A few years ago, a client asked me during a call — What’s your price for this work?

I had no idea.

Even today, this is the most common question I get. And for the longest time, I was stuck on it.

Clients would come to me. I’d listen. Understand the work. Know the effort. But when it came to the price, I was guessing.

A few times, this happens — on calls, I can’t think clearly.

The client says a $25K–30K budget, but in my head, I’m thinking $10,000.

My worst project was with a client who had no idea what was being built and came back with random suggestions because there were too many decision-makers. Even after working for 1.5 months, I still lost the money and had to refund it.

If this sounds familiar, you’ll get what I’m about to say.

I don’t have a pricing problem. I have a boundary problem.

Price is not a number you pick.

It’s a boundary you set once and protect.

So here’s what I changed. Three things.

Never say your price first

Clients know their budget very well. They’ve already spoken to many designers before you. There could be many reasons they’re still looking.

The point is — they’re interested in you.

I stopped quoting my price first. Because the moment I say a number, I lose room to negotiate.

Instead, I ask — what’s the closest investment you have for this project? Just give me a number, and it will help you give the closest number. Then, when I give you a price range, X to Y.

Small tip: Never give a fixed number. Always a range.

Why a range? Because it gives you room, so you don’t sell yourself short.

Say a client tells me their budget is $15K. I can say my range is $12K to $18K, depending on the scope.

Now we’re having a real conversation, not a guessing game.

There’s a book called Win Without Pitching by Blair Enns. One idea stuck with me — when you name the price first, you lose power in the conversation.

Set your baseline

This one changed everything for me.

Ex: I don’t work on projects below $8K, or my hourly rate doesn’t go below $300.

That’s my baseline.

Before this, I kept undercharging on every project. $3K projects. $2K projects.

Every time I’m getting more work, but eventually less money and more anxiety.

So I defined my baseline.

Simple rule. I don’t go below it.

If your hourly rate is $100, add 25% on top.

Now you’re at $125. You can negotiate from there, give a discount if you need to.

But don’t go below your baseline.

Even on my form, I use price anchoring. When people come to me, they already know Faizur charges this and that amount. Wrong clients filter themselves out before we even talk.

Define the baseline.

Protect it.

That’s a rule.

Know your numbers

Now you might be thinking — I get it, Faizur, but how do you actually give a budget to the client? How do you do it?

Very simple.

• I look at the scope of work.

• The missing scope — opportunities the client hasn’t thought about yet.

• My past experience with similar projects.

• And how long is it gonna take me?

Then I open my spreadsheet.

• Landing page design — 20 hours.

• Signup flow design — 10 hours.

• Total — 30 hours.

Multiply by my rate. 30 × $300 = $9,000.

Add 5–10% buffer. Now I’m around $9,500–$10,000.

Every time the number looks dramatic. But it makes sense. It shows what I should respectfully charge.

Sometimes that number is too high for the client. That’s fine.

I tell them — look, if I go strictly by hours, it’s going to cost you X. That’s probably uncomfortable for you too. What if I give you a range, X to Y — are you comfortable with that?

Now they get it. Makes sense to them. And I’m not pulling a number from thin air.

I built a simple calculator for this. If you want it — grab it here.

Even FreshBooks did a study — freelancers who raised their rates by 20% or more didn’t lose clients. They got better ones.

The same thing happened to me.

Bottom line

At the end of the day, I learned that.

Price is a boundary, and I respect both sides.

Don’t be greedy. Be honest. Understand your value. Respect the client — even the worst one.

Every project teaches you something.

That’s how I learned the freelance basics to reach $10k a month.

Your price isn’t a number. It’s a boundary. Set it once and protect it.

That’s all for this week.
See you next week.

Let’s grow together 🙌

PS — I’m working on a big new version of my Notion CRM. Coming this month. New automation, new everything. Stay tuned. Get access now →

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If I charge less, I'll get more clients.
That's what I told myself for years.

I'd look at other designers charging 3x my rates and think, They must be struggling to find work. Meanwhile, I was the one working nights and weekends just to pay rent.

