There is a lot of debate around this week’s topic, having to choose between offering your clients packages or doing everything à la carte.

I have talked about this with my colleagues and all of them have a different opinion about it. There are good and bad sides to each, and we discuss them thoroughly below.

I have my own opinion on this as well and I am more than happy to share it with you. I would of course love to have your thoughts and feedback on it.

Let me begin by talking about the actual word “package”, I have never been a fan of it, it feels like being at McDonald’s choosing a meal, remember I am all about communication. Psychologically, it will definitely have an impact on how your clientes perceive you. I personally love using the word Collections.

Let’s talk about the Good side of offering “Packages”:

• Easier for you and for the client, everything is all there are ready to share.
• Most of the times, it’s cheaper, because you can include a discount or include several services all in that established price.
• It saves time when creating quotes.
• You can have a clear Starting price; this will be easier for the client to understand what your starting point is and to know that you won’t work under that price.

Now the Bad side of offering “Packages”:

• Less space for negotiation.
• It looks like a fast-food restaurant menu, which makes your brand seem “cheap”
• More complicated to “upgrade” by adding options of services or products your client may require.
• It usually looks scary when they see the “big” amount, it all becomes now about the number and the client can get scared and you might end up losing them.

On the other hand, we have the “á la carte” option, let’s talk about the advantages of this:

• You have the concept of your brand being identified with understanding each client is different and unique. You create something just for them.
• Psycollogically speaking, we will always, as clients, find it easier spending 100 euros 10 times than 1,000 euros one time.
• Clients pay only for what they want. (for example, some clients don’t want prints or albums)
• Offering bespoke services will always make it easier to adjust prices by adding or subtracting services or products the clients are or aren’t interested in.

à la carte disadvantages:

• It takes a lot of TIME, getting to know your clients and creating bespoke quotes. It’s important to do it as quickly as possible. Today, we all want to have the information NOW! You don’t want to lose clients because you took a week creating a quote and they got desperate and went looking for someone else.
• Not having a clear starting Price settled.

Enjoy!

Maddy