Originally Posted by
quiltmom04
Whenever I see discussions of "what should I charge - I'm not very good/experienced/ professional", I think of how that sentence would sound if you were a doctor, an airplane pilot, plumber or mechanic. Would you want to tell someone you went to a doctor who charged less because he admitted he was not very good? Or have your overflowing toilet fixed by a plumber who admits that you might not be pleased, but just won't charge you as much? NO! Of course not! If you can't confidently say " Here's my work and I'm proud of it and I charge accordingly! ", don't charge ANYONE! Get quilts to practice on. Most quilters would love to have their donation quilts quilted for free. I understand your sentiment since you are just starting out, but you diminish not only yourself and your business, but every other professional long arm quilter whose prices will be called into question by being undercut if you don't charge the going rate.
Great advice,and some that I've heard in classes with nationally known quilters. In a business class with Sally Terry, she was adamant about discussing not only what is desired, but price and time frame for getting it done and putting it in writing BEFOREHAND. I still find it hard to not feel somewhat chagrinned when giving an honest price to a friend. But I figure that I would never ask any of them to discount what they charge me for their services or merchandise, so I shouldn't feel bad.
I have a friend that quilts for charge. She uses a very old quilting machine that is not on a track system--you move the stetched frame and she only has the one design. Because of that she charges minimally. She does get lots of business and we all keep telling her she needs to up her prices not only because she deserves it, but also because it's not fair to other quilters in the area.