Freelancing
Decide When Paid Discovery Is Better Than Another Free Proposal
Evaluate discovery fees using proposal conversion, unpaid preparation, and the contribution available from a signed project.
Financial education
Money guides & analysis
Find a specific answer to a money question. Explore cash flow, borrowing, housing, saving, investing and the cost of running a business.
The financial library
352 articles
Freelancing
Set a Rush Premium That Covers the Work a Deadline Displaces
Price an accelerated professional assignment using disruption costs, displaced contribution, and the hours required to meet the deadline.
Freelancing
Compare a Platform Fee with the Cost of Finding Clients Directly
Evaluate two professional acquisition channels using commissions, selling hours, expected projects, and channel restrictions.
Freelancing
Accept Overflow Work Only After Budgeting Subcontractor Review
Compare declining an overflow assignment with subcontracting it, including supervision time, rework, and cash timing.
Freelancing
Set an Enrollment Floor Before Running a Professional Workshop
Decide whether to run, postpone, or redesign a workshop using per-attendee contribution and the instructor's preparation commitment.
Freelancing
Rent Specialty Equipment for a Job or Recover a Purchase Across Bookings
Compare short-term rental with buying a specialized professional tool using confirmed usage, upkeep, and cash committed before revenue arrives.
Freelancing
Keep an Anchor Client or Use the Same Capacity to Diversify
Evaluate one large recurring client against several smaller engagements using contribution, selling time, and a defined loss-of-client stress test.
Freelancing
Arrange Leave Coverage or Pause Client Work Deliberately
Compare professional coverage with a planned service pause using retained contribution, handoff time, and coverage quality.
Small business operating decisions
Keep the Shop Open Longer Only When Incremental Sales Cover the Shift
Test an additional opening window using contribution per sale, avoidable staffing, and sales shifted from existing hours.
Small business operating decisions
Accept a Supplier Minimum Order Only After Pricing the Unsold Stock
Compare a bulk purchasing discount with a smaller replenishment order using sell-through, salvage, storage, and cash commitment.
Small business operating decisions
Repair a Production Machine or Replace It After Counting Downtime
Compare repair with replacement using net acquisition cost, expected lost contribution, and the operating horizon shared by both options.
Small business operating decisions
Set a Shipping Subsidy Threshold from Order Contribution
Test a free-shipping threshold using merchandise contribution, fulfillment costs, genuinely additional orders, and subsidies on existing demand.