When I finally started charging fair rates for my WordPress development work and stopped being afraid to quote realistic prices, everything changed. I began declining cheap projects that wanted way too much work for almost no money, even when I really needed the cash. That’s exactly when quality clients began reaching out to me.
Looking back now, I wonder why I was selling myself so short for so long. Trying to be the cheapest option never attracted good clients. Instead it just brought me headaches, missed deadlines, and people who didn’t value what I was doing.
The biggest lesson I learned was that sometimes you have to turn work down to move forward. Did anyone else struggle with this pricing problem when they started out?
Same mistake here, but with maintenance contracts. I was charging $50/month for sites that needed constant updates and security patches. One client emailed me every other day with “urgent” requests. After hosting costs, I was basically working for free. Now I charge what I’m worth and clients actually respect my advice instead of treating me like some cheap Craigslist freelancer.
This hits home hard. I spent my first year practically giving away custom themes and plugin mods because I thought portfolio building mattered more than making money. The worst part? Scope creep. Clients who paid peanuts always wanted endless revisions and extra features without paying more. Everything changed when I started tracking my actual hourly rate on those cheap projects - I was making less than minimum wage while working nights and weekends. The turning point? I raised my rates 200% and suddenly had clients who respected deadlines, gave clear requirements, and paid on time. It’s counterintuitive but pricing yourself right actually makes the work easier because you’re dealing with professional clients who get the value of quality development.
I completely understand your experience. In the beginning, I also accepted low-paying projects due to the fear of not securing enough work. It was a tough realization that this approach led to a relentless cycle of underpricing and clients who didn’t value my services. However, I learned that setting fair prices not only benefits me but the entire industry as well. Once I adjusted my rates to reflect my true worth, my relationships with clients improved significantly. They began to respect my expertise rather than undermining my work.