You can build a freelance writing business that generates $5,000+ monthly within 90 days. Not through endless applications on low-paying platforms, but by targeting high-value niches, positioning yourself as a specialist, and implementing client acquisition systems that skilled writers already use to earn over $100 per hour already use.

Most freelance writers undercharge, scatter their efforts across too many niches, and rely solely on job boards where they compete on price rather than expertise. They treat freelance writing as a side gig instead of a real business with systems for client acquisition, pricing, and operations.

If you’re looking to start a freelance writing business and want to learn how you can charge premium rates and earn a high income doing what you love, read on to discover proven tips to help you go from $100 to earning $5,000 monthly with your freelance writing business. 

Key Takeaways:

• Niche specialization increases your rates by 40-60% compared to generalist writers
• Writers who use systematic outreach alongside job boards land higher-paying clients
• Retainer clients provide the foundation for consistent $5K+ months
• You need pricing frameworks, portfolio proof, and client acquisition systems—not just writing skills

Pick a Niche and Value Proposition

Why Niching Increases Your Price Per Client

Businesses pay premium rates for writers who understand their industry, audience, and desired outcomes. When you specialize, you’re not competing with thousands of generalist writers on Upwork. 

When starting out your freelance writing business, you need to position yourself as the expert who can speak their language, address their pain points, and deliver content that drives results. A tech writer charging $150 per article isn’t expensive to a SaaS company with a $50,000 content budget—they’re a strategic investment.

The 3 Filters: Demand, Domain Knowledge, Buyer Budget

Demand: Your niche needs active buyers. Search job boards like Contena, ProBlogger, and LinkedIn for how frequently companies post openings.

B2B niches like SaaS, financial services, healthcare technology, and digital marketing consistently show high demand. Consumer niches like travel and entertainment have more competition and lower budgets.

Domain Knowledge: Pick something you already understand or can learn quickly. Former teachers excel at education technology content. Anyone who’s managed business finances can write about accounting software. 

Your background gives you a head start—use it. You don’t need a degree, just enough knowledge to research effectively and write with authority.

Buyer Budget: Companies with revenue models and investor backing pay better than small blogs. Target B2B businesses, established brands, marketing agencies, and companies selling high-ticket products or services. 

These organizations understand that quality content drives customer acquisition and they budget accordingly.

Quick Niche Validation Exercises

Search Intent Check

Search “[your niche] + content writer” or “[your niche] + freelance writer” on Google. If you see job postings, agency landing pages, and writer portfolios targeting that niche, demand exists. Check if top results emphasize industry expertise—that signals premium positioning opportunities.

Job Board Scan

Spend 30 minutes on Contena or ProBlogger filtering for your niche. Count how many gigs posted in the last 30 days match your criteria. If you find 10+ opportunities monthly with rates above $100 per article or $50+ per hour, you’ve found a viable niche. If most gigs pay $25 per 1,000 words, keep looking.

Agency Demand Test

Search “[your niche] + content marketing agency” and visit 5-10 agency websites. Check their client lists and case studies. If agencies serve your target niche and showcase results like “increased organic traffic 300%,” businesses are investing serious money in content. That’s your signal to position yourself as the specialist those agencies or their clients need.

Build a Conversion-Ready Portfolio and Proof

What to Include in a High-Converting Portfolio

Your portfolio needs 3-5 samples that demonstrate you can write for your target niche. Each sample should show different content types: long-form blog posts, case studies, landing pages, or email sequences. 

Don’t just showcase your writing—showcase results. Include the client’s goal, your approach, and measurable outcomes when possible. Host your portfolio on a simple website with your name or business name as the domain. Skip fancy designs—clean, easy-to-read samples matter more.

Focus on quality over quantity. Three exceptional, niche-specific samples beat ten generic pieces. If you’re targeting B2B SaaS companies, your portfolio should feature software-related topics written at the appropriate technical level. 

For healthcare, demonstrate you understand compliance and medical terminology. Agencies and direct clients hire specialists, not writers who “can write about anything.”

