Realized I was charging by the hour and it was killing my freelance business

I had a client last month ask for a simple website fix that took me 20 minutes, but my hourly rate meant the invoice was tiny. The next day, they asked for five more similar fixes. I spent 3 hours total and made less than I would have on one bigger project. A friend who also freelances said 'You're selling your time, not your skill.' That hit me hard. Do you think switching to project-based pricing is the only way to actually make a living, or are there good hourly setups?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_stella21d ago

I always defended hourly rates, but that "selling your time" line really got me.

reese_nelson28d ago

Honestly, that hourly trap is so real. You gotta charge for the value you bring, not just the minutes it takes.

abbyg6028d ago

Hold up, you're missing the real problem here. Hourly rates PROTECT you from scope creep and clients who keep asking for "just one more thing." That project fee you love? They'll squeeze you for endless revisions until your effective hourly rate is garbage. A clear hourly contract with a minimum charge for small tasks fixes your exact situation.