Cheap prices don't bring more clients. They bring the wrong ones—the ones who demand more, pay late, and don't respect your time.

Your skills got better.Your work improved.More people wanted to work with you.

But your prices? Still the same.

And here's the truth—low rates don't bring better opportunities. They bring clients who demand more, pay late, and never respect your time.

If you want better clients and fair pay, you have to stop selling yourself short.

The Mistake I Made

When I started freelancing, I thought lower prices meant more opportunities.

I believed:

• If I charge less, I'll get more clients.

• Once I have more experience, then I'll raise my rates.

So, I kept my prices low. And at first, it worked—I got clients, I stayed busy.

But here's what actually happened: I worked long hours but barely made enough. Clients micromanaged me and pushed for extra work. The best clients? They went to someone else—because my pricing made me look inexperienced.

Then one day, after months of work, a client asked for a discount—again. I wanted to say no, but I was afraid they'd leave. That's when it hit me: undercharging wasn't helping me—it was keeping me stuck.

I realized that whether I worked on 10 projects or 1, the effort and energy were the same.

Why Most Freelancers Stay Stuck

Many freelancers undercharge because they believe:

• If I charge less, I'll get more clients.

• I'm not experienced enough to charge more.

• If I raise my rates, clients will leave.

• No one will pay higher prices for my work.

But here's the truth: The right clients aren't looking for the cheapest option. They're looking for the best fit.

So, how do you start charging what you're worth?

Step 1: Raise Your Prices—Even Just a Little

Raising your rates doesn't mean doubling them overnight. It means small, steady increases.

Here's what I did: On my next project, I raised my rate by 10%. I didn't overthink it—I just tested it. The client said yes without hesitation.

That's when I realized: I was the one holding myself back—not my clients.

Try this: Raise your price by 10% on your next project. A small step, but a big shift.

Step 2: Stop Saying Yes to the Wrong Clients

Not every client is a good client. Low-paying clients are often the most demanding.

I noticed:

• The ones who paid the least asked for the most.

• They took up my time but didn't respect my work.

• And when I tried to set boundaries, they pushed back.

So, I made a simple decision: I stopped saying yes to bad clients.

Instead, I focused on:

• Clients who cared about quality, not just price.

• Positioning myself as an expert, not an order-taker.

• Standing by my rates—no more discounts out of fear.

And better clients started showing up.

Step 3: Make It Easy for Clients to See Your Value

Higher prices only work if clients believe you're worth it.

That means:

• Your portfolio should show the problems you solve, not just your skills.

• Your testimonials should highlight real results, not just "great to work with!"

• The way you talk about your work should sound confident—not apologetic.

If you present yourself as a professional, clients will treat you like one.

Today's Action Steps

1. Look at your current pricing. Would you pay what you charge?

2. Raise your rate by 10% for your next project or client.

3. Identify one low-value client relationship you should reconsider.

If you found this helpful, share it with other designers who might need it too.

See you in another one!
Let's grow together 🙌

Note: I recently decided to publish my newsletters here.

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

1. The Notion CRM OS: Transform your freelance business with my complete system. The Notion CRM OS gives you everything to track leads, manage clients, create proposals, send invoices, and grow revenue—all in one organized workspace. The exact system I used to grow my 6-figure freelance business.

2. Figma Thumbnail Kit: Join 1,600+ designers who've transformed their Figma workflow. This comprehensive kit provides 50+ ready-made grid layouts that make your files instantly organized and professional, saving hours of frustration.

3. Grid Layout Kit: Join 35,000+ designers using my professional grid system on Figma community. This essential toolkit gives you 13+ perfectly balanced layouts for creating stunning designs instantly, expanding to 20+ grids in soon.

If not, you're definitely not alone.

I totally get it. We try different approaches to create the best designs, but sometimes we overcomplicate things. First, let’s find out why this happens, and then look at how we can do better with a simple design process.

The Common Problem

Most designers focus on the end results. Even when talking with clients, chances are they skip important steps and jump straight to the budget. I was there, and I can't deny this. Because of this, I missed big chances. You're probably missing out on extra money, , which you'll know by the end of this design process guide.

