should ultimately determine how you develop it.

Unfortunately, over the years, I’ve seen lots of freelancers and small business owners grow businesses that don’t necessarily reflect their priorities.

Creating a business that fits with your values and priorities takes work, dedication and commitment. I didn’t get it right the first time either. In fact, I think it’s very unusual for things to fall into place straight from the off. You learn so much while running a business, and your circumstances and priorities often change along the way.

In this blog post, I therefore wanted to share how I’ve shifted my business in recent years to reflect my version of success.

I sometimes see freelancers and small business owners worrying when they need to charge more than what’s considered ‘standard’ in their industry. If their prices are higher than average industry rates, who will be willing to pay for their services?

When you calculate your prices based on all your expenses and the number of hours you want to work, you might find you need to be earning more than industry averages to make a decent living. If your expenses are higher than those of your peers or you have fewer hours available to spend on paid client work, you’ll naturally need to charge more than other people to make ends meet.

The good news is that there are clients at every budget level. All you have to do is find them!

In this blog post, I’m showing you how to go about finding these clients if you need to charge more than average industry rates.

Large projects can be a real rollercoaster of emotions for freelancers and small business owners. There’s the thrill you feel when your quote gets confirmed, knowing that it guarantees you a significant income. But then you realise you have to actually do the work, which can be overwhelming.

I was recently asked for advice on how freelancers and small business owners can price large jobs to be competitive when quoting. Although I understand the appeal of larger projects, I would argue that if a big job doesn’t allow you to earn your usual rates, it might not be worth the effort. The guaranteed income might give you a feeling of security, but taking on a large project still has to make financial sense for your business.

In this blog post, I’m sharing 3 things to think about before you put together a quote for a large job.

Large projects can be a real rollercoaster of emotions for freelancers and small business owners. There’s the thrill you feel when your quote gets confirmed, knowing that it guarantees you a significant income. But then you realise you have to actually do the work, which can be overwhelming.

I was recently asked for advice on how freelancers and small business owners can price large jobs to be competitive when quoting. Although I understand the appeal of larger projects, I would argue that if a big job doesn’t allow you to earn your usual rates, it might not be worth the effort. The guaranteed income might give you a feeling of security, but taking on a large project still has to make financial sense for your business.

In this blog post, I’m sharing 3 things to think about before you put together a quote for a large job.

As a newbie freelancer, it can be really difficult to know how to price your services. Should you look at what others in your industry are charging and set your rates at a similar level? Or should you consider pricing your services lower than other people’s because you don’t have as much experience?

Many freelancers base their rates on what their friends and colleagues are charging, but this is something I actively discourage. It's important to remember that what works for someone else won’t necessarily work for you. Your rates need to be in line with your circumstances, not someone else’s. They need to reflect your skills and experience but also your individual expenses and the amount of time you have available to dedicate to your clients.

In this blog post, I’m making some suggestions to help you price your services if you’re just starting out as a freelancer.

Especially when you’re stepping into the freelance world and starting your own business for the first time, working exclusively with great clients can feel a long way off. You might think you have to accept whatever work comes in because you don’t feel as though you’re in a position to leave money on the table.

This is perfectly understandable. In fact, to a certain extent and while you’re still able to do a professional job, working for lots of different types of clients can be a good thing. This is because the varied experiences will help you figure out which customers you enjoy working with and why.

It’s really important to understand this because working with clients you love will ultimately give you the inspiration you need to continue growing your business.

In this blog post, I’m showing you how to make a shift in your business so that you only end up working with your favourite customers.

What success means to you should have an impact on your business finances.

All too often I see people getting wrapped up in other people’s ideas of success rather than focusing on their own. It’s hardly surprising really, given today’s society seems to associate success with a monetary figure. How many times have you seen promotions featuring small business owners who have made six-figure sums in their first year? For most of us, this isn’t realistic, nor should it necessarily be aspirational.

Of course, the numbers are important, but they need to be contributing to your vision for your business. Making lots of money is great, but only if how you’re doing it is sustainable and leaves you feeling satisfied.

With this blog post, I’m encouraging you to think about what success means to you, as well as whether your business is heading in the right direction to help you achieve it.