In our Focus on Viability series, we turn the spotlight onto a special type of cost — time. One of the most overlooked elements in pricing and profitability, your time is a finite resource. When we map out how we spend it, the insights can be game-changing.
Are You Counting All 168 Hours?
There are only 168 hours in a week — no more, no less. When you start to track your weekly activities, the amount of time actually available for your business becomes surprisingly small after you factor in sleep, family, rest, and responsibilities.
🎯 Use a simple time-mapping tool to visualise how your time is spent across your personal and business commitments. It’s a powerful exercise that may reveal why you constantly feel time-poor.
I’ve created a tool to do just that, it can be downloaded here.
Factor in Your Time as a Real Cost
Whether it’s client work, marketing, admin, or learning, every hour you spend has a cost. Consider:
⏳ How many hours are spent on each service or product?
💰 What do you need to earn per hour to make your business viable?
Don’t forget to include:
- Public holidays
- Time off and rest
- Admin and planning
- Client acquisition and marketing
Fixed Rate vs Hourly Pricing
Charging by the hour? You may be penalising yourself for being efficient.
Take this example:
- Hayley delivers results quickly and effectively.
- Maya takes her time and perfects every detail over multiple drafts.
If both charge the same hourly rate, Maya earns more — just because she takes longer.
But here’s the truth:
- A client needing fast turnaround values Hayley’s efficiency.
- A client looking for long-form strategy may value Maya’s depth.
They’re solving different problems. It’s not about time — it’s about value.
Clients pay for outcomes and expertise, not minutes. If you charge per hour, you cap your earnings and ignore the real value you deliver.
Value Over Time
Instead of pricing by the clock, ask yourself:
- What problem am I solving?
- How much is that solution worth to the client?
- What transformation or outcome do they walk away with?
Value-based pricing aligns your earnings with your impact — not just how long it takes to deliver.
Curious About How to Optimise Your Revenue, Costs and Time?
We’ve created a Viability Tool that brings all three pillars together:
- Revenue & forecasting
- Cost tracking
- Time management
💬 Client feedback:
“I love the tool, I think it’s going to be really useful and I appreciate that you’ve created something bespoke to my business.”
Curious to explore how your time is really affecting your pricing and viability?
📅 Book a call with me here.
Remember: Think of your overall time spent on ALL activities and not just your business hours – make sure your pricing reflects the full picture.
