How to Tell Clients Your Prices Are Going Up

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I hear from a lot of tattoo artists. And one thing comes up more than almost anything else.

So they sit on it. Months pass.

Sometimes years.

Fully booked, skilled, and still charging what they charged when they were half as good.

Shop minimums in the US are going up every year.

Clients today are used to paying more.

The market supports it.

If your prices haven't moved in two years, you're not being loyal to your clients. You're just not keeping up.

It's usually not the increase itself.

It's the way it's handled.

A client books, shows up, and the price is suddenly higher than expected.

No heads up. No explanation. It just changed.

That feels like a bait and switch, even when it isn't.

Or the artist announces it in a way that sounds defensive. Almost apologetic.

Like they're waiting to be challenged.

That energy communicates something too.

Neither approach builds confidence. Neither keeps clients around.

The good news is this is fixable. And it's simpler than most artists think.

Announce the change at least 30 days before it kicks in. Post it on Instagram. Update your booking page. Mention it in the studio.

This gives existing clients the chance to book at your current rate if they want to. Some will. Most won't rush. But everyone feels respected because they were told.

That matters more than people realize.

If someone paid a deposit under your old rates, keep that quote. Full stop.

This one move protects more relationships than anything else you can do. People remember when you do right by them.

You don't need a big explanation. You don't need to justify every part of it.

Something simple works fine. "From the 1st of next month, my rates are going up to reflect where my work is right now. Wanted to let you know before the change goes live."

Calm. Confident. Short. No apology needed.

A small number of regulars will disappear when your prices go up. That's going to happen, and it's worth being honest about.

But think about who those clients are. If a 10–15% increase is enough to lose them, they were never really investing in your work.

They were shopping on price. And there will always be someone cheaper somewhere.

Clients who appreciate your work won't try to haggle. If someone pushes back on a fair price, they're probably not the client you want anyway.

The clients who stay after a rate increase are the ones worth keeping. The ones you attract afterward tend to be even better.

Once your rates go up, your Instagram needs to back them up.

Higher prices signal quality. But if a potential client checks your profile and it looks inconsistent or half-finished, the new rate creates doubt instead of confidence.

I audited over 100 tattoo artist profiles and found that 85% were missing at least one thing that directly affects whether someone books or bounces. Bio, call to action, highlights, link.

Small things that quietly cost bookings every week.

If you haven't looked at your profile properly in a while, Fix Your Instagram in 30 Minutes walks you through the exact fixes.

It's $15.

Raise your rates. Tell people in advance. Back it up with a profile that looks the part.

That's it for this week.

If this hit home, or if you've been through a rate increase and have something to say about it, hit reply. I read every response.

See you next Friday.