Signs it is time
- You are booked out for weeks.
- Nobody pushes back on your quotes.
- It has been a year since your last increase.
How to do it
- Raise rates for new clients first — instant, no awkward conversations.
- Give existing clients 30–60 days’ notice, in writing, with the new rate and effective date.
- Tie the increase to value: results delivered, skills added, demand.
- Offer a bridge: lock the old rate for prepaid blocks or a retainer.
Template
Hi [Name], thank you for a great year working together on [project]. From [date], my rate for new work will be [new rate]. Anything booked before then stays at the current rate. I am happy to talk through scope for the next quarter. Best, [You]
Run the numbers in the rate increase calculator: a 20% increase still breaks even if you lose a sixth of your work.