How to raise your freelance rates

Most freelancers undercharge, then leave their rates untouched for years while their skill, demand and costs all rise. Raising rates feels scary, but done well it’s the fastest way to grow income — without working more hours.

When it’s time

You’re probably overdue if any of these are true:

• You’re fully booked or turning work away.
• You haven’t raised rates in over a year.
• Your skills or results have clearly improved.
• Your costs (software, living, tax) have gone up.
• The rate no longer reflects what you actually need to earn.

How much

There’s no universal number, but useful anchors:

• A 10–20% rise is rarely contentious for ongoing clients who value you.
• For new clients, raise more aggressively — they have no old number to anchor to. Just quote the new rate.
• If you’re badly underpriced, it can take two or three rises to get to market; don’t try to triple in one go with existing clients.

Telling existing clients

Keep it brief, confident and unapologetic — you’re informing, not asking permission:

“From [date], my rate will be [new rate]. I’ve really valued working with you and wanted to give you plenty of notice. Happy to talk through anything before then.”

Tips that make it land:

• Give notice (e.g. 30–60 days), and apply it from a clean date or the next project.
• Don’t over-justify. A long list of excuses invites negotiation. State it as a fact.
• Lead with the relationship and results, not your costs.
• Put the new rate into your next quote and contract so it’s documented.

Handling pushback

• Most clients accept it — especially if your work is good and the rise is reasonable.
• If a client balks, you can offer to hold the old rate for a defined period, or adjust scope to fit their budget — but don’t simply cave.
• Some clients will leave. That’s not always bad: it frees capacity for better-paying work, and the ones who leave over a 15% rise were usually your most price-sensitive, highest-hassle clients.

Make the new rate stick

A higher rate only helps if you actually collect it. Quote it clearly, lock it into the contract, invoice promptly, and follow up — see how to get paid faster. Raising rates and then getting paid late just moves the problem; automate the chasing so the new number lands on time.