Service Pricing Guide: How to Quote Charges Confidently (With Prompts)

The Ultimate Hack (One-Line Truth)

You do not quote a price for the service. You quote a price for the outcome, adjusted by risk, urgency, and client profile.

Everything below operationalizes this idea.

Step 1: Classify the Client Before the Work

Before calculating anything, determine who you are pricing for.

Hack:
If the client asks “Why so expensive?” → they are not premium.
If they ask “How fast can you do it?” → price goes up immediately.

Step 2: Calculate Your Non-Negotiable Base Price

This is your survival number. Never quote below this.

Formula:

(Monthly income goal + Overheads) ÷ Billable days ÷ Efficiency factor

Example:

• Monthly target: ₹3,00,000

• Overheads: ₹50,000

• Billable days: 20

• Efficiency factor: 0.7

(3,50,000 ÷ 20) ÷ 0.7 ≈ ₹25,000/day

This is your minimum mental anchor.

Step 3: Price the Problem, Not the Task

Clients don’t pay for what you do. They pay for what happens if you don’t.

Ask:

• What happens if this is delayed?

• What does success unlock for them?

• What is the cost of failure?

Then price as a percentage of value created or risk avoided.

Hack:
If your price feels “high”, but failure costs them more → it’s underpriced.

Step 4: Apply the 5 Price Multipliers

Start with your base price and multiply.

4

Example:
Base ₹50,000 × Urgency (1.5) × Brand (2) = ₹1,50,000

Step 5: Offer 3 Options (This Is the Real Hack)

Never quote a single number.

Rules:

• Always highlight Recommended

• Premium must feel exclusive

• Basic must feel slightly uncomfortable

Step 6: Quote With Authority (Language Matters)

Never say:

• “This is negotiable”

• “Let me know your budget”

• “I can reduce scope”

Say instead:

• “This pricing reflects the outcome and responsibility involved”

• “We can adjust timelines or deliverables, not quality”

• “This is the correct price for this level of execution”

Hack:
Silence after quoting is power. Let the client respond first.

Step 7: Build Negotiation Buffers Invisibly

Add buffers before the quote, not after objections.

• Inflate internal estimate by 15–25%

• Split price into phases

• Add optional paid add-ons

If they negotiate → you “remove” something, not money.

Step 8: Know When to Walk Away

If:

• They disrespect pricing

• Compare you aggressively

• Delay payment terms

• Say “others are cheaper”

Then walking away increases your brand value.

Counter-intuitive truth:
Your best clients come after you reject bad ones.

The Ultimate Pricing Checklist

Before sending a quote, confirm:

• Did I price the outcome?

• Did I apply urgency and risk?

• Did I offer 3 options?

• Does this price slightly scare me? (Good sign)

• Can I confidently defend this number?

If yes → send it.

Final Thought

The real hack is this:
People don’t buy services. They buy confidence transferred through pricing.

Here are the prompts

1. Self-Clarity Prompts (Before Quoting Anything)

These prompts help students avoid the biggest mistake: guessing prices emotionally.

Thinking Prompts

• What exact problem am I solving?

• What will the client gain if this works?

• What happens if the client delays or fails without my help?

• Is this a one-time task or ongoing responsibility?

• Am I being paid for effort or for judgment?

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“I am a student offering a service. Break down the real value of my service beyond hours worked and explain what the client is actually paying for.”

2. Cost & Time Reality Prompts (Avoid Undercharging)

Students often ignore hidden costs.

Thinking Prompts

• How many total hours (including learning, revisions, communication)?

• What tools, subscriptions, or resources am I using?

• What opportunity am I losing by taking this project?

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Calculate a fair minimum price for my service considering time spent, learning effort, revisions, communication overhead, and opportunity cost.”

3. Skill-Level Confidence Prompts (Imposter Syndrome Killer)

Students undervalue themselves because they focus on “experience.”

Thinking Prompts

• Can the client do this themselves?

• Will a mistake here cost them time, money, or reputation?

• Am I faster or clearer than a beginner?

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Reframe my current skill level into market value, even though I am a student or beginner, and suggest a confident pricing range.”

4. Market Comparison Prompts (Without Copying Prices Blindly)

The goal is positioning, not imitation.

Thinking Prompts

• Who else does this service?

• What do low-quality providers miss?

• What am I doing better or differently?

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Compare my service offering with typical market alternatives and suggest where I can price myself without racing to the bottom.”

5. Outcome-Based Pricing Prompts (The Ultimate Upgrade)

This shifts students from hourly pricing to value pricing.

Thinking Prompts

• What result will the client see after delivery?

• Is this result measurable (leads, grades, traffic, conversions)?

• How important is this outcome to them?

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Convert my service from hourly/task-based pricing into outcome-based pricing and suggest what I should charge.”

6. Risk & Responsibility Prompts (Why Higher Prices Are Justified)

Responsibility increases value.

Thinking Prompts

• What happens if I mess this up?

• Am I handling client data, deadlines, or reputation?

• Will the client blame me if it fails?

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Assess the risk and responsibility involved in my service and adjust the pricing upward accordingly.”

7. Urgency & Deadline Prompts (Fast Work = Premium)

Students forget urgency is billable.

Thinking Prompts

• Is this needed immediately?

• Am I sacrificing other work or studies?

• Will delays hurt the client?

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Increase my service price fairly based on urgency, short deadlines, or last-minute requests.”

8. 3-Tier Package Creation Prompts (Student Power Move)

This makes students look professional instantly.

Thinking Prompts

• What is the bare minimum?

• What would ideal delivery look like?

• What would ‘wow’ delivery include?

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Create three pricing packages (Basic, Recommended, Premium) for my service that a student can confidently offer to clients.”

9. Client-Facing Quote Language Prompts (Sound Professional)

Students lose deals due to weak language.

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Rewrite my service quote in confident, professional language that explains value without sounding defensive or apologetic.”

10. Negotiation & Pushback Prompts (When Client Says ‘Too Expensive’)

Critical for students.

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“Give me polite but firm responses I can use when a client says my price is too high, without lowering my value.”

11. Reality Check Prompt (Final Sanity Test)

This prevents regret.

Copy-Paste AI Prompt

“If I accept this project at my quoted price, will I feel motivated or resentful? Suggest a better price if needed.”

One Master Prompt (Bookmark This)

Students can use this every time.

“I am a student offering [SERVICE].
My skill level is [BEGINNER / INTERMEDIATE].
The client is [INDIVIDUAL / STARTUP / COMPANY].
Timeline is [DAYS].
Outcome is [RESULT].
Create a fair, confident pricing strategy with justification, packages, and negotiation responses.”