How I Overcame the Fear of Raising My Rates (and You Can Too)

The Awkward Moment We All Dread

Let’s talk about something that makes most Virtual Assistants want to crawl under their desks: raising your rates.

The moment you hover over the “send” button, palms sweaty, heart racing, wondering if you’ve just priced yourself out of existence. Been there. More than once.

When I first started out, I charged €15 an hour. I thought I was being smart. Competitive. Approachable. What I was actually being? Burnt out and underpaid.

Raising my rates wasn’t just about the numbers. It meant facing every self-doubt I had about my value, my skills, and whether clients would still want to work with me. Spoiler: they did. And the ones who didn’t? I’m better off without them.

This is the story of how I did it—and how you can too.

Why We Struggle to Charge What We’re Worth

Let’s break this down, because the fear is real—and you’re not crazy for feeling it.

Here’s what holds us back:

1. Impostor Syndrome

“If I raise my prices, they’ll expect more than I can deliver.”
Sound familiar? It’s that sneaky inner critic convincing you that you’re not ready, even when you’ve got the receipts to prove otherwise.

2. Fear of Rejection

“What if all my clients leave?”
This is the fear of abandonment dressed up in business attire. We tell ourselves that one rate increase means we’ll end up clientless and living off canned beans.

3. Guilt

“I love working with this client, and they’re nice…”
Ah, the guilt spiral. Newsflash: being nice doesn’t mean your client should get lifetime discounted rates.

4. Comparison Paralysis

“She’s charging less than me AND has 10K followers. Who do I think I am?”
Girl, her journey isn’t yours. You don’t know her expenses, her burnout level, or how much her mom helps her behind the scenes.

Let’s drop the shame. Your rates are not just about your worth—they’re about your business model. And your business needs to be sustainable.

Step One: Know Your Numbers (Yes, Even If You Hate Math)

Before you can raise your rates confidently, you need to know:

Your monthly income goals
Your business expenses
Your available work hours
The value of your skills and results

Let’s do a quick breakdown.

Say you want to earn €3,000/month.
You work 25 billable hours per week (100/month).
To hit your goal: €3,000 ÷ 100 = €30/hour minimum.

And that’s just to break even.

Now factor in:

Taxes
Time spent on non-billable work (admin, marketing)
Up-skilling, tools, courses, sick days

Suddenly, €45–€60/hour looks a lot more realistic.

When I did this math the first time, I realized I was working full-time hours and making part-time money. That was my turning point.

Step Two: Redefine What You’re Actually Selling

Clients don’t pay for your hours. They pay for:

Peace of mind
Systems that save them time
Engagement that builds their brand
A presence they don’t have to micromanage

You’re not “just scheduling posts” or “just answering emails.”

You’re giving your clients their time back.
You’re protecting their reputation.
You’re growing their business in the background.

When I reframed my services from “tasks” to “transformation,” it became easier to charge like someone who delivers results, not just outputs.

Step Three: Raise Your Rates Strategically

Okay, so you’ve done the mindset work and crunched the numbers. Now what?

1. Decide your new rate

Don’t overthink it. Pick a number that:

Feels slightly scary
Covers your expenses and profit
Reflects your growth

I usually recommend a 20–30% increase per cycle. If you’re charging €25/hour, try €30–35 next.

2. **Decide when and how you’ll do it**

The easiest moment? When:

You onboard a new client
A contract is up for renewal
You’re switching from hourly to packages

If you have long-term clients, give them a 30-day notice. Keep it short and warm:

“I’ve loved supporting your business this past year. To continue delivering high-quality service and account for rising costs, my rate will increase to €X as of [date]. Let me know if you have any questions—I’d love to keep working together!”

Most clients won’t blink. The ones who do? Let them go with grace.

Step Four: Expect the Fear—Do It Anyway

Let me be brutally honest: raising your rates will feel uncomfortable at first. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

When I raised my hourly rate from €30 to €50, I was sure I’d lose clients. I told myself I needed to be “better” first. But “better” was a moving target. One day, I just did it. Sent the email. Closed the laptop.

And guess what?
One client said, “No problem.”
Another said, “It’s about time!”
A third left—and I replaced them in two weeks with a higher-paying client who respected my boundaries.

You don’t grow by staying small. You grow by expanding into the version of yourself that knows what she brings to the table.

What Happened When I Raised My Rates (And Didn’t Die)

Here’s what actually changed after I increased my pricing:

✅ I attracted better clients
✅ I got clearer on my offer and delivery
✅ I had space to breathe, create, and plan
✅ I stopped resenting my work
✅ I had the confidence to say “no” when it wasn’t a fit

Raising my rates didn’t just change my income. It changed my relationship with my business.

I stopped treating it like a hustle and started treating it like a real company—with value, structure, and vision.

Bonus: My Favorite Scripts for Raising Rates

Want to raise your prices without the cringe? Copy, paste, adapt:

For New Clients (Intro Message)

“My current packages start at €[X], and I’d love to walk you through how I work! Shall we book a call?”

For Existing Clients (Rate Change Notice)

“Starting [date], my rates will increase to €[X]. This allows me to continue delivering the level of support and attention your business deserves.”

If They Push Back

“I completely understand. If this new rate isn’t within your current budget, I can recommend another VA or a pared-down version of support that fits your needs.”

If You’re Switching to Packages

“I’m shifting from hourly to flat-rate packages to make billing more predictable and results-focused. Here’s what’s included…”

Keep it clean. Keep it kind. Keep it professional.

Final Thoughts: You’re Allowed to Evolve

Let’s end with this: your old pricing doesn’t define you.

It reflected where you were. What you knew. What you believed you were worth.

But you’ve grown. Your skills have expanded. Your results have multiplied. Your energy is more precious than ever.

Raising your rates isn’t greedy. It’s necessary.

It’s how you build a business that sustains your lifestyle, your freedom, and your future.

So take a deep breath. Write the email. Adjust the invoice. Step into your next level.

You’re not overcharging. You’re catching up.