Finding my worth…then adding tax.

We’ve all heard the mantra ‘know your worth then add tax’ haven’t we? It’s essentially small business 101, but I think we sometimes forget just what that worth is. Yes, it is your skills and your time, but it is also your mental health.

A couple of weeks ago I found myself hitting a metaphorical brick wall because I had stretched myself very, VERY thinly when it came to work – and the worst part was I had done it all to myself. I had taken on more commitments than my head could handle and I was in a massively overwhelming fog. Now it goes without saying that I was incredibly grateful to have the work, but being in that situation is never a good thing, and when you throw the fact that you work from home into the mixture it becomes even harder to separate those work/life feelings.
When I started exploring the realm of client work I really wanted to make sure it was affordable, especially for small businesses who just needed a bit of guidance, and I was very conscious that I was self taught, and definitely still learning (queue imposter syndrome!) But I’ve always loved creative design and helping other people’s ideas come to life, so when people actually wanted to pay me for it I was over the moon!

Now, this takes us to the incredibly awkward subject of money.

If you’re anything like me you will either switch off when this subject comes up, or be consumed by an overwhelming sense of panic. But it’s something that has been preying on my mind for a little while.
Let’s start by saying that I’ve always felt my prices were low for the bespoke services I provide, and as much as I love giving small businesses that chance to complete their brand for a low cost, the value just wasn’t realistic for me anymore. I was working my butt off for relatively little reward.

Now, again, this isn’t me complaining- I love my job, and I love helping others- but I also have bills to pay and my mental health to think about.

So when I found myself stressing well into the night about all the work I had to do, my husband became my voice of reason. He told me that I needed to up my prices so that the monetary value reflected the amount of work I was putting in, and although that imposter syndrome screamed in the back of my mind – ‘who are you to ask for more?!’ – I knew he was right. Because at the end of the day if something is affecting your anxiety then the payoff has to be worth it, and I am all too aware that no amount of money is worth your health but it does help pay the bills and that’s one less thing to worry about.

So in the short this is why I have chosen to up my prices for my bespoke services, and although I know I do not need to justify myself, I wanted to offer an explanation for the sake of honesty.