Pay in installments. For larger projects, I'm happy to split payment into a fair schedule rather than two big halves. Just ask when you request your quote; it costs nothing extra.
Start with a First Chapter Diagnostic. A detailed edit of your first chapter plus a written summary of the patterns across your writing, at an accessible flat rate. It's a real, standalone piece of work and a low-risk way to experience my editing before committing to a full manuscript. See what working together looks like.
And if the budget just isn't there yet, my free resources and checklists are yours, no strings attached.