Actually I'm going to raise the point that it's not price fixing for several reasons. We are not colluding. We are not working towards setting a standard price - that wouldn't even work if we wanted to because of the wide variation on the cost of living amongst each country and even amongst states in various countries, plus the difference in currencies, experience, background, skillsets and so on.
This information is taken from another forum in 2003 on the same topic (some discussions don't change)
[Quote] Price fixing occurs when two or more competitors agree to fix the
prices that they will charge; defined as establishing the price of a
product or service, rather than allowing it to be determined naturally
through free market forces. Other definitions explain price fixing as
a conspiracy by retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers to fix
prices, a method of stifling competition or taking advantage of customers.
I was able to find quit a bit of informational reading on the Internet
through searching "price fixing." Several interesting articles:
Price Fixing In Plain Sight - By Russell Verney
http://www.judicialwatch.org/printer_1302.shtml
and
What's Wrong with Price Fixing: Responding to the New Critics of
Antitrust - Michael E. DeBow
http://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/...2n2-debow.html
Our discussion about pricing is to allow the home-based worker a place
to discover what others charge for their services. Those who are
interested in this discussion are often those who need help in
discovering what to charge as they start their home-based business.
As you will notice by our recent poll (per page pricing for word
processing), there is a large range of prices being charged. Because
each of our group members work independently, and prices are given
voluntarily, the discussion is clearly not a conspiracy or an attempt
to fix prices, but a means of allowing viewing secretaries a place to
begin their consideration when pricing their services. [end quote]
However, some VA forums have elected not to discuss pricing since the majority of members are in the US and the previous Wiki link indicates that discussions could contravene additional laws they have in place relating to these discussions. Please note though, that the quote above came from a US forum and it's possible that things have changed since that time.
I encourage all VAs I speak to/chat with to look at what their planned annual income should be. If you were working fulltime before you started your business, what was your annual income at that stage? Do you want to earn more and if so, do you believe you are worth more? This is the figure you need to look at and then work backwards, allowing for time off (leave, weekends, sickleave, public holidays, etc) and also making sure you add expenses to your hourly rate thereafter, such as printing, postage, etc.
It's possible you might be able to aim for a lower annual income if previous expenses no longer occur, such as childcare, travel, petrol, parking, etc.
No-one should be basing their rates on what others are charging - you could be under-pricing or over-pricing yourself. You can't compare yourself with another unless you have exactly the same skillset and background experience as another. However, I can appreciate and understand why others want to know what to charge or at least have some idea if they are in the right ballpark.
Re: What is your minimum rate?
Stuck in startup? Stop dreaming. Start DOING! 
Linear Mode
