Price differentiation

I like to be transparent about the rates I charge.

Companies
When it comes to personal counseling and coaching, it is common for business rates to be higher than private rates. It is attractive for companies to invest, plus they have tax breaks and other financial advantages that individuals do not have. Nowadays, many employees have a personal development budget through their employer, with which they can decide how they want to develop themselves professionally. The employer pays for this development, and both parties benefit. This is what my company rate is based on.

Individuals
In addition, I charge different rates for incomes that are higher and lower than average. My offerings are highly specialised and not focused on any specific demographic group. The interest in my work comes from different people with diverse backgrounds and with different incomes.

I deliberately choose not to have one, fixed rate for individuals and offer lower-income people a discount. In my opinion, this sends the wrong message: lower-income people want to pay an appropriate price for what they need, and not have to claim charity. They work for their money like others, but in (regularly essential) sectors that are less financially valued by society than commercial professions. 

After ten years of experience in this profession, I have learned that money doesn’t have the same value for anyone: for some people, €150 is a particularly large sum that they think about three times before spending. Others don’t notice if they spend an extra €150 per month. Although the Netherlands is a levelized country on a global level, the difference in disposable income is still large and is only getting larger – especially in Amsterdam. I find it important that you pay a price for my services which you endorse and fits your situation.

Self-employed people
I also see this same large difference in income with self-employed people, which is why I charge different rates for them as well. Because self-employed people have certain tax advantages just like companies, they pay the private rate that applies to them with additional VAT.

Trust
Determining your rate is done in consultation and based on trust, I don’t need to see a paycheck or financial statements. I assume that you are honest about where you stand and what your possibilities are. If we are going to start working together, building trust is fundamental anyway.