Can My Pricing Foster Belonging?
When I am anchoring my livelihood to my mission of designing and facilitating experiences that foster Belonging, that is a question I cannot ignore.
Equitable Pricing is new territory for me. My intention in writing and sharing my thoughts is (1) to force myself to expand my thinking by having to write things down, (2) to initiate community dialogue that supports development of my own and others’ pricing structures, and (3) to stretch my capacity to put things out there before they feel “vetted” -- and risk revealing my ignorance, naivety, and/or embedded biases.
This post is only a first step, tossing a pebble to see what ripples.
Finding a Foundation
Let’s ground the conversation in something concrete. From the endless examples of class inequity, I will use one that feels relevant to establishing prices for my coaching services…
The mental healthcare system in this country caters to those who have more money. To have economic class privilege is to have the choice of practitioners, treatment types, duration. Those with less privilege, almost always from marginalized communities, must accept significantly limited options, or none at all.
This disparity seems even more drastic with nontraditional wellness services, like specialized therapy modalities, coaching, bodywork, etc.
(How f*cked up is it that those most harmed by systemic oppression cannot access the care to address impacts of said oppression because the care system is rooted in the oppression itself.)
What’s My Goal?
Ideally, I want my work to be accessible to anyone who wants it.
Ideally, I want to live comfortably. I want to be able to pay exorbitant Bay Area rent to live in a space that supports my wellness and my work. I want to eat poison-free food, attend a concert now and then, buy from local artists and other vendors, and hire a team to grow Movement of Belonging into a true movement.
Can these two ideals coexist?
Model Variations
The approaches to equitable pricing are vast. Pay-what-you-can, sliding scale, mutual exchange, pay-it-forward… Many include multiple price tiers that take into account the potential buyer’s capacity to pay. This capacity is “determined” with particular variables, such as monthly income, property ownership, cost of basic needs. Other models go beyond finance to include race, sex, and other identities prone to systemic inequity. Some use location, education, number of dependents. Others simply differentiate between individuals and institutions, and what type of institution.
Let curiosity and raw honesty shine some light…
Uncomfortable Questions
Where is the right balance between [Receptive to Diverse Needs] and [Keep It Simple]?
How do I ask potential clients to fit into a particular tier when inequity is not linear?
How do I choose the variables and guidelines for self-categorization without making assumptions and judgments about their lifestyle choices?
How do I make sure my calendar is not completely full with lowest tier and barter clients, leaving no time for full-price clients and profits?
Are you considering equitable pricing for your product or service?
What questions come up for you?
A First Attempt
Gotta start somewhere. Learning through action.
And what better place to start than my Starter Pack. Here is a preliminary version of equitable pricing. Open to any and all feedback.
What are your first reactions?
Anything feel particularly good about it?
Anything feel a little itchy?
What would you do?
Join the community dialogue on Instagram or Facebook. By adding your thoughts, curiosities, concerns to the Comments, we move a step closer to a world where equitable pricing is the norm. A girl can dream. Dream with me?
