April 9, 2019
When should you ask what the client’s budget is?
Sent by Jonathan Stark on April 10th, 2019
Asking a prospective client what their budget is brings with it a tacit assumption that what they want done is the right thing to do.
They are reaching out to an expert to help them with something. Therefore, the odds are high that what they think they want you to do is not the best way to achieve the outcome they are looking for.
Why? Because by definition, they are not the expert in the relationship.
So…
When should you ask what the client’s budget is?
Never.
What do you do instead?
- Talk to them about what they’re trying to achieve
- Estimate what your contribution to that outcome would be worth to them
- Set your price at a fraction of their perceived value
Whatever their budget was before they contacted you is not relevant.
Yours,
—J