Do you charge a initial SEO consultation fee?

18 replies
I had lunch with a friend who wanted to hire me to re-do his website and SEO. He's been looking for awhile and can't seem to find the right person. Well I gave him a quote $2000/setup fee $300/mo. He wasn't thrilled with that, but being my 1st client and all I lowered to $1500/setup fee $300/mo.
He said he was good with that.

I was waiting for him to email me so we can meet and sign a contract. He now says that money is tight, basically wasting my time.

Should I send an invoice to his business for the initial consultation?
#charge #consultation #fee #initial #seo
  • Profile picture of the author LasseKohau
    Hi MNLewis, No.

    1) Firstly, business and friendship can brake both. Personally, I would never do business or work for a friend. I would hire the next best offline consultant, and he could tip me another lead to work on later. ( swop leads )

    2) It is commom practice in the consulting industry, that you never charge for start up meetings or prospecting meetings or for analyzing your clients business. It is a part of establishing a trustworthy relationship. If you are really good, money comes flowing in later.

    regards, LASSE
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  • Profile picture of the author Ashley Skuse
    In my opinion it'd be a bit out of order to do that, and not worth it at all. If you charged the potential client, he'd be getting charged for walking into an appointment he didn't know would cost him money, and I think that could result in destroying what could still be a good business relationship at some point.

    A first appointment is a time commitment, and it's your opportunity to sell your service. You won't always successfully sell, but that's just life. Value potential clients even if they say no to your service. Just because your friend can't afford the service right now does not mean he'll never be able to. Or, maybe you could discuss a payment plan with him or knock the price down again (in all honesty, that is a really high price if you're just starting out).
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  • Profile picture of the author Kim Davis
    Real estate people don't charge you a fee for showing you house after house. They spend their time and their gas showing you around.

    Car dealerships don't charge you a fee for showing you car after car. They allow you to test drive without asking you to pull up the pump and put gas back in it.

    Its a part of doing business, you win some and you lose some.

    Estimates should be free.
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    • Profile picture of the author Russell Hall
      I think if you're going to do anything constructive with this guy and perhaps salvage some opportunity then the last thing you should be doing is sending an invoice. Even if he paid it (which I doubt) you'd probably never hear from him again and he may even speak negatively of the experience with other business owners.

      I'd suggest you do some back peddling here and score some points. I'd contact the guy maybe via a short email and just say something along the lines that firstly it was great to get together with him and share some of your SEO wisdom,.. you hope that's whetted his apetite to learn and apply more. Then you could say that although you feel your service fees aren't high that it is understandable when a lot of people can't fully appreciate the massive value it will return to them,.. and also for some businesses to shell out a couple of G's up front in the current climate can be either daunting or simply not doable.
      Therefore,.. you've decided to introduce a service where business owners can rent a site from you for say $400 per month including SEO. Cancel any time you like,.. or stay with the program for 12mths and get to keep the site (kind of rent-to-own). Even if you charged a 1-off setup fee of say $200 its still reasonable and covers your costs if you set up a simple site in Wordpress or similar platform.

      I think you might find that he could respond well to that, but if not, just put it down to experience and move on.

      All the best with it

      Russ
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      • Profile picture of the author Bronwyn and Keith
        Hey Russ

        Thats a great idea. Especially in this situation.

        Keep a friend, make a dollar - everyones a winner.

        Regards

        Bronwyn and Keith
        Originally Posted by RussRave View Post

        I think if you're going to do anything constructive with this guy and perhaps salvage some opportunity then the last thing you should be doing is sending an invoice. Even if he paid it (which I doubt) you'd probably never hear from him again and he may even speak negatively of the experience with other business owners.

        I'd suggest you do some back peddling here and score some points. I'd contact the guy maybe via a short email and just say something along the lines that firstly it was great to get together with him and share some of your SEO wisdom,.. you hope that's whetted his apetite to learn and apply more. Then you could say that although you feel your service fees aren't high that it is understandable when a lot of people can't fully appreciate the massive value it will return to them,.. and also for some businesses to shell out a couple of G's up front in the current climate can be either daunting or simply not doable.
        Therefore,.. you've decided to introduce a service where business owners can rent a site from you for say $400 per month including SEO. Cancel any time you like,.. or stay with the program for 12mths and get to keep the site (kind of rent-to-own). Even if you charged a 1-off setup fee of say $200 its still reasonable and covers your costs if you set up a simple site in Wordpress or similar platform.

        I think you might find that he could respond well to that, but if not, just put it down to experience and move on.

        All the best with it

        Russ
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  • Profile picture of the author Bronwyn and Keith
    Hi

    If he is a friend and you want to "keep" the friendship forget the invoice.

