How to price your services 

Anticapitalism is about naming the system we live in — one that prioritizes profit, growth, and extraction over people and the planet — and then asking: what else is possible? It’s not about pretending money doesn’t matter or going off the grid with goats (unless that’s your thing). It’s about building practices, relationships, and businesses that refuse to replicate the harm of capitalism.

At its core, anticapitalism is needs-focused. Instead of asking, How much more can I make? we ask:

• What do I need?

• What does my family need?

• What does my community need?

• What do I have to give?

• In what ways am I set up to help?

These questions shift the whole framework. Suddenly, growth isn’t about maximizing profit at all costs — it’s about right-sizing our work so we can sustain ourselves and contribute meaningfully to others.

It’s also worth remembering that capitalism is not inevitable. It’s only been around for a few hundred years, but commerce, trade, and exchange have existed for thousands. People have always found ways to meet needs, share resources, and build community economies. Anti-capitalism is interested in reclaiming those traditions and imagining new ones — alternative ways of doing economics that aren’t extractive, that don’t ruin our planet, and that prioritize care over consumption.

In this workshop, we’ll bring that imagination into our business planning. Because planning isn’t just about surviving inside capitalism; it’s about practicing, right now, the post-capitalist world we want to see.

Absolutely. Anticapitalism doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay your bills, feed your family, or save for the future. What it does mean is that you’re honest about how you make money, who it impacts, and how much is actually enough.

You can be anticapitalist and still charge for your services. You can be anticapitalist and still want to grow your income — especially if you come from working-class or poor backgrounds where security has never been guaranteed. The difference is that we’re not chasing money for money’s sake. We’re building businesses that sustain our lives, honor our labor, and redistribute resources when we can.

And here’s the thing: the fact that this question even feels pressing is evidence of capitalism’s hold on us. We’ve been conditioned to believe that wanting or needing money makes us greedy, selfish, or “bad.” That’s the endless bombardment of individualism talking — the idea that every financial choice is a moral referendum on you, instead of a reflection of the conditions we live under.

In an anti-capitalist frame, money is just one resource among many. It’s not the only measure of value, and it’s certainly not the only way to build security. The work is to loosen capitalism’s grip on our imaginations so we can see money more clearly: not as proof of worth, but as a tool we can use carefully, ethically, and collectively while we build better systems.

This is not a theoretical lecture you’ll forget in a week. You’ll leave with:

• A clearer understanding of what fair pricing looks like for you

• A practical framework for setting and communicating your rates

• Tools to help you balance accessibility, sustainability, and solidarity

• A deeper sense of confidence that your pricing can align with your politics

Yes. Scholarships are available through Hannah Grimes. Reach out to [email protected]  to see if you qualify.

And if you don’t qualify for a scholarship, know that I regularly offer free workshops, pay-what-you-can coaching calls, and VSAC grant–funded coaching for Vermont residents. This work should be accessible, and I do my best to keep it that way.

Glad you asked 👋. Coaching is where I go much deeper with folks who want ongoing support. I work with small business owners across Vermont (and beyond) to build structures that make their businesses sustainable and values-aligned.

You can learn more here, or reach out directly to me if you want to talk about whether coaching is a fit.