When Clients Want a Discount—Send Them the Therapy Invoice Too
Let’s cut the crap—your price isn’t the problem. Their entitlement is.
If you’ve ever had a client look at your quote and ask, “Can you do it for less?”—while you’re holding a plate full of their unresolved trauma, their branding identity crisis, and their desperate need for validation—you already know what this is.
It’s not a budget issue. It’s a boundaries issue.
And spoiler alert: if you’re not charging for your emotional labor, you’re not charging enough.
This isn’t about greed. It’s about respect. The creative process isn’t a vending machine—it’s therapy, alchemy, and soul translation. And if they want that kind of magic, they’d better be ready to pay for more than just pixels and deliverables.
The Myth of Consistency
Ah, “consistency”—that culty little buzzword that’s been weaponized against creative freedom.
We’re told to be “on brand.” To never surprise. To keep our tone, our visuals, our essence locked into a pre-approved aesthetic box. But let me ask you—have you ever met a truly alive, evolving human who’s consistent all the time? No. Because consistency, when forced, becomes a coffin.
Clients think they’re buying clarity when they ask for brand consistency. But what they often mean is control. And when we sacrifice spontaneity for that control, our work flattens. It becomes safe. Predictable. Vanilla.
You are not a template. You are a living, growing, occasionally messy creative being. If you’re charging for your whole self—your instincts, your strategy, your emotional IQ—then your prices damn well better reflect that.
When clients ask for a discount, what they’re really saying is:
“I don’t understand the value of the invisible work you do.”
And your job is to educate—or eject.
Why Creative Evolution Matters
Stagnant brands die. And the same goes for stagnant creatives.
The ability to shift, expand, question, and reinvent is not a liability—it’s your leverage. That fire you feel when you’re obsessed with a new idea? That’s the gold. That’s what makes your work relevant. That’s what sets your voice apart.
So when you’re in a growth season—when your art is evolving faster than your rate card—don’t apologize. Don’t shrink. Don’t cling to old pricing because you’re afraid to make someone uncomfortable. Raise your rates. Change your packages. Say no to misaligned projects, even if they pay.
Creative evolution demands space. Financially, emotionally, spiritually. And if a client can’t handle that? Wish them well—and make room for the ones who can.
You’re not here to stay the same. You’re here to burn things down and build better ones.
Strategic Flexibility
Now, let’s be real—flexibility isn’t about becoming a doormat. It’s about choosing when and how to bend.
Discounts are not inherently evil. But they should be your decision, rooted in strategy and sovereignty, not shame.
Want to offer a sliding scale for a dream project that lights your soul on fire? Do it. Want to create a lower-tier offer that’s more accessible? Great. But don’t you dare let someone guilt you into undervaluing your expertise because they didn’t budget properly.
Here’s your script:
“I totally respect budget constraints. If the full project isn’t doable right now, let’s talk about a scaled-down version or revisit it when the timing aligns. I don’t discount my full packages because of the depth of work involved.”
It’s clear. It’s kind. It’s boundary-rich.
And most importantly—it reminds them that this is a collaboration, not a clearance sale.
You get to choose your clients. You get to design your offers. You get to decide what your energy is worth. And if someone doesn’t get that? They’re not your people.
Permission to Shift, Loudly
Here’s the hardest truth: you will outgrow some clients. And that’s not a betrayal—it’s a breakthrough.
If you’re afraid to raise your prices because you don’t want to “abandon” the people who got you here, hear this: your loyalty should be to your evolution, not to your lowest-paying client.
Your work is sacred. Your energy is sacred. And you don’t owe anyone access to it just because you once charged less. This isn’t betrayal. It’s alignment.
So shift. Loudly. Publicly. Unapologetically. Let them see the glow-up. Let them feel the change. The right ones will rise to meet it. The wrong ones will fall away. Good.
Your pricing should reflect your now—not your past. Not your fears. Not their budget.
Because every time you say no to a discount that feels wrong, you say yes to the full worth of your work.
Ask yourself: Where have you traded creativity for consistency—and what would it look like to reclaim your wild?
