Being a successful freelancer relies on skill, good communication, timeliness, and a host of other traits. But success can also be defined by your ability to earn a living. If you charge too much, clients may not bring you on board, and if you charge too little, you risk overworking yourself just to make ends meet.

Here are a few tips for setting your rate as a freelancer—and knowing when to increase it:

1. Get compensated for test projects
   New clients may ask you to do a small initial project to suss out whether you’re a good fit for the project and team. This can be a great opportunity for you and the client to determine whether a longer-term project may be successful, so by all means, sign up for it—but not for free.

Charge your typical rate for such projects to make sure you’re adequately compensated. If you don’t know where to start with setting a rate, research what other freelancers with similar experience and skillsets are charging for their services on the Upwork site.