FFN #83 Quarterly Check-In: Are You Charging Enough?

Hey FF’s 👋

When was the last time you actually sat down and looked at your rates?

We’re not talking about the time you panic-added 10% after watching a “charge your worth” TikTok. We mean are your current rates aligned with your experience, your expenses, your energy, and (let’s be honest) inflation?

If it’s been a minute, this is your quarterly reminder to pause, reflect, and check in on your pricing. And we’ve got tools, tea, and transparent community stories to help you do exactly that.

Because you deserve to get paid what you’re worth—not just what you think the client can afford.

Sick of getting ghosted? Same. And it’s not because your work isn’t good enough, it’s because your client process feels confusing, chaotic, or like a DIY project (ouch, we know). The good news? We’re about to fix that. ✨ Join us for a free workshop, It’s Not Your Pricing, It’s Your Process, on May 15 at 10 AM PST (yes, pj pants are acceptable), where you’ll get a smooth client booking flow, a ready-to-use templates (no more blank Google Docs), smart placeholders, and a “leaky bucket” diagnosis to spot where you’re losing leads. Better process = more yes’s, less ghosting, and way less stress. #partner 

The Tools You Need

1. The Freelancing Females Rate Calculator
Not sure where to start? We got you. Plug in your hours, expenses, and goals and we’ll tell you what you should be charging.

→ Use the calculator here

2. Our Rate Transparency Database
Real rates from real freelancers around the world. Filter by industry, location, and experience to see how your pricing stacks up.

→ Explore the database

✨ P.S. It’s totally anonymous—you can share yours too to help others thrive!

When to Raise Your Rates

Here are 5 signs it might be time:

1. You’re fully booked and turning people away

2. You’ve leveled up your skills, but your rates haven’t followed

3. Clients say yes too fast (like…suspiciously fast)

4. You’re working more, earning less

5. You’re not factoring in taxes, admin time, or time off

Sound familiar? Cool. Let’s fix that.

How to Raise Your Rates Without the Panic

We know, this part can feel spicy. But it doesn’t have to be scary. Here’s the step-by-step:

✨ Step 1: Audit your numbers
Use our rate calculator to figure out what you should be charging. Factor in everything: living costs, biz expenses, savings, time off, taxes, etc.

✨ Step 2: Decide on your new rate structure
Hourly, project-based, packages—whatever works for your flow. Aim for rates that support your life, not just your laptop.

✨ Step 3: Give your current clients a heads-up
No need to ghost and re-emerge as “New Rates Who Dis.” You can totally keep it kind, clear, and professional:

“Hey [Client], I wanted to give you a heads-up that my rates will be increasing on [date]. This reflects the value of the work we’ve done together and the experience I continue to bring to each project.”

✨ Step 4: Practice saying it out loud
Seriously. Say it in the mirror. Say it on a walk. Say it to your dog. You’ll feel less weird when it comes time to actually pitch it.

One Last Pep Talk

Raising your rates doesn’t make you greedy.
Asking for what you need doesn’t make you difficult.
Pricing your work sustainably makes you a better business owner—and a happier human.

You’re not here to just get by. You’re here to build a business that feels good to run.

So go ahead and do the math. Check the benchmarks. Look around the community. And if you find yourself whispering, “Wait, I’m worth more than this…”—you are.

Now go charge like it. 💸

🧚🏼 Set social media boundaries with our fav social tool! Metricool has helped us relieve the mental stress associated with running your biz socials and avoid that constant feeling of ‘I should be doing or posting something’ for my biz. Plus, they gave us a code so you can start free today (yay!), just use code FF2025 at checkout. #partner 

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💅🏽 The cutest notebook for you next meeting.