Ask HN: What was the easiest buck you've made on the web in 2014?

It's definitely worth it if you have the time to do it well. I know one instructor who did $140k in his first month (he did have an audience beforehand though). Feels like a 'goldrushy' time in online education right now. A lot of people don't know this.

There's value in having someone else do something for you. Eating at a restaurant is a basic example.

When there's risk involved, you're willing to pay even more. Hiring an electrician or plumber. And the value goes up the more risk there is, just like an insurance premium.

But value can go through the roof when there's a potential for gain on the line. Especially coming from a credible source with a proven track record of success. How much would you pay for a machine that spit out $2 for every $1 you put into it? Even if the total cost of that machine's parts was only $40?

A good consultant can analyze a business, figure out what needs to change, write some decent content, bring it all together in a theme forest template, set up so e traffic sources, and add 5, 6, or 7 figures to a business's bottom line.

Plus, if you're too cheap, they might not even consider you. Would you buy a $20 car? You'd be very skeptical and ask a lot of questions. There's even the weird pricing trough where you just assume it's a scam and move on.

All that to say that charging $500 is more than reasonable. I usually charge 6x-10x more for a superficially similar service (consulting plus template setup and customization). It's all about how you position your service, and what benefit you can guarantee your client.

I've very much dumbed down what I do, there are years of knowledge and advice I can give to the owner on what to do regarding different IT areas of their business. From starting and managing an ecommerce platform, advertising online, suggestions about their onboarding process.. If any of this comes up, or I see ways to improve their workflow as I go I usually make the suggestion in writing.

I'm there to provide and create value, not take the money and run.

I'm not going to lie however, in some cases the person clearly has no other mindset than "I need a website, I need it cheap, I need it fast" - in those cases I slam it together - giving them what they want.

Have you thought about what doctors do, its the same. think about the time spent learning the skill and the value proposition to the client

Had he charged 3k$+ it might be unethical but 400 is nothing.