As a business owner, you're always looking for ways to land more clients and grow your business. So when a prospective client comes to you with the promise of more work down the road if you're willing to give them a discount, it can be tempting to say yes. After all, getting that initial work is key to building a relationship and landing more business down the line, right?
Wrong. In most cases, saying yes to this type of offer will only result in you working harder for less money. Here's why:
1. They're Taking Advantage of You
Let's be honest—when a prospective client approaches you with an offer like this, they're not doing it out of the goodness of their heart. They're trying to take advantage of you by getting you to lower your rates so they can save money. And chances are, they're not going to follow through on their promise of more work down the road. If they were really interested in working with you, they would be willing to pay your full rates.
2. It Undervalues Your Work
By agreeing to this type of offer, you're essentially telling the client that your work is not worth what you're charging. This sets a precedent that will be hard to break later on. Once you've given them a discount, they'll expect discounts on future projects as well—and will likely be unwilling to pay your full rates even if you try to negotiate them up later on.
3. You Deserve to Be Paid What You're Worth
As a business owner, it's important to remember that you deserve to be paid what your work is worth. If you don't value your own time and expertise, no one else is going to do it for you. So don't sell yourself short by agreeing to work for less than what you're worth—you'll only end up regretting it later on.
When a prospective client offers more work in exchange for a discount, it's important to remember that this is usually just a way for them to take advantage of you and get discounts on future projects as well. It's important to stand your ground and remember that you deserve to be paid what your work is worth—anything less is selling yourself short.
