I have recently gone into business for myself. I enjoy it; in fact, I love it. However, while I find my friends are supportive, they constantly expect my talents for cheap, or often free! How can I curb their way of thinking, without sounding like a complete tightarse?
Pennywise, Melbourne VIC
Dear Pennywise,
When a business is in its infancy every account counts – sometimes it’s difficult when establishing yourself to refuse jobs in the hope that it brings you other work. Unfortunately, most are unaware of is the imminent insanity that comes from working alone and running a business. No one to chat to at the water cooler, the postman’s arrival is the highlight of your day, and the times you actually consider inviting door-to-door salesmen and the Mormon missionaries in for a cup of tea are sure indicators of the early onset of senility. The worst part is, they’re never hot and it’s nothing like the beginnings of a porno. The gentleman who tried to sell me a chamois this morning is a fine example of this.
Defining your value and knowing that your time is profitable are signs of the potential longevity of your enterprise. When you’re starting out, fairly exchanging your services for something in return, for example, a website design or bookkeeping has its benefits. That said, barter can only work when it’s reciprocated. Sure, in an ideal world where we all live in a commune and grow vegetables and our armpit hair perhaps this business model might work – but honestly, who needs to conduct business when you have a marijuana crop and patchouli oil to keep you entertained?
Depending on the friend, a snide remark said with a toothy smile should do the trick. ‘Well, I don’t ask your mother to halve her rates when she comes over,’ would suffice or, ‘I don’t throw half the change into your dad’s hat when I see him in the street,’ would be a good alternative. Both are acerbic enough with only slight potential to cause offence (unless their mother is a lady of the night and their father sells you your copy of The Big Issue).
Explain to them that they’ll only receive half-baked ideas if they pay half the price, as you will only spend half the time on it. Instead, provide a complimentary component of your services (for example, consultation and creative) and absorb the cost elsewhere (implementation) – advertising agencies do it all the time and pass it off as pro bono. Your friends will be satisfied they are receiving something for nothing and you can sit back and count your pennies (and give them to your friends’ dads).
Published on 29 June 2009 by Agony Uncle