One of the hardest things for new side hustlers to accomplish is set a pricing. It’s easy to mistrust oneself, like “What if I charge too much?” or “What if no one pays me?” But if you charge too little, you can feel upset, burned out, and miss out on opportunities.
The truth is that making prices is both an art and a science. You don’t need a business degree or years of experience to charge fair fees for your services. You only need a simple plan to help you understand your value and say it clearly.
This article can help you figure out how much to charge for your side job without feeling guilty, scared, or having to guess.
Why It’s Hard for Newbies to Set Prices
People have trouble determining pricing because they think the number is a reflection of their worth. But the truth is that your prices don’t say who you are. You are providing someone a change, a penalty, or a benefit. That’s what people are paying for.
Other issues that come up a lot are:
- Not knowing how much other individuals charge
- Fear of losing potential customers
- Worry about being “too pricey”
- Thoughts like “I’m just starting out; I should charge less”
But you could hurt yourself if you set your prices too low. It can make your offer look less desirable, bring in difficult clients, or make the task impossible to keep up with.
Let’s be clear about how to charge the appropriate method so you may be sure.
Step 1: Set the Time and the Value
People don’t pay you for your time. They pay for a fix.
If you charge $100 to fix something that saves someone 10 hours of frustration or helps them generate more money, even if it only takes you one hour, that’s a great offer.
Think about this:
- What kind of result am I giving?
- How much time, money, or concern does it save the client?
- How much would it cost them to do it another way, like by themselves, with a cheaper provider, or by accident?
Don’t charge by the hour; charge based on what it’s worth. Changing the way you think can make you feel twice or three times as confident.
Step 2: Check Out the Market (But Don’t Just Copy)
If you do any study, you can find a baseline.
Look at sites like:
- Fiverr
- Upwork
- TaskRabbit
- Freelancer
- Etsy (digital or handcrafted items)
- Facebook Marketplace
Check out the competition: How much do they want? What is included? How do they show it?
But don’t rush to the bottom. Cheap services are typically unsustainable or mass-produced. Your offer is personal and of great quality, therefore charge accordingly.
Step 3: Choose a Pricing Model That Works
These are some common models you might use:
- Flat Rate
Good for tasks that only need to be done once. Simple to explain.
Example: $75 to make a business card. - Packages with Levels
Give people 2 to 3 choices (Basic, Standard, and Premium).
Example: Basic Logo $50, Logo + Colors $100, Full Brand Kit $200. - Rate Per Hour
Good for tutoring, giving advice, or doing things that need to be done all the time. Be clear about the minimal number of hours and how to keep track of them. - Subscription or Retainer
Great for monthly services like social media, content, and continuous help. Gives you regular, reliable income.
Pick what works for your business and way of life, and change it as you expand.
Step 4: Set a Base Rate and Change It if You Need To
This is a simple approach to figure it out:
Base Rate = (Target Monthly Income ÷ Hours Available for Work)
For example:
- Aim = $500 per month
- Time available = 10 hours
- $500 ÷ 10 = $50 per hour
If a service takes three hours, including prep and admin time, charge between $150 and $200.
Don’t forget about hidden time:
- Talking to clients
- Changes
- Set up
- Subscriptions or tools
Step 5: Test, Get Feedback, and Make Changes
Your first price isn’t your last.
Side jobs provide you the freedom to try new things. A lot of freelancers start with a “beta price” for their first clients.
Be honest: “I’m giving my first three clients a special rate in exchange for feedback and a review.”
You still get paid, you learn, and you get respect. You can later raise rates with proof that you can trust.
Step 6: Show Prices with Confidence
The way you talk about price is just as significant as the amount.
❌ Don’t say:
- “I know it’s pricey…”
- “I’ll charge less because I’m new…”
- “It’s up for negotiation…”
✅ Say this:
- “This is how much I charge based on the time and value I give.”
- “Here are the choices; choose the one that works best for you.”
- “I’m offering this right now for [price], which includes [deliverables].”
Clients respond to calm assurance, not doubt.
Step 7: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for More Money
Your pricing should go up as your experience, demand, and quality do.
You don’t need permission to raise them; you only need to show that they work. Testimonials, portfolio pieces, and better processes are all good reasons to raise prices.
An idea for a timeline:
- First 3 clients = test prices
- Next 5 = baseline that has been changed
- After 10 stable clients = price goes up by 20–30%
Clients who are good stay. New customers will think that greater pricing mean that you are professional.
Pricing Is a Skill, Not a Guess
In the end, pricing is a skill, not a guess.
You don’t have to get the prices right on the first day. You just have to get started.
Set a rate, test it, give value, learn, and improve. You will discover your rhythm, gain confidence, and make more money over time.
You should be paid decently, above all else. You’re not selling hours; you’re selling ways to make people’s lives better.
You can charge for that, and you can do it with confidence.