Key Takeaways
- Classic freelancing pitfalls: Selling time for money doesn't scale, often leads to scope creep, and can leave you working for free if clients don't pay.
- Productized services are essentially packaging your skills into a detailed, well-defined offer---often sold as a subscription.
- Predictable and fair: You decide the scope, timeline, and pricing from the start, making it fair for both you and the client.
- Pause and resume: Many productized services let clients pause their subscription, adding flexibility for them while preserving steady income for you.
Detailed Breakdown
The Traditional Freelance Struggle
Most agencies and freelancers still operate on a per-project model. A client comes with a big idea, you estimate how long it'll take, and you lock in a one-time fee. But real life rarely follows that neat calculation---projects can drag on, scope can expand, and your final payout might not reflect all the hours you've poured in. Plus, if a client doesn't pay or pays late, you're stuck chasing invoices.
A Real-World Example: My Sister's Project
I shared a story about my sister, a designer and photographer who took on her first paid gig for €300. She poured her heart into the project---late nights, endless revisions, the works. In the end, she delivered a stunning photo book, but the project took far longer than anticipated. That's a classic freelancer tale: you charge for your time, but time always seems to slip away.
What Are Productized Services, Really?
A productized service basically means you package what you do like a tangible product. You set:
- Clear deliverables (e.g., "1--2 design tasks at a time")
- Fixed turnaround times (e.g., "2--3 days per task")
- Simple pricing, often monthly or recurring
No messy back-and-forth on scope or hours. No endless calls. The best part? Clients can pause and resume whenever they like, giving them flexibility while you benefit from a predictable workload and revenue stream.
How It Could Have Helped My Sister
If she'd productized her service, she could have offered something like a monthly subscription at €200--€400 for:
- Weekly deliveries of the book's layout
- Unlimited revisions as long as it fits into the defined scope (one or two tasks at a time)
- Dedicated communication via WhatsApp or design-tool comments
She'd have earned more money, had a much clearer timeline, and eliminated the risk of unpaid or underpaid extra work.
Why It's Fair for Everyone
- You, the service provider: Get paid up front, avoid free revisions, and keep control over how much work you take on at once.
- Clients: Know exactly what they're paying each month, can pause if needed, and get regular, structured deliverables without guesswork.
Conclusion: A Smarter Way to Work
Moving away from the time-for-money model frees you from the rollercoaster of freelance projects. By clearly defining scope, delivery speed, and pricing, you set up healthier boundaries for both you and your clients---leading to less stress and more consistent recurring income.
That's the end of this lesson. In the next module, we'll dive deeper into how to productize any skill set---no matter if you're a designer, writer, or consultant.
