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How To Ask Your Clients For A Pay Rise

By on January 30, 2020

As a freelance writer, you are in charge of your own business, but why is it when you come to ask your clients for a pay rise, you feel like a fraud. You create your own schedule, award yourself holiday days, and also manage your finances, and provide an excellent timely service. So why shouldn't you get paid what you deserve?

It would help if you had a goal of how much money you wish to make. You can reach this goal by taking on more clients, taking on better-paying clients, or asking your existing clients for a pay rise.

If you have been writing for the same client for a while now, you might wish to consider approaching them to ask for more money. Doing this can feel daunting. However, you need to remember that if you were working for a traditional business, you'd expect to receive more money year on year. Therefore it's perfectly OK to seek a higher amount of pay from your clients too. Remember, if they keep re-hiring you, it's obviously because they feel you do an excellent job for them. So there is no reason why they wouldn't want to keep giving you work, even if it's for a slightly increased fee.

So what's the best way to ask your clients for a pay rise?

Do your research first

Investigate what people who do similar work to you are receiving. You should also research the company, their average salaries and how they have grown since you started working for them. The better you understand this, the easier it will be to see whether you're being paid properly. You'll also be able to figure out what you should be asking for.

Explain why you're worth it

Your employer is far more likely to agree to your pay rise if you can support your request with good evidence that you are an asset to the business, and your contribution is helping them grow. Talk about your commitment to them, the length of time you've worked for them, your experience, and so on to ensure that you are giving plenty of reasons for them to say yes.

Be polite but confident and clear

Don't be arrogant when you ask for a pay rise. No law says your employer has to agree to it. Being a freelancer means it is even harder to secure additional payments than contract workers. However, make sure that your client takes you seriously and don't apologize or beat around the bush. You might feel nervous, but coming across as confident and explaining what you want and why you deserve it in as straightforward a way as possible will be the best route to success.

Be prepared to negotiate

Your client might not be able to give you the increase you desire and could come back to you with a lower figure. They could also say no outright. You have to decide what your next move is. You could go back with a counteroffer or think about other benefits you could negotiate (if you work as a freelancer for a company you could ask for some paid holiday, for example). If the answer is no, you should be able to ask for an explanation. Make sure you inquire if there is likely to be a point in the future where a pay rise would be possible. Your client may not be willing to offer you an explanation or point blank refuse. If they do, you have to decide whether you want to continue to work with them or not.

If you've proven yourself to be a reliable and consistent writer, and have been working for the same client for some time, consider asking them for a pay rise. Just make sure you do your preparation. At worst you'll be no worse off than you were before, and at best you could make considerably more money. What have you got to lose?

So now you know how to ask your clients for a pay rise, why not learn the 5 things clients want to hear before they hire.

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bethany cadman
Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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