Let me guess: You once did this work for free. Helping friends, giving advice to friends, working for “exposure.” Then reality hit— to grow a hobby into a profession, you needed to start charging.
But charging friends and family who supported you?
I can’t charge them. I love these people. It feels… gross
Feels wrong, doesn’t it?
But let’s reframe this. Think about successful artists, coaches, and consultants. Their true supporters didn’t just cheer—they invested. Because charging isn’t betrayal—it’s validation.
Sure, people people might politely praise free work. But paying actual money shows they truly value what you do.
Two tactics that really helped me:
1. With people who support you, talk about sustainability, instead of sales: “To keep doing this, I need to make it sustainable.”
2. Create a premium model: Let those who can afford it contribute more while still helping others.
Those who believe in you will get it. They’ll want to see you thrive, not just survive. And the ones who don’t? Maybe their support was conditional on you staying small.
If you think about it: “Charge me less because we’re friends and I need it” makes as much sense as “Pay me more because we’re friends and I need it.”
Stop apologizing. Stop feeling guilty. Own your worth. Because when you ask for payment, you’re really asking to be taken seriously.
And we both know your work deserves that.