How to Write a One-Paragraph Case Study That Sells

Before → After Formula

Structure each portfolio piece with context. Write a brief intro: “Challenge: [Client] needed to increase email signups by 25%. Approach: I wrote a 2,000-word guide optimized for their target keyword and structured for conversions. Result: The post generated 150 qualified leads in 60 days.” This format shows you understand business objectives, not just word count.

Metrics That Matter

Numbers sell your services. Traffic increases, conversion rate improvements, email list growth, social shares, backlinks earned—track what you can. If you don’t have client metrics yet, use engagement indicators: “This post earned 50+ comments and was shared across three industry newsletters.” Proof beats promises.

Spec Work System: Weekend Sample Framework

Don’t have clients yet? Create spec samples over a weekend. Choose a real company in your target niche that has weak content. Write what they should have published. For a SaaS company with thin blog content, write the definitive guide to their main use case. 

For a healthcare company, create the patient education resource they’re missing. Present these samples exactly as you would client work—just note they’re unpublished samples created to demonstrate your expertise. Most clients care about writing quality and niche knowledge, not whether previous work was paid.

Research the company’s audience, competitors, and content gaps. Write at the appropriate depth and tone. Optimize for their target keywords. 

When you pitch them later, you can reference the sample you already created for them—showing initiative and understanding simultaneously. This approach has landed writers their first retainer clients because it removes the risk for buyers.

Price So You Can Hit $5K: Frameworks & Templates

The 4 Pricing Models Explained

Hourly

Charging $50-150 per hour works when scope is unclear or projects involve revisions and client collaboration. Track your time accurately and set a minimum billable increment (usually 30 minutes). Hourly pricing protects you from scope creep but caps your earning potential since you’re trading time for money.

Project-Based

Flat rates for defined deliverables: $300 for a 1,500-word blog post, $1,200 for a case study, $2,500 for a landing page. Project pricing lets you work efficiently without penalizing your speed. As you get faster, your effective hourly rate increases. Most B2B clients prefer project pricing because it’s predictable and easier to budget.

Retainers

Monthly agreements for recurring work: $2,000/month for four blog posts, $3,500/month for weekly email newsletters plus two case studies. Retainers provide income stability and reduce time spent finding new clients. They’re the foundation of consistent $5K months. Start conversations about retainers after delivering exceptional one-off projects.

Value-Based

Price tied to client outcomes rather than time or deliverables. If your sales page generates $50,000 in revenue, charging $5,000 is justified by results. 

Value-based pricing requires understanding client economics and the confidence to negotiate based on impact. It’s an advanced positioning, but it becomes accessible once you have proven results.

Example Pricing Packages

Starter Package

Blog Content Package – $1,200/month

• Two 1,500-word SEO-optimized blog posts
• Keyword research included
• Two rounds of revisions
• Ideal for: Small businesses testing content marketing

Growth Package

Content + Strategy Package – $3,000/month

• Four long-form articles (2,000+ words each)
• Monthly content strategy session
• Performance reporting with recommendations
• Ideal for: Growing companies scaling content production

Premium Package

Full-Service Content Package – $6,000/month

• Eight blog posts or articles
• Two case studies or white papers quarterly
• Email newsletter (weekly)
• Priority turnaround and unlimited revisions
• Ideal for: Established businesses with aggressive content goals

Retainer Transition Scripts + Invoice Cadence

After completing 2-3 projects successfully, send this: “I’ve enjoyed working on [specific projects]. Based on our conversations about [their goals], I can help you achieve [specific outcome] faster with a monthly retainer. I’m proposing [X deliverables] for [Y amount] per month, which would save you [Z benefit—time, coordination, better results]. Does this make sense to discuss?”

Invoice retainer clients on the first of each month with payment due within 15 days. Include a brief deliverables schedule so they know what to expect and when. 

Some writers invoice half upfront for new retainer clients until trust is established. Set up recurring invoices through platforms like Wave, FreshBooks, or QuickBooks to automate the process and ensure consistent cash flow.

Client Acquisition Playbook

Cold Outreach System

Cold Email Template Structure

Subject line: “Quick question about [their company]’s content strategy”

Email body: Open with something specific about their business—a recent post, product launch, or content gap you noticed. Example: “I saw you recently launched [product] but your blog hasn’t covered [obvious use case]. 