What Most People Do

After skipping the most common problems, we often think, "Hmm, maybe setting up Notion, creating different templates, or making a to-do list will help. Maybe I can write 100 questions so I can charge more." But the truth is, if you don’t have a clear design process, how can you charge more or even work faster?

Of course, tools can be helpful, but they don't guarantee productivity. At the end of the day, doing the thing is the thing.

My Simple Approach

In my experience, having a clear way of doing design work and improving it over time can make your work more valuable and help you be more productive. This can also mean making more money.

And you can think about this in five simple steps:

Define Scope/Strategies

Instead of giving a budget without understanding the clear effort, start by asking questions. Based on these questions, you define the project scope, or you can call it the strategy. This helps you understand how much effort is required, what tasks are involved, and how the client will help you too.

For example, if a client asks for a redesign of an app, you should ask a few questions:

• Are all screens included in the app?

• Does the app cover all use cases?

• Is there an existing style guide?

• Do you have all the content and images?

• Do you need my input on animation?

By asking these questions, you uncover the actual effort and unspoken details. This allows you to charge more because you understand the full scope of the work.

Brainstorming (Problem-Solving)

Once you get the project, it's time for brainstorming. In most projects, I focus on three things for the best results:

• Workshop with the client: This can be one or more meetings.

• Solving problems: Creating flows and sitemaps, etc.

• My understanding: Summarizing what I’ve learned.

Clients will share their ideas, but my understanding is the most important part. This is where I lock in the scope of the project. If the client asks for big changes later, We might need to revisit the proposal. This step is crucial. It makes sure everyone is on the same page and sets clear project boundaries.

Exploring Design Direction

When you know the project and have done all the brainstorming, you now have a clear idea. But the biggest problem is bringing this idea to life. Many designers go to Pinterest or Dribbble and gather tons of inspiration, but they often lose direction.

That’s why I try to keep things very simple. I create a basic mood board on FigmaJam where I organize specific sections and paste layouts based on those sections.

It can include:

• Layout ideas

• Interaction ideas

• Colors and typography

• And much more

From here, I start working on the direction. The idea is to keep it simple, using either FigmaJam or Miro and keeping everything in one place.

Designing

Let's be honest, you and I know how to design, right? So let's talk about the most important thing.

The first thing is to focus on results, not perfection. I used to spend hours perfecting one design. When I showed it to the client, they often asked, "Did you try this or that?" Even if I explained, they still wanted to see those versions.

In my design process, I always create multiple design variants. I don't delete my designs, even if they look worse. This way, I can show my client how I moved from A to B. Trust my process. If a client asks, "Did you try this?" I can always say, "Yes, here is that version."

Secondly, once the idea, structure, and story are clear, complete the layout. Now you can spend time adding details. My advice is to avoid perfectionism at the beginning.

Collaborating with Developers

In most of my projects, I collaborate with developers. Sometimes this happens during the design phase, and other times it's midway through the project. It totally depends on the project's needs. If you’re a designer who does the same, that’s great! If not, I completely understand.

The key point is that exporting assets, answering developers' questions, and making design changes take a lot of time. It’s important to be accountable for this effort.

Whenever you have a project, ask the client if they need additional support with developers. If they say yes, make sure to ask for more money.

If everything is clear in the beginning, I am sure you are having a long-term relationship with the client and at the same time, you are excited about the project, which makes you happy!

Remember: Your time is valuable. Make sure you’re getting paid for your worth

Today’s Action Steps

• Every time you have a project, create a project scope. It can be in any format. It can be a doc or Notion. It can be a simple list. You can ask ChatGPT or download a template online. It can give you a better idea.

• Build your process to help you work faster, and you can customize it based on your needs.

• Always look for the effort and extra things the project needs. Do this before setting the price.

Faizur.

Have a good day 🙌

PS. Whenever you are ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

#1: I share design tips on Instagram. I post daily content there. You can learn about the behind scenes.

#2: Have you visited my YouTube channel? I post valuable content. More is on the way.

