Raising My Rates on Upwork Without Losing Good Clients

Source: Dev.to

Introduction

Hey freelancers and engineers,

Like many freelancers, I started with a rate that felt “safe.” It was lower than my market value, but I told myself I needed to “build a profile.” The work started coming in, but so did the long evenings and weekend sessions. I realized that if I didn’t adjust, I’d simply recreate a stressful full‑time job—just with a different boss each month.

Recognizing the Need to Raise Rates

The shift started when I looked at my completed projects and asked: “If I did this again today, what rate would feel fair for both sides?”

Client Response

The clients who valued quality stayed. Some even increased the scope of their projects once they realized I was treating my work like a serious business, not a side hobby.

Final Thoughts

Thanks for being here. If your calendar is full but your energy and earnings are not, it might be time to raise your rate and align it with the value you deliver.