I’m a B2B SaaS writer who specializes in [your niche], and I’ve helped companies like [similar client] increase organic traffic by [metric]. Would you be open to a brief conversation about how I could support your content goals?”

Keep it under 100 words. One specific observation, one credibility statement, one clear ask. Don’t attach samples or links in the first email—that’s for the reply. Personalization matters more than perfection. Send 5-10 customized emails daily to companies that fit your ideal client profile.

LinkedIn DM Script Structure

Connect first without a pitch. After they accept, wait two days, then message: “Thanks for connecting! I noticed [specific thing about their profile or company]. I work with [type of companies] on [specific outcome]. 

Would it make sense to have a quick chat about [their goal or challenge]?” LinkedIn works best for reaching marketing managers, content directors, and agency owners directly.

30-Day Follow-Up Cadence

No response to your first email? Follow up after 5-7 days with new value: “Just wanted to bump this up in your inbox. I put together a quick outline for ‘[specific article they should publish]’ that could help with [their challenge]. 

Would you like me to send it over?” If still no response, try once more after another two weeks, then move on. Track all outreach in a spreadsheet: prospect name, company, contact date, follow-up dates, and status.

Job Boards and Marketplaces Without Commoditization

Skip Upwork and Fiverr if you want premium rates. Instead, use Contena ($50/month but worth it for curated, high-paying gigs), ProBlogger, BloggingPro, and We Work Remotely. 

On these platforms, filter for job posting rates, not asking you to bid low. Apply to 3-5 quality postings daily with customized proposals that reference the specific job requirements and include one relevant sample.

Even on better job boards, stand out by going beyond the application. Find the hiring manager on LinkedIn and send a brief message: “I just applied to your [job title] posting and wanted to introduce myself directly. 

I’ve helped [similar achievement]. Looking forward to your thoughts on my application.” This personal touch gets you noticed in crowded applicant pools.

Content Marketing for Freelance Writers

Newsletter Positioning

Start a weekly or biweekly email sharing writing insights, client case studies, or lessons from your niche. Even 50 subscribers matter if they’re potential clients or referral sources. 

Position yourself as the expert teaching others, and inbound opportunities follow. Don’t overthink it—ConvertKit’s free plan handles up to 1,000 subscribers.

LinkedIn Long-Form Content

Post weekly about your niche, client wins (anonymized if needed), or freelancing lessons. Long-form posts (1,000+ words) get more engagement than short updates. 

Share frameworks like “How I structure B2B case studies” or “5 mistakes I see in healthcare content.” Consistent posting builds authority and attracts warm leads who already value your expertise.

Guest Posting Strategy

Pitch articles to publications your ideal clients read. A byline in an industry blog positions you as the go-to writer for that niche. Focus on actionable content, not self-promotion, but include a bio linking to your website. One well-placed guest post in a niche publication beats ten generic pieces on Medium.

High-Intent Client Channels

Marketing Managers

These are your decision-makers at mid-sized companies. Reach them on LinkedIn by searching “[your niche] + marketing manager” and sending connection requests with personalized notes. Engage with their posts before pitching. When you do reach out, reference their company’s specific content challenges and how you solve them.

Agencies

Content marketing agencies, PR firms, and digital marketing shops constantly need freelance writers for overflow work and specialized niches. They pay well because they’re billing clients 2-3x what they pay you. 

Email 10 agencies weekly with your niche specialization and availability. Once you’re on their roster, they’ll send regular assignments without you pitching each time.

Convert: Sales Scripts, Proposals, and Contracts

Short Proposal Template That Closes

Scope Boundaries

Start with their challenge in one sentence: “You need to publish 8 SEO-optimized blog posts monthly to support your product launch.” Then outline exactly what you’ll deliver: “I’ll write eight 1,500-word articles targeting your provided keywords, including keyword research, meta descriptions, and two rounds of revisions per piece. Turnaround time: 5 business days per article after brief approval.”

Deliverables Structure

List everything you’ll provide: final Word doc or Google Doc, suggested images or visuals (if applicable), SEO optimization, and revision rounds. Specify what’s not included: graphic design, social media posts, or paid promotion. Clarity prevents scope creep and sets professional expectations from the start.