#3: I have just released a new Grid Layout Kit with over 13 grids. It has everything you need to craft award-winning & pixel-perfect designs.

Lastly, explore all my design resources at faizur.com/resources
If you need web & app design help, faizur.com

We live in a world where most of us are trying to get clients. We often resort to finding hacks or even paid marketing, but many times we end up with nothing. I'm here to guide you through a more organic approach. This approach is all about making a few changes in your portfolio and building connections with your clients.

Not Every Project in Your Portfolio

I see too many designers trying to add everything to their designer portfolios. I do everything including web design, app design, dashboard design, branding, marketing, and so on... However, this can make potential clients doubt their expertise. When your portfolio displays a wide range of skills, it might look like you can do everything but excel in nothing.

This could make clients wonder about your specialization and question if you can deliver top-quality work. In my perspective, selecting the most relevant works to showcase can provide a better understanding of your core skills and make your chances higher.

Choose 2-3 Case Studies

You see, when it comes to your portfolio, less is often more. Having 2-3 carefully crafted case studies is the sweet spot. Imagine a client lands on your website. They've got just 4-5 minutes to decide if you're the right fit for their project. What they'll focus on most are your case studies. That's where they'll make their decision.

Of course, if you want to add more, you can. You can even publish additional case studies on Behance or another website rather than your portfolio.

The Key to Finding Clients

I want to say honestly, there are no hacks or tricks to finding clients. Believe it or not. In personal experience, most of the time I get clients through networking, helping others, sharing work, selling my services transparently, and even having satisfied clients recommend me to others.

A valuable client can generally be defined as someone who:

• You can network with

• You can help with

• Can be a customer of your products or services

Build Automate the Process

Maybe this has happened to you many times. A client sends you a message, and the next moment you reply with, "Do you have time for a call or is it even worth one?" This is where we often lose potential leads, but there is a better way to handle it.

You can automate almost everything:

• Create a Calendly link: Instead of going back and forth to find a suitable time for a call, you can create a Calendly link and share it directly with your client.

• Utilize forms to gather data: Instead of bombarding clients with multiple questions, consider setting up a form on Airtable or a similar platform where clients can provide all the necessary project information in one go.

• Save quick replies on Instagram: This allows you to save common responses and easily send them to clients, making communication super easy.

By automating these processes, you can save time, minimize back-and-forth communication, and have higher chances of onboarding new clients.

Link Highlights

Handpicked links worth sharing

Airtable: I use Airtable as my CRM to manage clients and leads.

Grid Layout Kit: This kit includes over 50 custom grids, perfect for designing websites, portfolios, dashboards, and apps. 50% Off Limited copies!

My Resources: I have listed all the tools and apps I use in one place. Feel free to check it out if you want to know more about my resources.

Before I started getting clients, I experienced many failures. I applied to several proposals on Freelancer [dot]com and got banned. I also tried Fiverr and saw how the designer was not respecting their work by selling their skills at low prices. I realized that these platforms were not for me.

In this newsletter, I want to share my journey and provide 4 tips based on my experiences to guide you.

Don’t Quit your Job

You might have heard this a million times or before leaving your job, save at least 3 to 6 months of salary. but it's true - However, you can adopt a smarter approach, just as I did.

In my early career, I started freelancing as a side hustle. Every day, I would spend 3-4 hours creating content and finding clients. I discovered that the key to getting more eyes on my work was to get featured on prominent design pages on Instagram. This strategy helped me attract clients. Although the landscape may have changed since then, I believe that consistently sharing your work can still lead to discovering many clients.

Find Your Niche Early

In the beginning, I struggled because I didn't know what type of clients I wanted to work with. I was simply posting my work on Behance, Dribbble, and Instagram. As a result, many clients were confused about whether I was a designer or a developer, and I found myself saying yes to everything. However, over time, I realized the importance of defining your niche as a freelancer. It helps you determine what you're best suited for and the kind of clients you want to work with. Remember, finding your niche takes time and usually happens naturally.

