Don’t just raise your fee. Double it.

That was a key theme of my “Dare to Be Different!” keynote presentation at the recent Business of Design conference in Las Vegas.

Fees are the great “differentiator,”  I told the audience of more than 200 design professionals. And, few things would set you apart more than charging twice your current price.

Only one person is holding you back from earning the kind of income you want and deserve. It’s not some skilled competitor. It’s not some client from Hell.

It’s you. That’s because you haven’t given yourself permission to charge what you’re worth.

Please don’t tell me your clients would balk at the idea of paying twice as much.

I don’t care.

And don’t tell me homeowners and companies  in your area aren’t used to paying that kind of money to design professionals.

I don’t care.

And don’t tell me that you might get nervous quoting the higher fee.

I don’t care.

No, I don’t care about any of that…and neither should you.  Don’t focus on all the reasons you can’t double your fee. Focus, instead, on the reasons you can.

Share your “only’s,” and cite all the ways you differ from lower priced competitors. Discuss how your clients benefit from your expertise, and your years of experience.

And explain how you save people headaches. And heartaches. And time. And money.

Doubling  your fees may well be the daring step you’ve ever taken with your business.

It also may be the most sensible.