Contract Essentials for Freelance Writers

Cancellation Clause

“Either party may terminate this agreement with 30 days’ written notice. Client agrees to pay for all completed work and 50% of work in progress at the time of cancellation.” This protects you from clients who disappear mid-project and ensures you’re compensated for the time invested.

Renewal Clause

For retainers: “This agreement automatically renews monthly unless either party provides 15 days’ notice of non-renewal. Rates may be adjusted annually with 60 days’ notice.” Auto-renewal reduces administrative work and keeps income stable. Most clients appreciate not having to renegotiate every month.

Client Onboarding Checklist

Send new clients a welcome email with: your contract for signature, invoice with payment instructions, a project questionnaire (their goals, audience, tone preferences, keywords), communication preferences (email, Slack, project management tool), and your content calendar with proposed deadlines. 

Schedule a 30-minute kickoff call to align on expectations. This professional onboarding process separates you from writers who just start writing without structure.

READ MORE: How to Get Your First 10 Freelance Clients Without Experience

Systems to Run a $5K/Month Business

Minimal Tool Stack for Writers

Pitch Tracking

Use a simple spreadsheet: prospect name, company, outreach date, follow-up dates, status (pitched, proposal sent, won, lost). Track your conversion rate—if you’re pitching 50 companies and landing one client, you know you need to pitch 250 companies to hit five clients. Airtable or Notion work if you want something prettier than Google Sheets, but complexity isn’t the goal.

Invoicing

Wave, FreshBooks, or QuickBooks all offer freelancer-friendly plans under $20/month. Set up recurring invoices for retainer clients, track expenses, and generate professional invoices with payment links. Don’t use PayPal invoices or email requests—they look amateur and make it harder to track financials for taxes.

Delivery Workflow

Google Docs for drafts with client comment access works for most projects. Dropbox or Google Drive for file sharing. Grammarly Premium ($12/month) catches errors before clients see them. Hemingway Editor (free) improves readability. That’s all you need—don’t get distracted by every new tool promising to revolutionize your workflow.

Time Batching and Workflow Design

Block your calendar for focused work sessions. Example schedule: Monday mornings for client work, Monday afternoons for pitching, Tuesday-Thursday for deep writing, and Friday for admin and invoicing.

Batching similar tasks reduces context switching and increases output. When you’re writing, close your email and Slack. When you’re pitching, don’t try to write simultaneously.

Track how long projects actually take. If you think a blog post takes three hours but it’s really taking five, either your pricing is too low or your process needs improvement. 

Time tracking reveals where you’re profitable versus where you’re losing money on underpriced projects.

Outsourcing and VA Playbook

Once you’re consistently hitting $5K months, consider outsourcing research, editing, or admin work. Hire a VA for $15-20/hour to manage outreach tracking, schedule client calls, and send follow-up emails. 

Hire a junior writer or editor for $30-40/hour to handle revisions and formatting. This frees you to focus on client acquisition and high-value deliverables.

Don’t outsource too early. Build your own systems first, so you know what to hand off and can evaluate whether outsourced work meets standards. But once you’re turning down projects because you’re at capacity, it’s time to build a team.

Scale From $5K to $10K

Retainer Stacking Strategy

The path to $10K is adding retainer clients, not just working more hours. Three clients at $3,500/month hit $10K with a buffer for one-off projects. Focus client acquisition on businesses that need ongoing content—SaaS companies, B2B service providers, and agencies—rather than one-time projects. Once you have three retainers, you can be selective about additional work and raise rates on new clients.

Productized Services

Package your services into fixed-scope offerings with clear deliverables and pricing: “Blog Post Bundles: 4 posts/month at $1,800” or “Case Study Package: Research, writing, and design coordination for $2,500.” Productized services streamline sales conversations and help clients understand exactly what they’re buying. You spend less time on custom proposals and more time delivering work.

Micro-Agency Model

Hire 2-3 subcontractor writers in your niche, mark up their rates 40-60%, and position yourself as a content agency. 

You handle client relationships, strategy, and editing while delegating execution. This model scales your income beyond your personal writing capacity and creates a business you could eventually step back from or sell.

