How to tell clients you're increasing your rates

jf design

jf design

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12 May 2011 17:34

Hi everyone

I am a graphic designer with 12 years experience. I have been freelance for just over a year now and am thinking of increasing my fees. I mainly work direct to design agencies, there's about 20 companies who I work for currently (some very regularly, some just occasionally). I think my fees are slightly lower than average for my skillset and ability and I want to bring these inline by increasing them by about 15%.

I'm not sure how to word this to my clients. I guess I need to give them a reason, apart from "I think I can charge you a bit more than I do now"! If anyone has any advice or opinions on this I'd be really grateful.

Thanks

Opus 15 May 2011 18:24

Opus

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Something I need to figure out too!

I was recently advised to write/email to them, giving notice that as of whatever date you will be increasing your fees by X% to £XX.XX per hour. It probably doesn't need much explanation – perhaps just something along the lines of 'due to increasing living and travel costs it is necessary to increase the rate that I charge'. They'll know the reasons without having to have it explained really – best to keep it straightforward and to the point rather than turning it into some lengthy apology.

Opus Creative Design Ltd
jf design 16 May 2011 16:42

jf design

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Yes I agree, straight to the point and it shouldn't be apologetic. I have been charging new clients the higher rate for a couple of months so I can use that as a reason to bring in one flat rate for everyone – if that's relevant to you it could be worth mentioning?
samdesign 13 July 2011 21:25

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Wow this ones easy.......your getting very busy to the point you have more work than you can deal with and all your other clients are paying more.....thats what all businesses do, at the same time your informing your client your popular and good and getting better at what you do, travel expenses etc...that wont wash
mani15623 29 January 2012 16:49

mani15623

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Approach them to polite way and tell them that standards has been increased and you maintaining good quality that search engines like to rank fast. Say them you are spending more time to give the best quality i think if you say these in polite manner they will accept you.
graphicdesign01 26 April 2012 10:07

graphicdesign01

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That's definitely fair enough if you work mainly from home. Most of my work is done onsite, although it would be relevant for the clients who I work for from home.
Aayus 6 July 2012 09:55

Aayus

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Increasing your rate, it's something that every one want to do, but most of us are able to do or at very least. I think increasing your rates first we have to do like, prove the service that product you want to increase the rate and provide to the client and increase that type of amount that satisfied both(you and your client).
mary444 11 October 2012 05:46

mary444

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If you ask me, I would must say that you should not only increase rates. Please upgrade your site along with your work quality. People would definitely come across you and would choose you as a freelancer.