Creative Entrepreneurs Need to Charge What Their Work is Worth
By Becky Mollenkamp, PCC
I once saw a freelancer writer in a Facebook group for creative entrepreneurs share something that ruffled my feathers. A client wanted her to write “easy” 500-word blog posts for $25 each; she didn’t have time and wondered if anyone was interested in the project.
After 20 years as a professional writer and 11 owning my own freelance business, I’ve witnessed a slow but steady decline in pay rates for the profession. Landing assignments for $1/word (an average rate just 15 years ago) is now nearly impossible.
Writing is no longer valued, and the Internet is to blame.
Anyone can start a blog and call themselves a writer. It doesn’t matter if they have education or experience, or whether they understand grammar, ethics, or storytelling. In the last decade, these self-proclaimed writers have been competing for freelance writing gigs alongside professionals like myself.
When you’ve been writing for fun and for free, $25 for a blog post may sound like a big payday. When you make your living as a writer, however, $25 is a slap in the face.
If your “easy” blog post takes an hour to write, that’s $25/hour, right? Not exactly. As a business owner, I must pay self-employment taxes of 15.3%. I’m also responsible for paying 100% of my health insurance. That alone takes the rate down to $19/hour, and that’s not accounting for marketing expenses, computer repairs, continuing education, and other costs of running a business.
Also, it would likely take me more than an hour to write this so-called “easy” post. I take pride in my work. I research my topic, write the story, and then edit, edit, edit. I’m unwilling to churn out subpar work to up my hourly rate.
So, your “easy” $25 likely works out to less than $10/hour, which is nearly minimum wage. Unacceptable, even for someone just getting started as a freelance writer.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the business, your work should be compensated based on the value it provides.
When a company offers ridiculously low pay, it’s saying it doesn’t value your work. By accepting that rate, you’re saying you don’t either.
Even worse, when you work for peanuts you lower the bar for the entire profession, and contribute to the continuing devaluation of writers and degradation of wages for all.
(This pricing discussion cuts across all creative industries, by the way. Professional photographers, for example, are suddenly facing competition from anyone with an iPhone.)
I understand not everyone can charge $1 or more per word. I know my education (two degrees in journalism) and experience (20 years in newspapers, magazines, and corporate communications) put me at a different level than a beginning writer. I know it’s difficult to land the first paying client or to establish yourself as a writer (or designer or photographer, etc.).
The answer, however, is not to sell yourself short by accepting inhumane wages. Instead, spend more time honing your craft. Get better by taking writing courses, reading the work of more advanced writers, writing for your own blog, or finding and learning from a mentor.
Your sense of pride will be even greater if your first assignment comes with a living wage.
Circling back to that Facebook post that inspired this long rant…
I eventually posted a response (below) that I hoped would be persuasive but sensitive.
I was relieved when the original poster thanked me for my response and agreed that $25 was unacceptable (despite receiving interest in the gig from others in the group).
Even better, she emailed asking for tips on how to earn more money. I happily shared advice. She fired some clients and began charging more. In the two months since, I’ve also subcontracted to her several writing projects at 5x (or more) the rate offered in her post.
A simple change in mindset has helped her feel better about herself, her business, and her bottom line.
That’s the point of me sharing this with you. It’s not intended as a rant, but rather a reminder that we all need to stand up for ourselves and start charging what our work is worth.
Becky, thanks so much for sharing this. I’ve always loved to write, but never realized it could be an actual career for me until recently. Unfortunately I have succumbed to doing some writing work for cheap (and free). In some cases, it’s led to great paid opportunities, but in others not so much. I’m hoping to be able to write full time in the near future and this post gave me the push I needed to demand more money. $25 is just not going to cut it.
Thank you!
-Brittany
We all fall backwards sometimes, but that doesn’t mean we have to stay in the muck. Pick yourself up and demand your worth! Good job!
How much do you charge?
