The first reply to “What are your rates?”
is NOT “It depends on the scope and time involved“.
Neither is “What’s your budget?“
Rates
A rate is a factor to multiply or measure with another.
“My rate is X. I’ll need Y time. The bill should be around X.Y” (Which is always more)
It guesses on how much (time) it will need to get done. It transfers the risk onto the client.
Which brings us to say
“I miscalculated how long it would take. I should have estimated 3X. Well, dear client, now YOU have to pay 3X.“
Scope
“It depends on the SCOPE and time involved“
Scope (an incurred cost) doesn’t justify price.
If that was the case, the longer (or more) you worked, it’d be more valuable… right?
Scope implies that your customer cares about your cost structure.
They don’t. What they care about is the result to be created.
Here’s the thing
Whether or not you have your cost structure figured out, it’s irrelevant for the customer.
As long as you bring them to where they want, they’ll be delighted with it.
Now, your job is to figure out what they truly want.