The Pricing Model That Actually Works — and Why You Can’t Offer Everything to Everyone
You’d think setting your prices would feel empowering.
You’re building a business, delivering real value, and getting paid for your brilliance — right?
But for most of us, pricing is a murky mix of anxiety, avoidance, and overthinking.
Because while we want our work to feel accessible, we also want to be paid well. We want clients to say yes easily — but we don’t want to resent the price we offered. And we want to deliver amazing results without burning out.
That’s why getting clear on your pricing model isn’t just a math exercise — it’s a sanity saver.
Let’s walk through a simple framework I teach in the Zero-Stress Pricing Formula™ that helps eliminate the second-guessing and gives your business a clear, sustainable way to grow.
Why Your Pricing Structure Matters More Than You Think
Think of pricing as the top of your financial funnel. Every dollar that flows into your business starts with the rates you set.
So if your pricing is misaligned — too low, too inconsistent, or trying to please everyone — you’re sabotaging the rest of your money systems before they even get a chance to work.
What we want instead is a pricing structure that feels aligned, supports your energy and capacity, and sends a clear message to your audience about the quality and delivery of your work.
Which brings me to…
The Zen Money Pricing Triangle
At any given time, you can only offer two out of these three:
High Quality
Fast Delivery
Low Price
We’d all love to deliver premium service, lightning speed, and bargain pricing. But that combination? It’s a fast track to burnout and broken business models.
Here’s how each pair works — and what to watch out for:
Speed + Quality = Higher Cost
You can charge a premium when you deliver top-tier work quickly. This is the VIP day model, the “I’m in and out in 2 hours and it’s exactly what you need” offer. You’re using your experience and systems to compress time — and it’s totally fair to price accordingly.Price + Quality = Slower Delivery
When you offer high quality at a lower rate, the tradeoff is often turnaround time. Maybe clients wait longer for deliverables or get less hands-on access. This can work — if you set boundaries and don’t secretly throw in extras just to feel worthy of the rate.Price + Speed = Lower Quality
This is the drive-thru option. And if you’re doing custom, creative, or service-based work, it’s usually not sustainable — unless your entire offer is built around high volume and minimal touch points.
Why “All Three” Doesn’t Work (Even if You Want It To)
If your current offer is:
Custom and high-quality…
Delivered fast…
Priced to be “accessible”…
You’re likely over-delivering, undercharging, and running on fumes. It’s not your fault — this model is how many entrepreneurs are taught to start. But if you want to grow and actually feel good about your business, something has to shift.
You Are Not Walmart (So Please Stop Pricing Like It)
Your business is not a discount chain. It’s a vessel for your time, energy, creativity, and expertise — and your pricing should reflect that.
Yes, it’s okay to start with lower prices as you build. But staying there forever (or hesitating to raise your rates) is a recipe for stagnation. You can’t scale with bargain pricing. You can’t rest when you’re always chasing volume. And you certainly can’t keep loving your work if you’re resentful of how little it pays you back.
Keep It Consistent Across Your Offers
Your clients are smart — and they notice when one offer is fast + low cost + high-touch… and another is slow + expensive + confusing.
If your pricing across offers isn’t consistent with the value and delivery, you risk confusing your audience. Worse? You make it harder for people to understand how to work with you — and why your higher-ticket offers are worth it.
Consistency = clarity = conversions.
The Bottom Line
Pricing isn’t about picking a number. It’s about creating a structure that’s sustainable — for you, for your clients, and for your business goals.
When your pricing model reflects how you want to work, the kind of experience you want to deliver, and the income you want to earn, everything flows better. You’ll know what to say, what to charge, and how to hold your boundaries.
And you’ll finally stop googling “how to price your services” every 6 months.
Want a no-brainer way to reset your pricing?
Inside the Zero-Stress Pricing Formula™, I’ll walk you through my signature 4-step method to set aligned, profitable rates — no spreadsheets or math spirals required.
If your rates make you second-guess yourself (or want to hide under the covers), this is for you.
Talk soon,
Liz