Standout Designer

Creating an online presence is crucial for freelancers. To be honest, nobody told me that you can make money freelancing even without a portfolio. I started posting my work on Instagram and Dribbble, which served as my portfolio, and I still managed to do great business.

However, I realized the importance of having a personal website as well. These social media platforms generate significant traffic with millions of users, giving you more chances to get work. But now, things might be changing, and having a personal website to showcase your portfolio with 2 to 3 case studies could help you attract clients.

Learn Business Skills and Build Process

To be a successful freelancer, it's not enough to have great design skills. You also need to master essential freelancing skills such as

• Writing proposals,

• Creating invoices,

• Setting up a CRM to make things smoother,

• Communicating with clients effectively

While some designers may accept low-paying clients, I choose to value myself and politely decline. As a freelancer, it's essential to prioritize self-worth.

If you'd like to know how to set a baseline price as a freelancer, feel free to comment below.

Link Highlights

Handpicked links worth sharing

Airtable: I use Airtable as my CRM to manage clients and leads.

Waveapps: I frequently use this platform for generating invoices, and it has great features like tracking if the client has opened the invoice or not.

Hourly Billing Is Nuts: One of my favourite video about pricing as a freelancer.

Grid Layout Kit: This kit includes over 50 custom grids, perfect for designing websites, portfolios, dashboards, and apps. 50% Off Limited copies!

My Resources: I have listed all the tools and apps I use in one place. Feel free to check it out if you want to know more about my resources.

We have two lives, and the second begins
when we realize we only have one.

Hey there,

From your perspective, I don’t know, what is fear of losing your job or being told that by your design director that you can't pursue a design career without formal education? Do you apply for jobs and don't hear back or are you being told that you're not the right fit?

Looking back over the past few years, you find yourself successful in your work! Does this mean that you were a failure all along? Absolutely not.

I've been there every step of the way, never giving up.

In this newsletter, I want to share my reflections on my design journey and provide some insights and tips that have helped me along the way.

Failure is a blessing and key to success

I used to be far from where I am now. I have experienced numerous failures and disappointments, but what's important is that I recognize those failures as opportunities for improvement and growth. I think it was in 2016 when I first started sharing my work on Instagram from 0, In the first two years of sharing my work, I didn't earn any money and I failed multiple times. Never give up.

What helped me was creating a plan and overcoming challenges, whether by learning a design system or winning a proposal. What matters more is how you approach failure and the actions you take.

Create your unique journey

I often receive messages asking, "How to become a designer?" I understand the aspiration but ask yourself why you want to pursue this path. Is it because a friend is a designer, someone praised your skills, or do you feel an inner calling?

Whatever you want to become, the most important questions to start with are:
Why do you want to become a designer?
What is your goal?

Whatever your answer is, maybe you want to become a UX/UI designer, and now it's time to create a path and stick with this.

The Right Approach Matters

Have you ever wondered why some designers share everything except their work and then complain about not getting clients? The answer lies in their approach. Posting content should have a purpose, whether it's building a following or attracting clients. If I were in your shoes and my goal was to earn more or work with 10 clients, then I would only care about sharing my work to attract clients, not followers or anything else.

Remember, you get what you give.

Trust the process & document

As a designer, what's most valuable to me is my work and experience. People want proof of your skills, and the best evidence is your work. They will find you based on your work, and then ask about your skills. Early in my career, I started sharing my regular work online - whether it was for my official job or client work. This helped me find more clients faster. Think of your work as a magnet that attracts new clients. It's proof of your skills.

Remember - your work speaks for itself. Focus on creating and sharing great work, and the clients will come to you.

In short, don't give up when you fail. Chase your passion and build recognition. Take steps according to your priorities. Always document your process.

Link Highlights

Handpicked links worth sharing.

"Hooked" and "The Win Without Pitching Manifesto" — These two books have really helped me become a better designer and think more like a businessperson. I highly recommend them to you.

7 Practical Tips for Cheating at Design — This is by far my favourite article, and it will guide you on improving your designs with practical tactics.

Grid Layout Kit — The ultimate grid system for websites, portfolios, dashboards, and app designs. It has everything you need to craft award-winning & pixel-perfect designs.

