
Charge like an Artist, not a Service Provider
Jul 22, 2025By David Bosscher
Taken from the class Charge like an Artist, not a Service Provider
You didn’t get into this industry to be a machine.
You got into it to be an artist.
So why are you still charging like a service provider?
In a recent class, we asked a simple question:
Have you implemented hourly pricing yet?
Many said yes—but a good number admitted they were still doing 30-minute pricing blocks.
Let’s clear this up once and for all: Hourly pricing means 60-minute blocks. Period.
The moment you dip into 30-minute sessions, you’re not doing true hourly pricing anymore—you’re doing a customized, fear-based workaround. And it’s usually rooted in one thing: scarcity.
30-Minute Pricing is a Speed Trap
Why do people introduce 30-minute options?
Because they’re afraid they’ll finish early.
Because they want to “go faster.”
Because they want to “fit more in.”
What they’re really saying is:
“I’m afraid to take up space. I’m afraid to charge for my full expertise. I’m afraid to be seen as expensive.”
30-minute markers are just another version of undercharging—dressed up like strategy.
Artists Don’t Rush. Machines Do.
Let’s be honest: you can technically do a clipper cut in 20 minutes.
But should you?
Hell no.
Every time you rush, every time you squeeze someone in, every time you under-quote—you chip away at your own value. You turn art into a transaction. And you lose money, time, and energy in the process.
Your clients aren’t paying for what you can do fast. They’re paying for your talent, your presence, your education, your nervous system, and your time.
If a client says, “Can we do this faster?”
The answer is:
“Sure. But you’re still paying me for the full hour I’ve reserved for you.”
Hourly Pricing is a Boundary
When you charge hourly:
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You stop explaining and start leading.
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You stop itemizing your worth by ounces of color or “extra bowls.”
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You stop negotiating with clients over foils, fringe, and toner.
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You start reclaiming your time, your space, and your career.
Hourly pricing is conscious pricing—and it’s the key to stepping out of hustle culture for good.
Raise Your Rate. Raise Your Reality.
We walked students through a formula to calculate their true hourly rate:
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Desired after-tax income
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Plus $25,000 (because let’s be honest—you’re undercharging)
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Divide by number of weeks (max 40)
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Divide by days per week
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Divide by hours per day
Some landed at $172/hour.
Some at $300.
One at $390.
And guess what?
Clients paid it.
Because when you believe in your value, others do too.
But What If I Lose Clients?
You will.
And that’s a good thing.
You don’t want to build your business around people who nickel-and-dime your worth.
Let them go.
You’re not meant to serve the entire planet.
You’re meant to serve people who:
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Respect your time
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Value your talent
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Want an artist, not a machine
And yes—clients love hourly pricing. Especially when you go gratuity-free. It removes awkwardness, guilt, confusion, and tipping drama. They know what to expect. You get paid what you’re worth. Everyone wins.
Final Thought: This Is Your One Life
Every hour you’re behind the chair, you’re one hour closer to the end of your career.
Get paid accordingly.
Don’t wait for permission.
Don’t water it down with half-measures.
Don’t ask for opinions from people who benefit from your undercharging.
Just do it.
Because artists don’t explain.
They create, they lead, and they charge for their time.