Terrific students attend the classes I teach. They ask profound questions that "stretch" my knowledge and resources. When I teach a building a business foundation owner class, I'm usually asked, "How does someone price a product or service?" During a recent class, I promised to write down what's in my head and send it to the students.

And because of them, you now have it, too. In order to keep things simple, I'll use "services" to mean both services and products in the list below.

1. Locate a trade association, organization or networking group whose specialty is your service. If none exists, find an association with a similar product. In general, associations can tell you the high-low and average prices charged by members. You can find some organizations listed in an article I wrote called "Network To Success". http://www.coachmaria.com/articles/networktosuccess.html

2. Trade/Business Journals and newspapers contain articles that may include prices. At least once a year, I see an article about my industry online or in a periodical that contains industry fees.

3. Ask your CPA for some ideas; after all, they deal with business owners� finances all the time.

4. There are many career and employee guides that provide industry or job related prices. You can view my favorite resource, Occupational Handbook; online at You�ll also find this book at your Library's career resources area. Also check the Labor Department and Employment Security Commission for resources and brochures that can assist you.

5. Obtain the cost of raw materials and supplies necessary for your product. Surely you want to charge more than it's costing you for the items!

6. Many business owners place a pricing structure on their Web Techniquess. Using the industry name, plus the word "rate" or "fees", you can find those sites on the Internet.

7. Determine your hourly rate. What is your time worth?

8. Call similar businesses, outside your local area, for their prices. If you're not their competition, you have a better chance to be told the score.

9. Visit stores that sell the product you're interested in selling to determine their pricing system.

10. Ask everyone you know "if" and "what" they will pay for "x".

11. Use your Ideal Client Profile (ICP) http://www.coachmaria.com/ebooks/business2.html to create different pricing packages. The packages can differ in length of time, products, and/or services. This way, you can offer a variety of affordable pricing plans.

Article reprinted with permission from www.IdeaMarketers.com

About the Author:
©2002 Maria’s Place. Maria Marsala, owner. Maria Marsala, a former Wall Street trader, executive, and manager, uses her business and career knowledge to help people achieve goals, realize dreams and go far beyond their expectations. Invest in yourself! Ask us for a free consultation or to subscribe to our ezine visit http://CoachMaria.com

Maria Marsala may be contacted at http://www.CoachMaria.com marsala@coachmaria.com. Click here to view more of their articles.

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