5 Mindset Shifts to Charge Premium Rates as a Creative Entrepreneur

If you’ve ever opened a competitor’s pricing page and felt that gut-punch of “How are they charging THAT?!”, you’re not alone. Most designers, photographers, and makers we coach at Jo & Lyndon set prices based on fear, not value.

Below are five mindset pivots that move our clients from bargain-bin to premium—often in a single quarter. Ready to upgrade yours?

(New here? Start with our earlier post, 3 Signs Your Creative Offer Confuses Clients, then circle back.)

‍1. From “Price = Hours” to “Price = Outcomes”

Hourly math punishes efficiency. Clients don’t buy your time—they buy a result.

How to Shift

  • List the tangible wins your project delivers (e.g., conversion lift, bookings, brand credibility).
  • Anchor proposals to those wins: “Average clients recoup their investment within 60 days.”
  • Use value-based packages (see our detailed breakdown in Value-Based vs. Hourly Pricing).

2. From “Everyone Is a Prospect” to “Premium Niche, Premium Price”

Scarcity boosts value. When you solve an urgent, niche-specific problem, you become incomparable—and pricier.

How to Shift

  1. Pick a micro-niche (e.g., boutique skincare startups instead of “any product brand”).
  2. Become fluent in their pain points and metrics.
  3. Pepper niche language across your Homepage and Coaching Packages so the right folks self-select.

3. From “Will They Think I’m Greedy?” to “Pricing = Service”

Charging more lets you serve better: fewer projects, deeper focus, greater client ROI.

How to Shift

  • Reframe premium pricing as capacity for excellence (e.g., more research hours, stronger QA).
  • Include a concierge-style deliverable—like a strategy call or training video—that justifies the raise.
  • Share a testimonial demonstrating those extras (peek at the “Success Stories” slider on our About page).

Reminder: clients benefit when you’re profitable enough to show up 100 percent.

‍4. From “Low Prices Close Faster” to “Higher Prices Filter Faster”

Bargain hunters ghost, drag timelines, and resist feedback. Premium buyers are decisive because their ROI matters.

‍How to Shift

  • Display starting prices on your Services page to repel tire-kickers.
  • Require a paid discovery call—even $50 screens out browsers.
  • Use a “Yes/No” fit checklist in proposals

5. From “I Need Permission” to “I Set the Market for My Expertise”

Markets don’t dictate your ceiling—expert brands do. You are the brand.

How to Shift

  • Publish signature thought leadership: guest podcast, PDF guide, or keynote (see our Speaking page for inspo).
  • Update your LinkedIn headline to something authority-driven.
  • Celebrate wins publicly (case studies, revenue bumps). Social proof resets perceived value.

Key Takeaway

Your next level of income isn’t hiding in some secret formula. Shift the mindset, and the market (and your bank balance) follows.