Short advice from a filmmaker/creator arguing that having fewer clients who pay higher rates (e.g., three clients at $5k/mo) is preferable to many low-paying clients (e.g., 15 clients at $1k/video). Emphasizes retainers for recurring monthly income, charging higher rates to attract better customers, earn more, and reduce client count/overhead.
Having less clients pay you more is always better than more clients paying you less. Because if you wanted to hit $15,000 a month, you would just need 3 clients paying you 5k a month. But if you were charging $1,000 a video, then that would take you 15 clients to hit that same amount of money. And so would you rather have three clients or 15 clients? Obvious answer is going to be three. And when you get them on a retainer, they pay you every single month as opposed to just they do one video with you and then they stop paying you. And that's why retainers are so important. And charging higher rates is more important as well, because a you get a better customer and b you make more money and c you have to take on less clients.
