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Hijacking this with a related question: I’m an independent contractor, and have not yet renegotiated my prices. I just hate those kinds of conversations, but at

Hijacking this with a related question: I’m an independent contractor, and have not yet renegotiated my prices. I just hate those kinds of conversations, but at some point, it is irresponsible to procrastinate. I’d be interested in hearing from other contractors: how have you approached this?

bretpiatt 5y ago
Law firms and accounting firms solved this long ago, they all send out new rate cards effective January 1, [YEAR] during Q4 every year. I would not be ashamed to do the same.
- whiddershins 5y ago
  Like this. The reason (relating to my other comment) can literally be ‘it is 2022 and these are the new rates.’ Often that’s enough reason.
  - whiddershins 5y ago
    https://twitter.com/iononrecourse/status/1501922572421808130?s=20&t=ivs-Ih8IPfP3ZcWFPoQagw https://twitter.com/iononrecourse/status/1501922572421808130...
- FpUser 5y ago
  My subcontractor did just that. Handed me a notice matter-of-factly mentioning inflation. I am going to do the same to my client when renewal time comes.
whiddershins 5y ago
As dispassionately as possible. Be matter of fact about new prices, and try to explain as little as possible. (But always give some reason. Any reason beats no reason, but a simple even vague reason beats too many reasons.)
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- softwarebeware 5y ago
  This is what people don’t understand about the psychology of persuasion. Especially tech workers. You can validate the following from your own experience. In a decision made by a team where two options are presented, the person who states a simple justification for their proposal (especially if it plays into existing assumptions or just laziness) will more often “win” the decision than someone offering many better reasons for an alternative. Baffled me for years until I started to understand that I needed only to offer fewer and simpler reasons to get my ideas implemented.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
a-dub 5y ago
what's the state of agencies these days? back in the day they charged 100% overhead and paid by w-2. is there a more lightweight model where for say 10-20% they'll handle searching, billing, rate negotiations, late payments and disputes? i'm not sure if i'd go into contracting again without something like that. it takes far too much energy to be the asshole that is necessary to not get screwed in business (for yourself) and it detracts from the actual work and life satisfaction in general.

bretpiatt 5y ago

Law firms and accounting firms solved this long ago, they all send out new rate cards effective January 1, [YEAR] during Q4 every year. I would not be ashamed to do the same.

whiddershins 5y ago
Like this. The reason (relating to my other comment) can literally be ‘it is 2022 and these are the new rates.’ Often that’s enough reason.
- whiddershins 5y ago
  https://twitter.com/iononrecourse/status/1501922572421808130?s=20&t=ivs-Ih8IPfP3ZcWFPoQagw https://twitter.com/iononrecourse/status/1501922572421808130...
FpUser 5y ago
My subcontractor did just that. Handed me a notice matter-of-factly mentioning inflation. I am going to do the same to my client when renewal time comes.

whiddershins 5y ago

As dispassionately as possible. Be matter of fact about new prices, and try to explain as little as possible. (But always give some reason. Any reason beats no reason, but a simple even vague reason beats too many reasons.)

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
softwarebeware 5y ago
This is what people don’t understand about the psychology of persuasion. Especially tech workers. You can validate the following from your own experience. In a decision made by a team where two options are presented, the person who states a simple justification for their proposal (especially if it plays into existing assumptions or just laziness) will more often “win” the decision than someone offering many better reasons for an alternative. Baffled me for years until I started to understand that I needed only to offer fewer and simpler reasons to get my ideas implemented.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

a-dub 5y ago

what's the state of agencies these days? back in the day they charged 100% overhead and paid by w-2. is there a more lightweight model where for say 10-20% they'll handle searching, billing, rate negotiations, late payments and disputes? i'm not sure if i'd go into contracting again without something like that. it takes far too much energy to be the asshole that is necessary to not get screwed in business (for yourself) and it detracts from the actual work and life satisfaction in general.