Many freelancers I talk to haven’t raised their rates in over a year.
You might fear awkward conversations, feel imposter syndrome, or worry clients will leave.
But here’s the truth:
If you don’t learn when and how to raise your rates, you’re not running a business.
All businesses raise rates to grow, or they risk failing.
Got your attention?
Good...
As a freelancer, the same business rules apply to you.
Let’s fix that.
When to raise your rates
1. When you’ve gained more experience
More experience should mean higher rates. Got new skills or expertise? Raise your rates.
2. When you’ve built more confidence
Feeling more confident than six months ago? It’s time to raise your rates.
3. When you have results to show
Use your successful results to justify higher rates to current and new clients.
4. When it becomes a necessity
Don’t wait until you’re forced to. Raise your rates before you need to.
How to raise your rates
1. Upsell existing clients
If you’ve built a good relationship and delivered quality work, your value has grown.
It’s easier for clients to accept a rate increase than find someone new.
Offer additional services that match their needs.
Here’s a template for an email:
```
Hi [Client],
I hope you are doing well.
Thank you for being a client for almost [X] years!
Due to rising expenses, we need to increase our rate from [Current Rate] to [New Rate] per month.
The current results are fantastic, and we can enhance them further with additional services:
- Additional Article + Infographic Design
- Social Media Management (Weekly Posting on Facebook + LinkedIn) + [X] towards ads
- AdWords: Increase Spend to Focus on Targeted Procedures (XYZ, XYZ) + [X] towards ads
These services will boost awareness, credibility, and high-earning patient procedures.
Please let me know if you are fine with this increase or interested in the additional services.
Thank you and regards,
[Your Name]
```
2. Increase your prices for new clients
For every 3-5 new clients, raise your rates.
If you charge under $1,000, increase by 30-50%. For $2-5k, increase by 20-30%. Keep experimenting with your pricing.
Bottom line:
Don’t worry too much about the details.
Just raise your rates.
Hope this helps!