Have you ever been asked this? It may seem like an innocent question at first glance. But is it?
Underlying this question is a lack of respect and trust.
We all want to work with the best people. We all prefer to pay a good price. And we all know there is a limit to how good that price can be before it becomes “too good to be true” – given the “when you pay peanuts…” truism.
The person who asked me this question most recently was a highly qualified medical specialist. I wonder how he would have responded if someone was to expect his services but at a low price?
So what do you do? Simple. You pick someone who is good; whom you think you would like to work with. You then give them the respect to set their price. That is their call.
Of course you don’t have to accept their price. You are perfectly entitled to say no; or to open negotiations. That is your call.
Put another way: if you don't trust this person to charge you appropriately for their work, why would you trust them to do the work?