I work on a per-project or retainer basis (not hourly) and it can vary quite a bit depending on the client and scope of the work. Generally, however, I’d say the minimum I’ll do for an “easy” blog post is $200.
YES!! This is such a great post. I have a similar reaction when bloggers in my niche (DIY/design) will do sponsored work for peanuts. Sometimes even just for a $20 free product. It totally de-values the work that bloggers put into creating amazing sponsored posts/campaigns, and it’s important that we all charge fairly in order to not undercut each other.
Thanks for the great read!
Gemma, stand strong! Our only hope is if enough of us don’t settle for peanuts. Thanks for reading!
FANTASTIC! As a blogger, I get low ball requests for services all the time. People have no idea what they are getting when they work with a writer or a blogger. So thanks for the advice!
Thanks for reading, Victoria. Value yourself and others will, too!
I agree with your view on this topic. You explained it very well. I’m a graphic designer and the same thing holds true for that industry as well.
Yes, I think this is a pervasive problem across creative industries. It makes me sad, but I really hope we can all stand strong together and change it! Thanks for reading.
This is all so true and relevant to any freelancer. I can see the same tendencies amongst web developers. While WordPress may be a blessing to many business owners, it is at same time a curse because too many people call themselves web developer after they have learned to install WordPress and customize a theme. The true question is, what can we do to fight against this? I have found that this is a war that cannot be won. That’s why I chose to use the general love for cheap and easy solutions by becoming an affiliate partner with many web builder vendors. This allows me to help the folks that are after the cheap website, and still charge my regular rate for customers who truly care about their online presence, or who have requirements that don’t come out of the box with the common web builders and frameworks.
Sounds like it’s not a fight that can’t be won, but rather you found a way to charge what you’re worth with the right clients and then help others in a way that makes sense for them (and, I hope, doesn’t have you working for slave wages). Thank you for reading!
This is a great article Becky! Thanks for the reminder and for making it so clear!!
Thanks for reading, Yehudis!
Such a great post! Seriously! As a handmade artisan charging peanuts is almost an epidemic in the handmade community. No skilled worker should be making entry level pay, regardless of what that skill is in. It’s nice to have that reminder that YES, what I offer is worth it!
That’s right, sister. You ARE worth it! Stay strong 🙂
Great advice, Becky!
It seems way too often that freelancers/creative entrepreneurs are willing to discount their services. While it seems productive, they don’t realize that it actually is handicapping their business long-term.
I thought this was such a great take-away…
Instead, spend more time honing your craft. Get better by taking writing courses, reading the work of more advanced writers, writing for your own blog, or finding and learning from a mentor.
Look forward to reading more…
Kevin
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Kevin. I agree about the cheap work being a long-term disaster.
This concept is so easily overlooked and forgotten! My parents have been running their own lawn business for over 15 years now in the small town where I grew up. It has never been their goal to “undercut” anyone else’s prices, but to be the most quality and reputable service in town. As a result, they’ve built an incredible business that triumphs–without compromising the money needed to purchase equipment, pay employees, and raise their family.
Katelin, your parents sound awesome! They definitely taught you the right way to run a business. Awesome.
Thanks for sharing. As a creative entrepreneur it’s always hard to assign a money value to what I do.
It is tough. And when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work so you sometimes feel guilty charging much! But you know what you’re worth and what feels right … stick to it! Thanks for reading.
This is a good blogpost. People who don’t respect writing can never pay well. I always avoid them when I can. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Dennis. Keep fighting the good fight against substandard wages!
This is a really great post! Thank you for sharing your view on this, it is all so true!
Thank you for reading, Carolyn.
I see this happen with my fellow crafters and homemakers as well. I will not work hard to crank out a high quality boutique outfit for your child at Walmart prices. Either my clients can afford these boutique clothes or they can stop low balling and go to a box store or buy used.
This post is also very relevant for freelance photographers. We are responsible to educate our clients to the value of our product. If they understand the value, they are usually willing to pay a reasonable rate. If not, they are not our best client.. Thank you for sharing this post.
