You could—but psychology and game theory show this backfires more often than you think.
❌ The Anchoring Problem
Client says "$2,000" first → That becomes your ceiling, even if they'd pay $5,000.
You quote "$5,000" first → You might scare them off, even if their budget was $4,500.
Research shows the first number mentioned sets the "anchor" that all negotiations revolve around. Whoever speaks first is at a disadvantage.
❌ Strategic Lying is Rewarded
Clients lowball → "We only have $2k" (they actually have $5k)
Freelancers inflate → Quote $8k hoping to negotiate down to $6k
Open negotiation creates a "liar's poker" game where honesty gets punished. Everyone plays games instead of being transparent.
❌ You Find Out Too Late
By the time you discover budget misalignment, you've already invested:
- 30-60 min discovery call
- 2-4 hours on a proposal
- Days/weeks of follow-up emails
Traditional negotiation wastes time on prospects that were never a fit.
❌ Money Left on the Table
Real scenario: You quote $800 for a logo. Client accepts immediately.
The problem: They accepted too fast—they would've paid $1,500. You left $700 on the table and didn't even know it.
When clients accept your first offer without negotiation, you probably undercharged. But you'll never know by how much.
✅ How FairPrice Solves This
🎯 No Anchoring Possible
Both parties submit budgets anonymously. Neither sees the other's numbers until both submit.
No one can anchor, no one has the advantage.
🧮 Honesty is Optimal
Like a sealed-bid auction, game theory proves the best strategy is honesty.
Lying about your budget can only hurt you (might miss a good match).
⚡ Know Instantly
Find out if you're aligned in 5 minutes, not after hours of proposals.
Save time by screening out bad fits immediately.
💰 Maximize Your Rate
The algorithm finds the midpoint of overlap. If their budget is higher than you thought,
you get the fair price—not the lowballed one.
📊 Real Example: Logo Design
You Submit:
$800 - $1,500
+
Client Submits:
$1,000 - $2,000
✅
Match! Fair Price: $1,250
(Midpoint of overlap: $1,000-$1,500)
If you'd asked "What's your budget?" and they said "$1,000", you would've accepted $1,000.
With FairPrice, you got $1,250—25% more.