Question about how much to charge vs. competition

I want to start a side business doing glitter tattoos for things like street fairs, birthday parties, etc... a way to earn extra money but I'm not looking to make a career out of it -- I have a full time job 10 months out of the year and a 4 year old. I would just be doing stencils -- no freehand and no face-painting.

Even though I'm not rich, I do live in a "pricey" county. I was thinking I would charge about $75-80 an hour tops.

I sought advice from an acquaintance of mine who has a successful face-painting business about the legal and insurance things I will need to do. She was super helpful and nice but she did say, "don't undercut the rest of us. The going rate around here is $100-125." While I completely understand her concerns, we are doing 2 different things. She does very elaborate face-painting AND she's established - has been doing this for years and for some pretty big clients.

So I'm torn. Since I'll be new in the arena and only using stencils, I don't feel like I can ask for so much. I'm afraid I'll my own business being overpriced for what the customer will get.

It is undercutting, even with the glitter tattoos. Glitter tattoos don't take as much skill as face painting, true, but many face painters who also offer glitter tattoos as a service charge similar, or even higher, prices. The overhead is higher (the stencils cost more, and need to be re-stocked after events). If you are doing really special glitter tattoos, with multiple colors and artistic shading, etc., and prepping the skin properly beforehand, and making it a nice experience for the child, then you ARE providing value. Keep your prices at the going rate. If you read through several links on the Forum, you'll see the rationale for both not undercutting with your rates, and, for why when you charge more, you fare better too. You get booked into better parties, you run around less, and your leads come from these better parties too. And you become part of the community of artists doing these things. It's worth it. As for giving the customer value, you will be, if you deliver a great service and also give more than many people expect, or get. Be great with the kids. Be early. Smile the whole time. Etc. (You already know all this, of course  - it's just that you wouldn't believe how many times I hear from parents that the "last face painter, etc., didn't even seem to like children, was abrupt, never smiled, etc.). Be a total consummate professional, and charge accordingly (and I would expect $100-125 in bergen County). You'll be so glad to have built your business in this way. Best of luck!

it doesn't matter what YOU feel your work is worth.

what matters is supply and demand.

this is a business.

profit is NOT A DIRTY WORD.

always remember that.

if she says the going rate is $100-$125, then you need to charge that.

start at $100 if you don't think you are that great.
bump it to $125 when you realize you deserve to be paid what the rest of the world gets paid.

and then raise it even higher if you feel like you can get away with it...

p.s. this is a luxury, and at the end of the day, YOU ARE OVERCHARGING THE CUSTOMER.come on, it is glitter and glue.


you aren't charging the customer for the cost of materials.....



YOU ARE CHARGING THEM FOR THE COST OF YOU, VEDAHANKS, TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR LIFE TO WORK FOR THEM.

that's what they are paying for.

they are paying YOU for YOU.not for the glitter and glue.
the glitter and glue is just a souvenier to remind them of how great you were.