Yep, I think lowball pricing is a problem across creative forms. People don’t value creatives like the should, in my opinion. Thanks for reading!
It’s definitely an issue for photographers, too (stupid iPhone and Instagram filters making everyone feel like a pro shooter!). Keep standing up for fair wages and thanks for reading!
Thank you for writing this. As a graphic designer, I’m discouraged when I see so many people going for $25 logos! I am just graduating for college, and considering the option of working for someone or working for myself, and it’s scary to think that I won’t be making any money if working for myself.
There’s the people who try to encourage you with “If they really want quality, they will come to you” or “If they don’t want to pay for your work, you don’t want him as a client”. Yes, that’s true, but sadly, more and more people go for cheap options now and less people want to hire the quality work. I really wish freelancers would respect themselves and their professions, that would have a great, positive impact on us all!
Thanks for reading, Sara. I totally agree with you. Let’s hope enough of us stand strong on pricing that it doesn’t totally deteriorate to everyone fighting for scraps.
This is a great post and absolutely so true! I, too, am a former journalist and editor and have had people come at me with low rates. The Internet is awash with ‘writers’ who will work for peanuts and drive down the rate expectations.
That said, please contact me if you’ve got any subcontracting work. I do churn out fast, clean copy – whether it is articles, blog writing, copywriting, etc.
Recently started a niche agency focusing on drug use prevention campaigns, and social media. As I grow my clients I am freelancing on the side as much as possible!
YES YES and YES. This is how I feel about the design world too and people coming in using Canva, claiming to be designers and under valuing professional designers that have degrees or have spent years learning our trade.
All we can do is hope there will always people who value quality. Thanks for reading, Jennifer!
Fantastic post, Becky. As a long-term professional writer with two advanced degrees, I totally resonated with what you wrote. Thanks so much!
Thank you. I love hearing that other professional writers are standing strong and demanding fair wages. We have to unite!
Grey text on a white background?!!! ?? Why dear God, why????
I’m so sorry you find it difficult to read. I’ll consider changing it in my abundant free time 🙂
Thanks for sharing this Becky! I actually had one of those “$25 per post” companies reach out to me recently and it made me so angry. Apparently they were used to paying writers that amount for writing a blog post in an hour or two. What’s even worse is that this makes a lot of writers that are just starting out think this is totally acceptable.
Thanks, Rosemary. I get so frustrated by companies that try to take advantage of creatives just because we do something we love. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t also get our worth!
Thanks Becky! I agree with you. How can we compete with Fiver though? A lot of clients come to me and say that they can pay less on Fiver.
I hear you. It starts by setting boundaries for yourself—not agreeing to take any work that is so low-paying and instead focusing on looking for clients that appreciate quality. Also, you have to have some faith that people will eventually “get what they pay for” and learn that cheap is cheap for a reason. It’s not easy, but competing based on price will get you nowhere but $5 projects and then you may as well quit. Sadly.
Thank you, Becky, for this post and the related posts on scarcity thinking. I wrote marketing materials for book publishers from 1990 till 2009, when the tech revolution and the financial crash (much more than a recession) blew that world away, with nothing viable to replace it. I see this underpaying dynamic writ large in the songwriting world (I moved to Nashville in 1993 for the songwriting). The music industry was already exploitative, but some of the folks on top made hundreds of thousands of dollars with a hit song. I know songwriters who used to make thousands of dollars who are now literally making pennies because of streaming. The comments show it’s the same across the creative spectrum. It’s the very structure of the tech patriarchy, and we will either be unconscious victims or more conscious in our thinking and choices. I took a hiatus and did administrative work (another area where people are undervalued), just letting my writing lie dormant. Now I’m learning about online course creation and other ways of developing intellectual property, and realizing that the revolution has been happening and building blocks are being put in place. You inspire me to believe in my own value, because you are leading the way.
Wow thank you for sharing and for your kind words!