Raising Your Rates Isn't Greedy. It's the Cost of Staying in Business

Raising Your Rates Isn't Greedy. It's the Cost of Staying in Business

Stop working 40+ hours a week for margins thinner than paper. Your expertise keeps growing, your prices should too.

I see it happen all the time.

A brilliant client comes to me (someone who's incredible at what they do), and they're charging prices from 2021. Or worse, they're charging what they think people can afford instead of what their work is actually worth.

"What if they say no?" they ask. "What if I lose everyone?"

Here's what I tell them, and what I'm telling you: Low prices don't build loyalty. They build burnout.

I've seen it play out dozens of times. You work 40+ hours a week for margins so thin you could slip them under a door, and your clients don't respect the work any more because of your "generous" pricing. If anything, they respect it less.

You're Not "Keeping It Accessible"...You're Quietly Drowning

You tell yourself you're being the good guy, keeping things affordable, not being one of those people who charges premium prices.

But here's what I see from my side: you're not doing anyone any favours. You're just slowly suffocating your business while convincing yourself it's noble.

The bills in your inbox are real. The taxes you owe every quarter are real. That expertise you've built over years, the late nights you spent learning new skills, the problems you can solve that others can't…they’re all real.

But your pricing is still stuck in some alternate universe where your time and expertise somehow cost less than everyone else's.

Undercharging isn't generosity. It's self-sabotage with a pretty bow on top.

It's Not About Ego, It's About Survival

I watch my clients try to do their best work while they're stressed about paying their bills. I see them take projects they hate because they can't afford to be picky. I watch brilliant women become bitter because they're working harder than ever and still can't get ahead.

You can't show up confidently when you're in survival mode. You can't scale when your prices don't even cover your actual business costs; the software, the education, the marketing, the retirement fund that's sitting at zero because there's never anything left over.

You didn't start your business to build a prettier prison.

So when I have clients who haven't raised their rates in two years, I ask them: what are you waiting for? Permission? A guarantee that everyone will stay?

And if your stomach just clenched reading that, you're exactly who needs to hear this.

Here's What Really Happens When You Raise Your Rates

I've walked dozens of clients through rate increases, and the disaster they're imagining almost never happens. Instead:

They stop overdelivering to justify their "cheap" prices. No more throwing in freebies, no more working weekends to prove they're worth it, no more endless revision rounds. When your rates reflect your value, your boundaries get clearer too.

They attract clients who actually get it. Higher prices filter out the tire-kickers and bargain hunters. The clients who stay and the new ones who come actually treat them like the experts they are.

They work less and make more. Revolutionary concept, right? Fewer clients at better rates means more time for the strategic work that actually grows their business…and maybe even a weekend off.

They remember why they love their work. When you're not constantly stressed about money, you can focus on the parts of your business that light you up instead of just keeping the lights on.

The Fear Is Real (The Outcome Usually Isn't)

Will some clients leave? Maybe. I won't lie to you about that.

But here's what I've seen: the clients who bail over a reasonable rate increase weren't your people anyway. They were the ones who paid late, asked for "just one tiny change" fifty times, and vanished when you needed testimonials.

The clients who matter…the ones who see you as a partner, not a vendor…they will stick around. They might need a conversation, but they get it. And the new clients you attract at your new rates? They show up ready to work at your level.

You Don't Need to Blow Everything Up

I never tell my clients to double their prices overnight or send dramatic emails to their list. That's not how you do this strategically.

Start with new clients at your new rates. Give existing clients notice and a transition period. Test your pricing on a few projects first if that feels better.

The key is having a plan instead of just hoping it works out.

Your Expertise Didn't Stop Growing So Why Should Your Prices Stay Frozen?

Every week, I talk to women who are incredible at what they do and charging prices that made sense three years ago. Their skills have grown, their results have gotten better, their expertise has deepened, but their rates are still stuck in the past.

You don't have to wait until you're desperate to make this change. You just have to decide that your work and your business deserve prices that actually sustain them.

The Raise Your Rates with Confidence Workbook

If you're ready to stop undercharging but need someone to walk you through it step by step, I created something for exactly this situation.

The Raise Your Rates with Confidence workbook gives you:

✔️ A clear method to evaluate your current rates (and see where they're actually hurting you)
✔️ How to calculate new prices that support the business and life you want
✔️ Word-for-word scripts for rate conversations (no awkward stumbling required)
✔️ How to handle the "what if everyone leaves?" spiral without talking yourself out of it

It's $5 because I believe every business owner should have this roadmap and because watching talented people undercharge themselves makes me want to shake them (gently, but still).

Your future self is already thanking you for taking this step.

Ready to stop leaving money on the table? Your business, your peace of mind, and your bank account are all waiting.

Grab the workbook and finally start charging what you're actually worth ▶️ Click Here

Ready to Price for Profit?

Grab the custom profit calculator and find out exactly which services make the cut and see which ones are quietly bleeding you dry.

Bonus: I’ll test your high-ticket offer to see if it can fund your dream life. → Get Pricing for Profit

Stay Connected!

• Instagram: @profitandlattes - for behind-the-scenes and quick tips

• LinkedIn: Kelly Hill, CPA - Professional insights and industry updates

• Subscribe to our email list for expert tips on managing your hormones, mastering your hustle, and making more money without the burnout.