My Resources — I have listed the tools and apps I use. Everything is here, in case you want to know about my tools and resources.

Today, I've got:

1. My Journey - Why I design and share online,

2. A few things I've learned since I started working as a designer.

My journey — Why I design and share online

I still remember the day I used Photoshop 7.0 for the very first time, which I believe was in 2012. I also remembered trying to figure out my dream almost every day. from learning to sing to working in a bookshop to earn money. However, I had an instinct on a different faith that my journey was heading in another direction.

This is where the magic happened. The magic was enrolling in my first graphic and web designing course, While I was completing my design course I got my first job and I hardly making 20,000 INR (200+ USD dollars monthly) + living expenses.

In short, my journey was very hard in the early days. I took on many jobs as a designer in different companies and grew from web and graphic to UI design, UX/UI design, and product design, and eventually to the position of senior principal designer and now Design Director.

While I was working full-time, I started pursuing a freelance career as a side hustle in 2016. To be honest with you, I was not getting any projects, but I began sharing my work on platforms like Instagram and Dribbble. After 2-3 years of consistent effort, something remarkable happened. In 2018, I earned $28,000 from Instagram alone. This motivated me to quit my job as a full-time designer.

As I was sharing my work on Instagram and Dribbble, I saw countless designers asking questions about design, and I noticed a lack of knowledge within the community. This is why I felt like I should share my authentic and transparent design process. So, I started sharing online content about design, freelancing, and productivity.

A few things I've learned when I started working as a designer.

Mix creativity and business

A lot of creatives are afraid of mixing the two things together, "I'm just a designer; how can I freelance? It's not really my thing." But here's the deal: Designers can tackle anything, and having design and business skills is the secret sauce to success, make you more valuable.

Build your own process early

When I started my design career, I learned the importance of building processes. Instead of just copying steps from Google, I experimented with different approaches and refined them over time. Now, I have a customized process based on the specific project and timeline. Building a process early on can save time and help you earn a better living.

Ten clients vs. one client

Believe it or not, whether you work for a 100-dollar or a 10,000-dollar project, it takes the same effort to complete, I used to work all day, feeling underpaid. That's when I started focusing on high-quality clients for projects that paid the same as ten smaller ones. In summary, I work on high-ticket, valuable projects because the client's business is my responsibility too.

Stay on your unique path despite all the distractions

Learning in today's fast-paced world can be quite challenging. With the overwhelming amount of design content available, it's hard to believe that we can truly grasp anything meaningful in just 15 seconds. It seems almost impossible and lacks real value. That's why I believe in having a clear path in your learning journey. If I had to start over, I'd create a list of goals and stick to it, step by step.

Don’t overthink

My biggest time-wasting concern is overthinking. It's a part of the process, but as a creative person, I tend to do this a lot. Sometimes I get so caught up in my thoughts that I forget to take action or I'm afraid of making mistakes. Although making mistakes is natural and it's okay to fail, not taking any steps at all is the real problem. It is the thing that really kills creativity. To make progress and improve, we must take action even if it means that we might make mistakes.

Link Highlights

Handpicked links worth sharing

Material Design — If you are designing your design journey and want to learn better UX or another discipline, I would definitely stop watching YouTube videos and start reading the best practices of user interface design.

The Price We Pay For Consumerism — This great video by Austin Williams truly inspired me. It discusses working jobs we hate to buy things we don’t need! (I don’t want to be a part of any compilation, I want to create, but not because I have to).

The Faker You Are, The More Successful You Can Be — This is another video by Pablo that very much inspired me. He talks about how the faker you are, the more successful you can be.

My Resources — I have listed the tools and apps I use. Everything is here, in case you want to know about my tools and resources.

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The Slow Process is a weekly newsletter where I share my learning, experiences and resources.

Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect from our week's updates:

• My design process and behind-the-scenes insights.

• Self-development, business mindset, and productivity.

• How I make money as an online creator.

• Useful articles, videos, and tools.

• Exclusive offers and discounts just for subscribers.

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