Just got some tough feedback on my pricing from a client in Cincinnati

I've been installing fences for about five years and always charged a flat rate per linear foot, no matter the job. A client last month told me straight up, 'Your price is fair for the fence, but you're not charging for the real work, which is the slope and the rock in my yard.' He was right. I lost almost a full day's profit on that job dealing with the terrain. I changed my model to include a site survey fee upfront, which covers an hour to check for exactly those issues. It's added about $150 to my initial quote, but it sets the right expectation. Has anyone else had a client point out a blind spot in their pricing that actually helped them grow?

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3 Comments

thea1436mo ago

That's a really smart change. Did that client explain how they spotted your blind spot, like from a past bad experience with another contractor?

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davidh886mo ago

My old neighbor, a retired engineer, used to catch stuff like that all the time. Makes you wonder what kind of stories @thea143's client has, right?

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clairec785mo ago

Sometimes the best business advice comes from the people paying you. That client basically did a free audit of your pricing model. Smart move listening to them.

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