Should You List Your Rates on Your Website?

A question I’m frequently asked is “Should freelance editors put their rates on their website?”

My answer?

Yes.

It’s important for potential clients to have some idea of what you charge. Part of what a potential client is evaluating when they are deciding if you’ll be a good fit is whether they have the budget to hire you.

I don’t charge by the word – I use project fees that I quote once I’ve looked at the author’s manuscript – I’ve always given a range: “Developmental editing on manuscripts up to 80,000 words ranges from $X to $Y, depending on a number of factors. For manuscripts longer than 80,000 words, fees typically start at $Y and go up from there. Please get in touch for a firm project quote.”

That way, everyone knows that if they have $200 they don’t need to get in touch. This helps reduce time-wasting back-and-forth emails with someone who is never going to become a client.

But if an author does have a realistic budget, they can see right away that they can afford my services. This makes it more likely that they will reach out and we can have a conversation about whether I’m the right editor for them.

Not including fees (or at least a fee range) on your website will discourage potential clients who could afford your services from getting in touch. People often feel that if they have to ask, it’s going to be way too expensive for them (when maybe it isn’t). As a buyer, I almost never ask for a quote from a company that doesn’t at least list fee ranges on their website somewhere.

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Jennifer Lawler has been a freelance editor for more than twenty-five years and has been teaching editing skills for more than fifteen years. She is the founder of Club Ed LLC.