“I’d really like to buy your service but I just can’t afford it.”
It’s heartbreaking when a potential client wants to work with you but just doesn’t have the money. After all, most soul-based business owners got into their line of work because they want to help people. Having to turn someone away due to financial issues isn’t a great feeling. But neither is giving constant discounts and freebies. That’s a sure path to a broke business.
So how can you remain compassionate but still hold your bottom line?
The easiest path may be to create some low cost options. For example, if your standard offering is a half hour session, create a fifteen minute service. This will still give those on a tight budget a route to work with you without hurting your business.
When you have a lower-price product or service, you can kindly point them towards these alternatives when the “I can’t afford you” discussion starts: “I’m sorry that my services are out of your price range but my prices are firm. This is what I need to charge in order to stay afloat. If I discount my services, I’m not going to be able to stay in business. BUT – I still want to help you. Here are a couple of low cost options that may still give you the service you need but at a price aligned with your budget.”
This usually works great for me.
But in some cases, even my low cost option may be out of reach. In that case, I whip out my trusty referral list! These are same-service providers that work at a smaller price point. This is a win/win for the client and my colleague!
For the totally strapped: I also have a list of free service providers handy as well as information that might be helpful such as blog posts or forums. This is another way to be extremely helpful while still standing firm on my prices.
If you decide that you want to offer a discount or freebie, do it – but this should be the rare exception. I have often found that if you give them out, people come to expect it every time and that’s not going to lead to a sustainable business for you. (Ironically, any time I gave my services away at steeply discounted rates or for free, the recipients tended to disregard the value of the work. I have found that when people pay for something, they tend to treat it with more respect because now they are invested.)
Everyone deserves to have access to a service or product but that doesn’t mean you have to give away the store. As the strategies above illustrate, you can charge accordingly and still remain helpful.
Blessings,
Theresa
© Theresa Reed | The Tarot Lady 2015
Too many spiritual entrepreneurs give, give, give away their talents… and remain dead broke. Enough is enough. Get in Charge is my 21-day, $21 e-course for coaches, healers, psychics and mystics who want to make mo’ money. Period. Get in and Get in Charge.
I’m Theresa Reed (aka, The Tarot Lady). I’ve been a full-time tarot reader for 30+ years — which, in my industry, makes me pretty badass.
I’m definitely not your average Tarot expert — I drop the F-bomb, I quote rappers, and I’m obsessed with pop culture + reality TV. Folks come to me for straight-talk + tough-love — without the woo-woo fluff. 
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