Quit Charging Too Little

Plus: James Clear Mic Drop and the 2025 State of Small Business Survey

Author

Pat Miller
September 23, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Welcome to our 1,768 readers including our latest subscribers:
Beth, Brad, Abby, Paul and Steven

Quit Charging Too Little

Last week at #SBOC25 presented by Horicon Bank, I presented my new talk about raising your rates. Charging too little is a disease that has infected almost all small business owners. Today, I’m challenging you to do something about it.

In the talk, I shared the reasons why you’re undercharging: Fear, Fragmentation, and Fantasy Math. You’re scared to ask for more, you’re offering too many products, and you’ve got it in your head that selling out at your current rates is just fine. (it’s not.)

Sales is one of the 6 Pillars of Freedom in the Fridays Off Theory. If you want to reclaim your work week you simply must fall in like with sales and summon the courage to charge more for your work.

What if you raised your rates RIGHT NOW?

If you’re going to share stuff about your competitors or your ability to close, I’ll tell you those are excuses. The fact that you have competitors is a good thing because it means you’re in a marketplace where people spend money. And if you’re afraid to ask for more - that’s a YOU problem, not a client problem.

I’m daring you to raise your rates and share with me what you did.

Getting more for the same amount of work is 100% profit and the only thing stopping you is your willingness to ask for more.

So, how much are we going up?

Tweet of the Week

James Clear doesn’t miss.

Quick Hit - State of Small Business Survey

I’m excited to partner with Enji and invite you to participate in the 2025 State of Small Business Survey.

How are you stacking up against other small business owners as you ride through 2025?Find out with the Enji State of Small Business survey!

The survey is officially open until Oct 2 and it’s your chance to share what this year has been like and how you’re feeling about 2026. It only takes a few minutes, and your input will help create a report that’s a very real look at what’s going on in our world. And you’ll be entered to win one of two $100 gift cards!

MVPS brings together small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with top entrepreneurship professors from across the country - right here in Milwaukee. Hosted by BizStarts, this two-day summit features masterclasses to drive real impact on topics including negotiation, leadership, hiring, go-to-market strategy, and more. Register here 

Now, GO SELL SOMETHING!

Pat