Pricing as an Act of Self‑Respect

If you care deeply about your work, it’s easy to make pricing all about everyone else. You want clients to feel taken care of. You want your team or contractors to have steady work. You want your audience to say “yes” without hesitation. Somewhere in the middle of all of that, it’s common for owners to quietly slide themselves to the bottom of the priority list. Pricing becomes about keeping the peace, not about what your business truly needs to stay healthy.

Whether you’re running an established salon with a small team, working one‑on‑one with clients as a wellness pro, or leading a band or music project with contractor performers, your pricing shows up clearly in your numbers. When rates are too low or discounts are too generous, your schedule can be packed and you can still feel like there’s “nothing left” after everyone else has been paid. That gap between how hard you work and how your bank account looks isn’t a mystery — it’s a pricing and structure issue, not a personal failure.

Thinking about pricing as an act of self‑respect shifts the conversation. It’s not about charging the highest rates you can, or squeezing your clients, or being “all about the money.” It’s about acknowledging that your skills, your time, your experience, and the responsibility you carry as an owner have real value. It’s also about recognizing that you can’t keep showing up for your clients, your team, and your audience if your business never truly supports you back. Sustainable pricing is part of how you care for yourself, so you can continue doing the work you love.

Your bookkeeping can quietly back you up here. When your income and expenses are tracked clearly, it becomes easier to see the truth: what does it actually cost to run a day in your salon, to deliver a wellness package, or to put on a show? What are you paying in rent, supplies, software, marketing, payroll, contractor fees, and your own time behind the scenes? When you look at those numbers honestly, you can ask one simple question: “Does my pricing reflect the real cost of what I’m delivering, plus a fair profit for me as the owner?” If the answer is no, that’s data — and an invitation to adjust.

This month, I’d invite you to choose just one thing to review: one service, one package, or one typical gig. Look at what it involves, how much time and energy it takes, and what your books tell you about your costs. Then ask yourself, “If I really respected my time, my team, and my future, would I keep this price the same?” You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight. Even one thoughtful change, rooted in self‑respect and supported by your numbers, is a powerful step toward a business that cares for you as much as you care for everyone else.

Keep IT Sunny~