Most tradesmen know they should be charging more.
But they don’t.
Because they’re worried about one thing:
Losing work.
So they stay at the same rate for years — even as costs go up.
And over time:
- Profit shrinks
- Pressure increases
- Work feels harder
The reality is:
The problem isn’t raising your rate — it’s how you do it.
Most tradesmen could increase their rate tomorrow — they just don’t have the confidence or structure to do it properly.
Why Most Tradesmen Don’t Raise Their Rates
It usually comes down to:
- Fear of being undercut
- Comparing themselves to cheaper trades
- Not knowing their real costs
- Wanting to stay busy
But this thinking leads to one outcome:
Staying busy… without making what you should
The First Thing to Understand
Your day rate isn’t just a number.
It’s based on:
- Your costs
- Your working days
- Your profit target
If you don’t understand this properly:
You’ll always feel unsure about increasing your rate
“what you should actually be charging per day”
Why Raising Your Rate Doesn’t Mean Losing Work
This is where most people get it wrong.
They think:
Higher price = fewer jobs
But in reality:
- Cheap work is usually the worst work
- Better customers expect to pay properly
- The right jobs aren’t won on price alone
This is why you shouldn’t take on every job just to stay busy
Step 1: Stop Competing on Price
If your only advantage is being cheaper:
You’ll always struggle.
Instead, focus on:
- Reliability
- Quality
- Communication
- Professionalism
These are what better-paying customers value.
Step 2: Raise Your Rates Gradually
You don’t need to jump from £200 to £350 overnight.
Instead:
- Increase your rate on new jobs
- Test higher pricing on new work before increasing across the board
- Adjust based on response
This reduces risk and builds confidence.
Step 3: Improve How You Quote Jobs
A higher rate needs to be backed up.
That means:
- Clear quotes
- Professional presentation
- Proper breakdowns
Step 4: Choose Better Work
This is key.
If you’re taking:
- Low-value jobs
- Price-focused customers
- Poorly defined work
You’ll struggle to increase your rate.
Which is why learning how to spot a bad customer before you take the job matters
Step 5: Understand Your Real Working Year
If you only work 170–190 days per year:
Your rate needs to reflect that
Otherwise:
- You’re under-earning
- You’re under-saving
- You’re constantly chasing work
how many days you actually work in a year
Step 6: Accept That Some Work Will Drop Off
This is important.
When you raise your rates:
Some jobs will go elsewhere
That’s not a problem.
Those are usually:
- Price-driven customers
- Low-margin jobs
- Difficult clients
The goal isn’t more work
It’s better work
Most tradesmen don’t lose work because they’re too expensive — they lose money because they’re too cheap.
Step 7: Focus on Profit, Not Just Work
The aim isn’t to fill every day.
It’s to:
- Earn more per job
- Work smarter
- Reduce stress
Because being busy doesn’t always mean being profitable
Common Mistakes
1. Raising prices randomly
Without understanding your numbers.
2. Comparing yourself to cheaper trades
You don’t know their situation.
3. Dropping prices too quickly
This weakens your position.
4. Trying to win every job
Not all jobs are worth winning.
Simple Rule to Follow
If your rate hasn’t changed in years:
It’s already too low.
Final Thought
You don’t increase your income by working more.
You increase it by:
- Charging properly
- Choosing the right work
- Running your jobs like a business
Because the tradesmen earning more
aren’t working harder.
They’re charging correctly — and protecting their time
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