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My uncle told me to never work for free, even for friends, and I finally get why
He gave me that advice when I started doing web design three years ago. I ignored it and built a whole site for a buddy's band, thinking it would lead to paid work. It took me about 40 hours and they never even mentioned paying me. Fast forward to now, I did a simple logo for another friend but gave them a clear invoice for half my normal rate up front. They paid it right away and actually value the work more. Has anyone else found that charging something, even a little, changes how clients see you?
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davidkim9d ago
Ever wonder if a tiny fee makes them take deadlines seriously too?
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That's a life lesson that goes way beyond freelance work. It shows up in neighborhood favors, family help, even lending out tools. Putting a small value on something, even just a token amount, changes the whole dynamic. People treat the agreement with more respect because they've now invested in it. Your uncle was spot on, a free service often gets treated like a free product, forgotten and taken for granted.
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