Most freelancers discover their real rates are 30% to 50% lower than they think. I’m breaking down the math behind real freelancer rates in 2026. If you think you're making $50 an hour, you're likely making much less when you factor in the "just a quick question" Slack messages and the administrative black hole of invoicing.

This episode is a reality check to help you face your numbers and stop trading your sanity for $15 an hour. Knowing your numbers is power, and knowing your numbers is profit. It’s time to find out if your business is actually sustainable or if you’re just paying for the privilege of being busy.

Listen to learn more about

1. How to calculate your minimal acceptable rate (MAR) so you know exactly when to say no to a low-balling client
2. The math behind your Effective Hourly Rate per client and why tracking non-billable hours is the only way to see your real profit
3. Why you need to stop acting like a commodity and start using value-based pricing for your packages
4. How to identify "hidden time killers" like scope creep and those never-ending meetings that eat your margins

Stop guessing and start tracking your effective hourly rate so you can stop working for "Chick-fil-A wages" and start building a profitable business that respects your time.

Sponsored by Wispr Flow*

Write and prompt faster with this voice-to-text AI tool that turns speech into clear, polished writing in every app. I’m using Wispr Flow to talk out emails, client replies, and AI prompts instead of typing everything. It’s one of my top tech tool recommendations and a real time-saver in my “4 hours of prime work time” mom life. Try Wispr Flow here*

*my affiliate link

Links Mentioned:

1. Join us for The Premium Package Workshop: A two-hour live intensive where we’ll build your expert-level packages and set your 2026 pricing that positions you as the obvious choice. I’m teaching you the exact framework I use in my private consulting sessions to help service providers go from hourly scrambling to confident, professional pricing they can actually stand behind. February 26, 11am-1pm ET 👉 Save your spot here 👈 (only 25 spots available)
2. Scale your marketing business with a community that has your back: If you have the skills but need more clients and a tighter network, join us in the Digital Marketer’s Workgroup. We’re a close-knit group of freelancers sharing job leads, advanced marketing trainings, and the kind of "in-the-trenches" support you can't find in a Google search.

We’re in the middle of a trust recession. It’s totally changing everything about buyer behavior and marketing in 2026. Selling feels slower and more personal. And maybe a little heavier than it used to. If you’ve been feeling that shift, you’re not doing anything wrong.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with my friend Sheri Moise, and she offers a really refreshing (and honestly relieving) reframe that every freelancer and service provider needs right now. We talk about why so many old marketing tactics just aren’t landing anymore, and what actually builds trust, authority, and momentum in a much more discerning market.

Sheri Moise is an Intuitive Business Astrologer and Strategist who helps entrepreneurs plan, launch, and lead using timing and data rather than guesswork. With over 25 years in corporate sales and marketing, Sheri brings a practical, grounded lens to astrology—focusing on audience readiness, market cycles, and decision-making. She’s known for helping clients see what’s coming next and respond strategically instead of reactively.

Listen to learn more about

1. Why the trust recession is actually a wisdom evolution
2. How buyer behavior in 2026 is changing (and why slower isn’t bad)
3. The shift from know-like-trust to trust-first marketing
4. Why guru-style marketing is collapsing
5. How freelancers can build authority without hype or pressure

Freelancers and service providers, it’s time to stop running the same tired marketing playbook. This conversation shows what actually works with buyers in 2026.

Sponsored by The Digital Marketer’s Workgroup

Already doing marketing work and ready for more clients and better referrals? Join a supportive, tight-knit community of freelancers where you’ll get behind-the-scenes conversations, ongoing support, advanced training, and exclusive job leads. Apply here!

Links Mentioned in Show:

1. Grab Sheri’s Success Planet Diagnostic for 50% off with code: Unicorn. You’ll get a personalized PDF report that shows how your internal operating system works in business. It helps you understand your natural timing, decision-making rhythm, and pacing so you can plan and move forward without pressure or guesswork.

Connect with Sheri:

1. Instagram: @sherimoise
2. YouTube: Astrology for Business Success with Sheri Moise
3. Facebook: Sheri Moise Astro...

The online marketing industry is shifting in 2026. And no, it’s not collapsing. It’s maturing. In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s actually happening behind the scenes, why panic isn’t the move, and how freelance service providers and implementers are more valuable than ever in this next phase.

Listen to learn more about:

1. Why the online marketing industry is NOT dying
2. What big-name course closures really signal (and what they don’t)
3. Why implementation beats information in today’s market
4. How freelancers can move into fractional roles and higher-value work
5. What buyers expect now and how to meet that demand confidently

2026 will be about alignment. If you’ve been feeling unsettled, confused, or questioning your place as a service provider in the industry, this episode will ground you and show you exactly where opportunity still exists.

Sponsored by The Digital Marketer’s Workgroup

Already doing marketing work and ready for more clients and better referrals? Join a supportive, tight-knit community of freelancers where you’ll get behind-the-scenes conversations, ongoing support, advanced training, and exclusive job leads. Apply here!

Links Mentioned in Show:

1. Natalie Gingrich’s 2026 State of the Union for Service Providers: We’re reflecting on 2025 and discussing the most significant shifts service providers experienced.
2. Check out my full Freelance Job Report 2025 and stop guessing what services to offer. This list shows what businesses consistently hire for: marketing implementation, tech setup, and content support — real data straight from 3,000+ job opps posted in our Workgroup.
3. #260 How Service Providers Can Confidently Sell High-Ticket Offers with Stacey Brass-Russell
4. #249 The Authority Framework: How Freelance Marketing Assistants Can Build Visibility with Rob Marsh (part of our Visibility Series)
5. #242 Mastering Automated ManyChat Funnels with Katy Widrick

Connect with...