While you are researching, keep in mind just because your competition is charging one way it is not necessarily how you should be charging.

One of my clients is a business and life coach.  Most coaches charge for a set number of scheduled phone meetings, which seems to be a standard for "the coaching industry," but that doesn't mean it's the best way.

I encourage my clients to charge fees that match who their clients are and what they are trying to accomplish. It's very refreshing to do what works for you and not necessarily follow the "industry standard."  If you don't feel comfortable with the way your industry charges, by all means change it. Just because the industry's doing it doesn't mean that it's right. 

Another client of mine, Shelly, is a wedding planner. When we first began working together she had three "wedding packages" because that's what "everyone else does." She ran into problems with pricing because most of her potential clients didn't fit into the standard package and therefore Shelly had a long list of "upgrades" and additional items. She also had to charge more for weddings above a certain number of guests and weddings with over a specific number of attendants in the wedding party.

Potential

Shelly was so relieved when she realized she didn't have to use the standard pricing packages most wedding planners used. She never felt good about them, but didn't trust her own instincts on how to charge. We worked on making a pricing structure that wasn't based on hours or packages but on the value to the client. She was able to quickly raise her fees and increase her client base simply based on her fee changes.

Are you charging your clients based on the value you are providing them or based on the "industry standard"? Is the industry standard an effective way to charge or is just what everyone else is doing? Take a good look at the way you set your fees and handle client charges. Is it right for you?
About the Author

Kirstin Carey is the author of "Starving Artist No More: Hearty Business Strategies for Creative Folks." Since most creative people hate sales, contracts, and discussing money Kirstin consults them on the business side of creativity so they make more money, get better clients, and still love what they do. She put together a resource of proven strategies to help creative types get the business help they need. Go to http://www.MyCreativeBiz.com.