Pricing Your First Service with Confidence (Even If You’re New)
- Akino Davis
- Aug 24
- 6 min read
Updated: Aug 27
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There’s a specific moment in every professional’s business journey that’s both exciting and terrifying: the first time you need to decide what to charge.
You’ve crafted the offer. You know the transformation you’re delivering. But when it’s time to attach a price?
You freeze.
You second-guess your value.
You search the internet for what others are charging.
You open a spreadsheet… and then close it.
You worry, “Will they pay me for this?”
“Am I pricing too high?”
“Am I undervaluing myself?”
If you’ve been there, or you’re there now, you’re not alone. And you’re not doing anything wrong. This is the unspoken hurdle almost every new entrepreneur faces, especially professionals transitioning from employment into their first client-facing offer.
In last week’s article, “Creating a Financial Runway for Your Transition,” we explored how to build income security before quitting your job. This week, we’re continuing that theme of “Ready Without the Risk” by looking at how you can confidently price your first offer, even if you’re just getting started.
Because pricing is more than just a number. It’s a mirror. And what you see in it shapes how the world values what you do.
Why Pricing Is So Paralyzing for New Entrepreneurs
When I coach professionals who are launching a business for the first time, I see a recurring pattern. They can speak about their skills. They can even explain what they’re helping clients do. But when we get to the price?
They hesitate.
Behind that hesitation is usually a belief that sounds like this:
“I’m new to this business, so I should probably charge less... until I prove myself.”
But here’s the fact of the matter: You’re not new to creating value. You’re new to monetizing it directly. That’s a mindset shift, not a skill gap.
You’ve likely spent years, even decades, solving real-world problems in your industry. What’s missing isn’t credibility; it’s a framework for translating that credibility into a clear offer and a confident price.
Common Advice That Makes Things Worse
Let’s address what doesn’t help because most professionals try these approaches first.
They look at competitor pricing and pick a number in the middle.
They start low to “build trust.”
They charge by the hour because that feels safer.
They overload their offer with extras to justify the price.
Or they wait until the website is done to “look more professional.”
Here’s the problem with each of those strategies:
Competitor pricing tells you nothing about your costs, your value, or your client goals.
Low pricing attracts skeptical buyers and often leads to burnout.
Hourly rates cap your earnings and turn transformation into time-tracking.
Overstuffed offers confuse the buyer and dilute your value.
And your website isn’t your business; your offer is.
The real issue is confidence, and confidence comes from clarity, not comparison.
What Happened When I Priced My First Coaching Offer
Let me take you back to the early days of SME Digital.
When I transitioned from operations and project management into coaching, I wanted to offer something simple but powerful. I called it a 1:1 Business Clarity Call.
It was a 60-minute private session designed to help professionals identify their monetizable expertise and map out a 30-day launch plan. That was the offer. I priced it at $147.
I’ll be honest, the number felt bold at the time. I had no funnel, no fancy website, and no polished brand. Just clarity on what I could help someone do in 60 minutes.
The first person booked within 24 hours. Then another. And another.
What I realized wasn’t just that people were willing to pay; it’s that they were relieved to finally get clarity.
They weren’t buying a session. They were buying a solution. And the price felt fair, not because I was a veteran coach, but because I made the value visible and specific.
That $147 offer became the foundation for my coaching programs. Over time, I raised the price, expanded the framework, and turned it into a structured accelerator. But it all started with one offer, one transformation, and one confident price.
How to Price with Confidence (Even If You’re New)
If you’re getting ready to price your first service, here’s a simple framework I teach my clients:
1. Start with the outcome.
What result will your client walk away with? Don’t sell time; sell transformation.
Example: “In one session, you’ll walk away with a tested, written offer and a messaging script you can start using immediately.”
2. Do your runway math.
Let’s say your monthly income goal is $4,000 and you can take on 4 clients per month. That’s $1,000 per client. That becomes your target.
Now set a floor (e.g., $600), target ($1,000), and ceiling ($1,500) so you have room to grow with confidence.
3. Build a value story.
Communicate the cost of staying stuck and the return on transformation.
“If this clarity saves you even 5 wasted hours or lands one new client, the session pays for itself.”
4. Keep the scope tight.
New doesn’t mean complicated. Offer a clear, results-focused 1–2 week sprint or single-session package. Build confidence through clean delivery.
5. Use the Confidence Ladder.
Start with 3 clients at your floor price to test.
Move to your target once you have testimonials or results.
Introduce your ceiling when you’re booking out or increasing value.
Quick Answers to Common Fears
“What if they say it’s too expensive?”
Ask: “Is it the timing, the outcome, or the delivery that doesn’t feel right?” Price objections often reveal clarity gaps.
“Should I offer discounts?”
It’s better to offer a smaller scope than reduce your value. Trim the offer, not your worth.
“But I’m brand new…”
You’re not new to delivering value. Anchor your price in outcomes you’ve helped create in your career.
What Pricing Your First Service Really Means
This isn’t just about money. It’s about momentum.
When you set a confident price, you tell yourself:
“I believe in this offer.”
“I believe in the result.”
“I’m ready to move forward.”
Your first price unlocks your first proof. And your first proof unlocks your next level.
So start where you are. Price for the result you can deliver now, and trust that clarity always creates confidence.
Let’s Build a Business That Pays You Back
If this helped you breathe a little easier, I want you to remember something: Pricing doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be clear enough to move.
If you want more weekly insights on building a business that feels aligned with your expertise and values, subscribe to the Becoming An Entrepreneur Newsletter at www.smedigital.biz/blog
We’re walking this journey step by step. This week, you price your first service. Next week, we talk about the 3 systems every beginner entrepreneur needs.
Let’s go.
Whenever you are ready to explore entrepreneurship, there are a few ways that I can help you:
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A 15-minute clarity session with Akino Davis designed to review your readiness results, explore your business goals, and recommend the best-fit coaching or strategy path. Ideal for professionals seeking expert guidance before committing to a program. No pressure, just direction.
Becoming An Entrepreneur™: The Professional’s Guide to Monetizing Expertise
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Becoming An Entrepreneur™: The Professional’s Guide to Monetizing Expertise is more than just an ebook.
It’s a full transition system designed to help mid-to-senior-level professionals launch service-based businesses rooted in their expertise.
Inside, you’ll get:
✅ A 200+ page step-by-step guide
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