AIBU to stick to my guns but possibly risk losing the business?

[JemimaPyjamas]

I have been asked to do some work that would normally cost the client £495. This is for a friend, not a good friend but someone I know socially, and already offer her mates rates, which in this instance, would be £440.

I am flexible-ish to an extent re money as I really need it, but don't want to be taken advantage of. I don't have any other work for December that is just a big chunk and it would make a big difference in the month where it's the handiest! The client doesn't know this.

However, she is now wanting a further discount (she has not said how much, but Im guessing at least another £50 / 60 off, very probably more) and has said as much that she is trying to find a way of not using me after all.

AIBU not to automatically drop my rate but then risk her going elsewhere?

She said she's trying to find a way of not using you at all, and I'd guess asking for a stupid additional discount is her way of doing that rather than just saying she doesn't want to use you.

I certainly wouldn't offer further discount, and I wouldn't have offered mates rates either but there you go. You're in business. You have to keep an eye on your profit margins. She'll be trouble in the long run even if she does use you.

AIBU not to automatically drop my rate but then risk her going elsewhere?

If they cost you money every time you do business, it's hardly a loss.

Of course YANBU , she's trying to beat you down and you've got a bottom line and want your work to be properly valued. It's always, always important to be able to walk away, to say no, sorry, that's not my rate. And who's to know whether she'll just keep pushing?

So, she wants 20% discount? That's quite a lot. I'm not sure what your margins are, but they must be pretty healthy if you could drop 20% and still not want to lose the custom.

onalongsabbatical that's pretty much what DH said!

She's probably trying it on. I get people doing this all the time then coming back after 30minutes or the next day to buy it because they know it won't be available for long.

If you give her a huge discount she'll expect it every time and so will everyone else she knows! I give my close friends a discount it's a good discount but I know they wouldn't buy for someone else or go around telling people!

DGRosetti it won't cost me anything, I just won't have the work

If you do the work get ALL the money upfront!

Price is the price they can take it or leave it. They usually come creeping back when it all goes pear shaped. Except the price has risen 20% due to "twat tax"

If doing the work for her would be welcome advertising for your business then you need to work out what sum you are prepared to spend on advertising.

If its not going to help your business in any way then YANBU to do the work for cost price at a minimum

Have sent PM's with more details!

Hmm. I'm self-employed and December and August are really quiet months for me too. I'm often tempted to pick stuff up at lower rates than usual just to keep things ticking over.

But you've come down from your standard price already and she's asking more? Cheeky. If it's a one off I'd be tempted to come down a wee bit but not as much as she wants. If she's likely to be coming back for more work then no, the price is the price. Also depends on what it's costing you - my work costs me nothing as it's all writing. The cost is my time. I'm not buying materials and so on.

I have variable day rates and adjust according to get the work - £800 to £600 per day - and don’t go below £600 even if it means losing the work. It sends out the wrong message to the market that you can be beaten down to a lower cost. If you drop your rate for this client you will not be able to charge her your proper rate in the future.

I have never, ever had a good experience from a lead who has asked for a discount for now reason. I'm always willing to negotiate though, like a slight discount for multiple projects or a token gesture for 100% payment up front. Your 'friend' is devaluing your work, and once that's happened they will never be a good client.

If someone is like this on the first occasion - you are simply stacking up a future relationship which is difficult and not as profitable as it should be. Being prepared to say no is important in a business - assuming that you are priced accurately etc.

You do lose money though - you could potentially pick up a customer you will have to turn down. And your time is money. I’m a business owner and get this a lot. You’ve already offered a discount - stay firm.

I'd risk her going elsewhere, and be quite relieved if/when she did. I'd then look actively for some work for that month.