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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