If you’re an independent recruiter, setting and adhering to your pricing might be a bit of a challenge. No matter what you charge, it seems that clients have a million and one reasons to “negotiate” (better known as haggle) over the prices you charge.  So how does a recruiter set prices with confidence and get their clients to respect the rates they choose?  Below are a few tips:

1. Whether you’re just starting out as an independent recruiter or you’ve been in the business for awhile, take the time to get feedback from trusted peers on your pricing structure. Are your rates in line with the market and competitors?  Do your rates reflect potential client’s perception of your services?  What about your skills and track record?  Take all of these factors into consideration when setting prices.
2. Understand that there is no “one-price-fits-all” option for recruiters.  Depending on the needs of the client, your prices may need to adjust.  However, every recruiter should have a range of prices for each type of service they offer.
3. Once you set your prices for a particular project, make sure you spell out the scope of the work you will do for the client.  Make it clear to the client that requests for work which fall outside of the parameters of your agreement may incur an extra fee. However, do not price gouge clients when they request extra work, make sure that the extra fees are reasonable, take into consideration the long-term value of that client and reflect the amount of extra work they’ve requested.