My accountant told me to raise my rates after a tough project in Denver

I was working 70 hour weeks on a website redesign that paid $3,500 total, and she said I was basically paying to work. I bumped my minimum project fee to $5k, and the next client agreed without blinking. How do you know when you're actually ready to charge more?

4 comments

4 Comments

jenny_white212mo ago

I used to believe raising rates was a huge gamble. Then I lost a good client who admitted they'd have paid double because my work saved them so much time. That was the proof I needed. Now I look at the real value I bring, not just the hours I put in.

luna_chen82mo ago

Ever feel like you're just waiting for permission to charge what you're worth? I kept my old rates for way too long because I was scared no one would say yes...

averyc942mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, that fear is there for a reason. Sometimes the market just won't pay more, and you price yourself out of work. I held my ground on a rate hike once and lost three regular clients in a month. It's not always about courage, sometimes the math just doesn't work.

wadejenkins19d ago

Waiting for permission to charge what you're worth" - yeah that's me, still waiting for the permission slip that's apparently stuck in the mail. @jenny_white21 probably has hers framed on the wall. Maybe I'll just start billing like my time is gold and see who laughs first.