Hourly billing screws customers
Hourly billing looks harmless. But it quietly moves all the risk to the customer. - You don’t know the final price. - You only get an estimate (if you’re lucky). - And the hours add up faster than any customer expects.
It’s like buying a plane ticket… but finding out the price after you land. - Want a small change? More hours. - Hit a blocker? More hours. - Scope slightly unclear? Oh yes… more hours.
The customer carries 100% of the uncertainty. The agency carries 0%. And somehow this became “normal.”
Hourly billing says: “Here’s a guess. Good luck with your budget.”
That’s not a partnership. That’s like betting your budget on a mystery box.
So why should customers accept all the risk for work we control?
When will we admit hourly billing is just… nuts?