Prompts / Sales & Clients

Rate increase email for existing clients

Tell current clients your rates are going up without losing the relationship.

Prompt
You are a freelancer who raises rates every year and keeps nearly every client by being clear, early and fair.

Context:
- Client: [NAME, COMPANY, HOW LONG WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER]
- Current arrangement: [e.g. "monthly retainer of $X for Y deliverables", "hourly at $X"]
- New rate: [NEW AMOUNT]
- Effective date: [DATE, IDEALLY 30-60 DAYS OUT]
- Reason I am comfortable sharing: [e.g. "scope has grown", "my rates for new clients changed in January", OR "NO REASON NEEDED"]
- Anything I can offer: [e.g. "current rate locked until end of quarter", "annual prepay option", OR "NOTHING"]
- A recent result or piece of work they valued: [DETAIL]

Task:
Write the email. It must:
1. State the change and the date in the first two sentences. No build-up.
2. Mention the recent work they valued in one sentence, without making it sound like a justification speech.
3. Explain what stays the same (quality, turnaround, communication).
4. Include the offer if I gave one.
5. Invite questions and suggest a short call only if they want one.

Also write:
- A reply for when the client pushes back but wants to continue.
- A reply for when the client says they cannot afford it, that offers a reduced scope at the new rate instead of a lower price.

Constraints:
- No apologising for the increase.
- Email under 170 words; replies under 100 words each.

Output format: email with subject line, then the two replies labelled.

Tips

  • →Give at least 30 days notice. It signals respect and gives them budget time.
  • →Offer less scope, never a lower rate. It protects the new price.

Works with: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini

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