The Ultimate Guide to Pricing Your Services (Without Guilt)
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With over 25 years of experience as a business consultant, Abdul Vasi has helped countless brands grow and thrive. As a successful entrepreneur, tech expert, and published author, Abdul knows what it takes to succeed in today’s competitive market.
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**1. The Dostana Dilemma: When Rahul’s Talent Was Worth Less Than a Chai **
Let’s start in Delhi, where the air smells of ambition and parathas. Rahul, a 30-year-old wedding photographer with a Canon worth more than his rent, faced a crisis: ₹5,000 for a 12-hour shoot.
“Bhaiyya,” he groaned, “Clients say, *‘*Yaar, dost hai na? ₹3k final!’ I can’t even afford chai for my team!”
His portfolio? Stunning. His confidence? Deader than last year’s Diwali crackers.
I flipped through his shots (*“This one’s SRK level!”) and said, “Rahul, your pricing’s as shaky as your tripod. Let’s fix this.”
Step 1: Know Your Worth (Because Dostana Doesn’t Pay Bills)
Rahul’s Blunder: Charging based on *“What will they pay?” instead of *“What am I worth?”
The Fix:
- Calculate Costs:
- Gear maintenance: ₹10k/month.
- Editing software: ₹5k/month.
- Chai for team: ₹2k/month.
- Total: ₹17k/month just to exist.
- Add Profit: Aimed for 30% margin (because dreams need funding too).
- Pricing Formula: Costs + Profit = ₹25k/month. Divided by 8 shoots = ₹3,125/shoot.
Rahul’s Reaction: “But bhaiyya, clients will run!”
My Response: “Let them. You’re not a dost; you’re a pro.”
Step 2: Package Like a Dabba – Layers of Value
Rahul’s Crime: Offering *“Photos. Cheap.”
The Fix:
- Tiered Packages:
- Bronze (₹15k): 6 hours, 100 edited photos, *“Basic shaadi vibes.”
- Silver (₹30k): 12 hours, 300 photos, *“Candid feels + sangeet drama.”
- Gold (₹50k): Full-day, 500 photos, *“Bollywood-level masala + free halwa.”
- Upsells:
- *“Add a pre-wedding shoot for ₹10k!”
- *“Get a wedding film for ₹20k!”
Result:
- Average booking jumped to ₹35k.
- A client upgraded to Gold, saying, *“Yaar, halwa sold me!”
**Step 3: Anchor Like Ambani – Make ₹50k Feel Like a Steal **
Rahul’s Fear: *“Clients will faint if I say ₹50k!”
The Fix:
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- Anchoring Trick: Showed the Gold package first. Suddenly, Silver felt “affordable.”
- Social Proof: Added testimonials: *“Rahul made us feel like DeepVeer!”
- Scarcity: “Only 2 slots left this season!”
Outcome:
- 70% chose Silver or Gold.
- A bride’s father said, *“Beta, Ambani charges more for candid!”
Step 4: Say No to Chindi Clients (Because Time > Taunts)
Rahul’s Blunder: Accepting “₹3k final!”* clients who demanded *“500 photos in 2 hours!”
The Fix:
- Scripted Responses:
- *“My Bronze package starts at ₹15k. Let me know if that works!”
- *“I’d love to work with you, but my art has a price.”
- Filter Questions: *“What’s your budget?” became *“What’s most important for your big day?”
Result:
- Chindi clients vanished.
- Rahul’s stress levels dropped faster than samosa prices during rain.
Step 5: Raise Prices Like a Boss (Not a Beggar)
Rahul’s Fear: *“Clients will leave if I charge more!”
The Fix:
- Announced a Price Hike:
- Email subject: *“Good News: I’m Getting Better (And So Are My Prices)!”
- Body: *“To serve you better, my rates are increasing by 20%. Book now to lock in current prices!”
- Added Value: Threw in a free *“Instagram Reel” for early birds.
Result:
- Bookings surged before the hike.
- A client said, *“We booked because you’re worth it!”
The Frame-Worthy Ending: How Rahul Became Delhi’s SRK of Photography
1 year later:
- Revenue: ₹15 lakh/year.
- Clients: From shaadis to startup launches.
- Pride: His Dadi finally stopped asking, *“*Beta, kab shaadi karoge?”
3 Quick Pricing Hacks to Steal
- “Dabbawala Math” – Calculate costs, add profit, divide by sanity.
- “Ambani Anchoring” – Show the premium first; everything else feels sasta.
- “Chai Confidence” – Say no to chindi clients. Your art isn’t a bargain bin.
Why This Works (And How Abdulvasi.com Fuels Fearless Pricing)
Let’s kulhad it down: Pricing isn’t math. It’s psychology, confidence, and chutzpah.
At Abdulvasi.com, we help you:
- Price like a pro – No more *“dostana rates.”
- Package like Haldiram’s – Layers of value, not just aloo filling.
- Sell like SRK – Because dreams deserve funding.
Final Shutter Truth: Your Talent Isn’t Cheap. Stop Selling It Like Pani Puri.
Rahul’s journey proves: When you price with confidence, clients respect you – and your art.
Ready to charge what you’re worth? Visit Abdulvasi.com or DM me. I’ll bring the strategy; you bring the chai.
*P.S. First 10 readers get my “Pricing Without Guilt” toolkit – includes a free “Client Jadoo Scripts” guide. Rahul-approved!
