I need to get over this awkwardness when talking about money.

[Catsarebastards]

I wont say what my job is but SE work and after over a year i still get really nervous about telling potential clients or even friends who ask how much i charge. It is higher than anyone else locally but i am getting the business and am very good at what i do. I feel hesitant about telling my rate and almost apologetic. No-one has ever questioned it or negotiated a lower rate but each and every time i get asked i wince and wait for the gasp. I really need to get over this and be confident about it because i wont be lowering it, not unless i cant get work and the rate is the problem. need a x.e.n.i.a kick up the backside

How about a price list? Would that work? So, they ask and you say "oh yes, here's my list"?

Pricelist would be fine except i'd still feel bad about charging more than everyone else, and also i think it might put people off contacting me? Its the feeling bad about charging it that i need to get over.

I sympathise. I hate talking money too....

It doesn't sound like you are over priced. Can you practise the conversation before you meet new clients?

I am seeing a coach and she has helped me realise I need to be more 'strategic' about my pitch meetings and to decide what I want to get out of the meeting. For you could that be 'say my day rate confidently' etc.

Can you benchmark yourself against others? Would that help you feel better?

Yes good idea to practise before meeting.

What do you mean by benchmark myself against others?

If you feel your rate is justified, who cares what others are charging.

You get the business so your judgement on price is right.

Get the self confidence to put your price out there! Maybe the more you do it, the easier it gets.

I know exactly how you feel, and have walked into the "mates rates" trap. I only just started to work SE again and need a kick as well.
Maybe Xenia is still on here somewhere and hears our cry

Yes it is just confidence. Honestly i think others are under pricing and not sure how it is profitable for them but it's not the sort of job that people expect you to be earning well on so i suppose maybe they just expect to be low earners. I did the job as an employee (on a much lower rate) prior to going SE and when i left the company several clients asked if i would come back to them and work direct despite knowing my rate so i do feel it is justified and people are willing to pay it. I purposely set my rate higher from the outset because i wanted people to wonder what i was offering that was better than all the others and then to hire me and find out.

Thank you all. Even explaining it on here is helping me feel more justified/confident about it.

Sorry I meant how do your prices compare. You have answered that.

I think practice and time are the unhelpful answers!

What about doing a list of all the things clients gain by using you? So expertise, experience, resource, the lack of hassle of a staff member + your particular skills/ways of working?

I am guessing that somewhere in your head you are questioning your value?

Rather than a rate, can you offer a package? Then you can say it is xxx but this includes y number of hours, years of expertise and blah blah blah?