Search Results for: blog can you justify your prices

Rising Gas Prices Are Putting The Squeeze on Family Budgets

Yesterday, I saw a news story about the rising cost of gasoline. The reporter mentioned that it is entirely possible that we will see gas prices rise as high as six dollars a gallon by the end of this year. I’ve already been feeling the pinch at the pump for a while now, because the amount of money that I have budgeted for gas does not go as far as it used to, even with my rather fuel-efficient Toyota Echo. As the price of gas continues to rise, my family and many others may have to make some big changes … Continue reading →

Should You Pass on Rising Costs?

Chances are, you are starting to notice some rising expenses in your home business do, in part to the impending recession. Transportation costs, shipping rates, supplies, and other items are going up and they are likely costing you more and that takes away from your bottom line. As a new or relatively new business owner, however, you may feel reluctant to raise your own prices to cover those growing expenses. But, passing on some of those rising costs may be just what you need to do for the health of your business. If you have a business where you ship … Continue reading →

Sliding-Scale Fees and Prices

There are different ways to organize and deal with pricing in your home business and one of those ways is to consider offering fees or prices on a “sliding-scale” basis. This means that you set the price range, and depending on the individual’s resources and ability to pay, they may pay the low-end price or, potentially, the high-end one. There seem to be some businesses and industries that are better-suited for sliding-scale fees than others. I have noticed that some therapists and counselors use this type of payment structure and I recently signed up for dance classes with a dance … Continue reading →

Can You Justify a High Price?

There are various ways of going about pricing—you can go with a bargain rate to try to attract buyers who are looking to save money, or you could consider offering a high quality product or service and charging accordingly. The general rule for charging a high price, however, is that you need to be able to justify the pricing. Pricing and the market can be interesting—people are willing to pay higher prices for all sorts of reasons. They will pay more for a popular brand, or for prestige, and they are also generally willing to pay more for a higher … Continue reading →

Should You Charge More for Last Minute or Past a Deadline?

Increasingly it seems, everything is done last minute. People tend to treat deadlines as though they were a “suggestion” and not the last date for making a payment, a purchase, or filling out an application. Some businesses choose to just let all this last minute business slide and make accommodations, while others are finding that it is necessary and reasonable to charge fee for things that come in late. You may notice that if you attend a conference or purchase tickets to something, there is often a “price break” if you order or apply early. Of course, this is to … Continue reading →

Can You Justify Your Prices?

I have written before about the process of figuring out what your pricing should be in your home business—including how tough it can be to sort out exactly whether to charge by the hour, the project, or some other way. One thing that will come up, especially if you have set your prices on the higher end of the scale, is whether or not you can justify the prices you are charging. When I write of “justifying” your pricing—I do not mean defending the prices you have set for the products or services you offer in your home business. I … Continue reading →

Travel Savings Strategies

Choosing to fly during the off-season is an easy way to save money; however, there are many other ways you can pad your wallet when your travel plans take you to the airport.  The key to saving big is a little pre-flight strategizing. For example, if you only fly on commercial airlines a few times a year, you may have a hard time justifying the costs associated with an airport lounge membership.  Still, it’s hard to resist the comforts and services provided at these luxurious airport hangouts. Some of the perks of lounge membership include: Peace and quiet:  Most airport … Continue reading →

Daily Deal Web Sites and Health Care Deals

Did you know that some of the same daily deal type web sites that you use to help keep little luxuries like spa services and dinners out within your budget can also help you to afford health care services? I was surprised to learn that sites like Groupon and LivingSocial can help consumers to fill in the spaces that are often left by their health insurance coverage. You know, those things that make you wonder why you pay so much for health insurance that does not include them. Things like dental exams and cleanings, eyewear, and the like are often … Continue reading →

Another Take on Gold

We keep hearing people talk about gold. I had a question to pose to my friend, financial advisor John Hauserman of RetirementQuest. I asked, “I keep seeing people advise us to buy gold, but I have a question. What if I end up with all kinds of gold, but there’s nothing to spend it on? What if no one will take my gold? What other ways do you advise us to prepare for future economic downturns?” John replied, “I am really glad you asked this question. While someone could write an entire book on this subject, which I actually did … Continue reading →

Coupon Pitfalls to Avoid Part 2

If you aren’t careful, clipping coupons can wind up costing you money! Just like an adventurer that gets caught in quicksand, you could quickly fall into trouble. Make sure that you are armed with the knowledge to avoid the common coupon pitfalls. The next time you are ready to cut those coupons and do your shopping, keep this next coupon pitfall in mind. Not comparing prices I’m not very brand conscious on most things. Still, I often find myself reaching more for recognizable brand names over the generics because I trust them more, even if I haven’t tried the generic … Continue reading →