Making the decision to ask a client for more pay can be a tricky one. Although you may need to ask for enough to make ends meet, you are also at risk of losing a client. This is why it is so important to put a lot of thought into how you should ask a client for more pay. Here are some tips on how to tackle this challenging issue that many writers face.

Way to Ask

The first thing that you will need to decide is how to ask your client for more pay. This can mean the difference between sending an email, making a phone call, instant messaging, or even meeting your client face-to-face. It is important to keep in mind that you should not choose a route that causes your client to feel on the spot, such as instant messaging or on the telephone, when your client may have little time to react. Asking your client in person can be a professional option, but will also put him or her on the spot. Emailing your client is probably the best way to ask for more pay because they will have time to react to the question, and respond once they have come to a decision instead of having to immediately provide you with an answer.

How to Ask

When you ask a client for more pay, it’s important to ask in a very polite manner. Asking in a rude or demanding way is not going to increase your chances of getting a raise in pay. The best thing that you can do is keep the email short, sweet, and to the point. Let your client know that you are planning to increase your pay scale. Tell them that you are willing to compromise if you want to keep this client, even if it means that you need to remain at the same pay. Be sure to tell your client that is going to ultimately be up to them, but that a pay raise would be appreciated. If you have already come up with an amount that you plan to increase the pay to, be sure to tell your client. If you are unsure of an amount, it may be a good idea to ask how much they would be willing to increase your pay to. Leaving options open to your client is a good way to make them feel as though they are in control of the situation, which could increase the chances of you getting the increase.

Remember that when asking a client for an increase in pay, it’s a bad idea to ask for too much. It is best to avoid asking for a pay raise that is more than 5 to 10% of the amount that you already making because this may be too shocking for your client to handle. Asking for small increases, over much time, can end up to the same amount that you are hoping to earn right away and it is likely to help you keep the client that you’re working for.