We talked to women across the country who are in freelance and consulting projects either full-time or as an adjunct to their restaurant. Putting a price tag on your services is often a difficult and arbitrary decision. You're not just creating a tasty dish - you're problem solving, explains Gold. You're helping them find a niche or a marketing angle. Even among seasoned freelancers, fees vary from project to project, depending on the complexity of the job, who the client is and how badly they want the work.
Some consultants give a price break to small businesses or long-term clients.
Women are especially prone to underselling themselves. Noted cookbook author and consultant Joyce Goldstein is no exception. At one point, she finally called a colleague to find out what she should be charging and discovered she was once again undervaluing herself. Women who are new to freelancing may hesitate to charge what they think they are worth for fear they'll lose the client. It boils down to self-image, says Nancy Miller, a public relations consultant in New York.