    He may also be a "friend" who was expecting something for "nothing", if thats the case he probably isn't a friend at all.

    Suggestion - move on and chalk it up to experience.

    Regards

    Bronwyn and Keith
    PS. Then find business owners who do want your help and will pay.
    Originally Posted by mnlewis View Post

    I had lunch with a friend who wanted to hire me to re-do his website and SEO. He's been looking for awhile and can't seem to find the right person. Well I gave him a quote $2000/setup fee $300/mo. He wasn't thrilled with that, but being my 1st client and all I lowered to $1500/setup fee $300/mo.
    He said he was good with that.

    I was waiting for him to email me so we can meet and sign a contract. He now says that money is tight, basically wasting my time.

    Should I send an invoice to his business for the initial consultation?
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    • Profile picture of the author seang
      I won't do business with my friends too. I help them once in a while but with no charge.

      And just like what Kim Davis say, consultation fees should be free.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshyybaxx
    I would avoid doing things on a business level with friends, keep it to certain levels, look at it this way:

    If it's your first client and your friend, I'd say look into whether or not he can send people your way after you do a job for him... if this is likely i'd drop the price on the service just to drum up some good things to show other potential clients that you do have a track record and aern't some hack who read an e-book for $17 on the topic and thinks they can go make money on it.

    It's entirely up to you, I'd be more focussed on building up a reputation and a record to show you have proof of your skills, instead of making a quick sale - But that's just my personal stance on it.

    Hope you have the info to make the end decision and go onto a great journey with your business.

    -JB
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  • Profile picture of the author Vagabond 007
    Originally Posted by mnlewis View Post

    He wasn't thrilled with that, but being my 1st client and all I lowered to $1500/setup fee $300/mo.
    He said he was good with that.

    I was waiting for him to email me so we can meet and sign a contract. He now says that money is tight, basically wasting my time.

    Should I send an invoice to his business for the initial consultation?
    No. Forget about this guy and move on.

    Your first wrong move was lowering your fee. He didn't like it so you lowered it?! That's his problem.

    My advice, be careful of working with friends. And look to see where YOU may have screwed this up. Well, you shouldn't have lowered your price. But, if presented properly, price shouldn't even be an issue. Seems you didn't show enough value. If you did, then he really isn't spending anything. If you make him $1,000 a month, then who cares if you charge him $300!

    Make what you're selling "free".

    Next time, who cares if they don't like your fee. Move on. Takeaway selling.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshyybaxx
    okay the simple answer is this.

    If you said you charge a fee for consultation prior to the consultation taking place you can charge a fee.

    If you didnt mention a fee you have no right to charge a fee, not to mention you will be labelled as deceptive and negative word spreads fast.

    I wouldn't charge an initial consultation fee, use this time to build a connection with the client and learn about their company, if you're in the game for profit only you'll be found out, offer quality, profit will follow.

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    • Profile picture of the author rhinocl
      There are small businesses out there who may need an initial consulttation to set them on the right path but who can't afford regular fees and will have to do the work themselves. That type of consultation you should charge for but they neede to understand the fee in advance. Where there is potential for regular work it makes sense to offer it for free.
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  • Profile picture of the author Fun to Write
    No, don't invoice him - if you want to keep his friendship.

    Stick to your final offer, though. If he's interested down the line, then he'll contact you.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Pawlett
    You shouldn't charge for a consultation unless you have specified it in the first place.

    However you could turn it on it's head and tell him that if he really needs the job doing then you will do it for free providing he refers x number of clients to you.

    You need to work the numbers out but i'm sure you could make it profitable.

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Greenwarrior
    I would not charge him. You will loose a friend. If money is tight let him pay you out monthly if you want the business.
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  • Profile picture of the author Vincenzo Oliva
    The rule of thumb should be it's no charge if they're responding to an offer of "free consultation" ($500 Value or whatever). If they approach you outside of the offer then it's your normal fee.
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  • Profile picture of the author mathmo
    Don't charge for the first meeting, not unless there was already a contract for it.

    Besides, the first meeting is mainly a sales pitch and other initial stuff. Not really the the true meat of the work. Not what you should be charging for, but is rather part of YOUR marketing costs.

    Also I agree with the comment earlier, this sounds far far too much for you first job.

    Not unless you've got several years commercial experience in some other web development company? And this is just simply the first time you struck out alone.

    But even so, you should realise there is a huge difference between what a web development company with people in a range of roles will charge for a site vs what a one man operation (you) would charge.

    I'd say do it for half that, $750. Once you had a few back to back customers then look at rising it.
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  • Profile picture of the author fvandy
    I actually offer a very extensive appraisal of a clients website for free. Once they have read it and see where they stand and the opportunity they are missing, it becomes very easy to close the deal.
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