Common Mistakes & Contrarian Takes

High-Risk Errors That Cap Income

Underpricing

Charging $50 for a 1,000-word article signals low quality and attracts difficult clients. You’ll work twice as hard for clients who don’t value your expertise. Even if you’re new, charge at least $100 per article. 

Positioning yourself as affordable trains clients to see you as a commodity. Raise rates every 3-6 months until you start hearing “no”—that’s when you’ve found your market rate.

No Contracts

Working without contracts means clients can disappear without payment, demand endless revisions, or dispute terms after the fact. 

Contracts aren’t confrontational—they’re professional tools that protect both parties. Use a simple agreement from a template site like Bonsai or And Co., or hire a lawyer on Upwork to draft one for $100-200.

Volume Chasing

Taking every $25 blog post on Upwork to “build your portfolio” keeps you broke. You’d need to write 200 articles monthly at that rate to hit $5K before expenses. Instead, write 3-5 high-quality spec samples, price them properly from the start, and pitch clients who have real budgets.

Contrarian Strategy: Outbound + Niche Beats Passive

Most writing advice tells you to build a website, post on social media, and wait for clients to find you. That’s fine for supplemental income, but if you want $5K monthly within 90 days, you need proactive outreach. 

Cold email and LinkedIn outreach to 50+ companies weekly, while improving your portfolio, beats hoping someone stumbles across your site. Passive marketing builds authority over time—but you need clients now.

90-Day Action Plan to Your First $5K Month

Days 1–30: Foundation

Portfolio Setup

Week 1: Choose your niche using the three filters. Research five companies you’d love to write for and analyze their content gaps.

Weeks 2-3: Write three spec samples in your niche. Each should showcase different content types or subtopics. Set up a simple portfolio website using Squarespace, WordPress, or even a Google Site.

Week 4: Draft your positioning statement: “I’m a [niche] writer who helps [ideal client] achieve [specific outcome].” Create your cold outreach email template and LinkedIn DM script.

Outreach Targets

Build a list of 100 potential clients: companies in your niche, content agencies, and marketing departments. Gather email addresses using Hunter.io, company websites, or LinkedIn. Set up your pitch tracking spreadsheet.

Days 31–60: Client Acquisition

Pitch Volume

Send 10 customized pitches daily (weekdays). That’s 200+ pitches over 30 days. Apply to 5 quality job board postings weekly. Connect with 20 LinkedIn prospects weekly. This volume ensures you overcome inevitable rejection and land conversations with interested buyers.

Follow-Ups

Track every outreach attempt and schedule follow-ups. Follow up on 50% of cold emails within a week, then again at two weeks. Reply to every job board response within 24 hours. Most deals happen in the follow-up, not the first contact.

Days 61–90: Retainers + Optimization

Conversion Targets

By day 60, aim to have 5-10 active conversations with prospects. Send proposals to 3-5 of them. Close 1-2 clients by day 75. Deliver exceptional first projects and pitch retainer arrangements before day 90. Your goal: one $2,500 retainer and 2-3 one-off projects totaling $2,500+ by day 90.

Retainer Lock-Ins

After delivering your first project, schedule a feedback call. Ask what’s working and what they need next. Then propose a retainer: “I’d love to support your ongoing content needs with a monthly arrangement. 

Based on what you’ve shared, I suggest [specific package] for [price]. Does that align with your plans? ” Position retainers as the solution to their consistency problem, not just recurring work for you.

Templates & Resources

Pitch Email Templates (3 Variants)

Template 1 – Direct Pain Point Subject: Noticed a gap in [Company]’s content strategy

Hi [Name],

I was researching [topic] and came across [Company]. Your [specific product/service] looks promising, but I didn’t see any content addressing [specific use case your audience needs].

I’m a [niche] writer who’s helped companies like [similar client] generate [result]. I’d love to create [specific content piece] that could fill this gap and drive more qualified leads.

Would you be open to a brief conversation?

Template 2 – Compliment + Contribution Subject: Loved your post on [topic]

Hi [Name],

Your recent article on [specific topic] was spot-on, especially the point about [specific detail]. It’s clear [Company] understands [audience need].

I write for [niche] companies and noticed you haven’t covered [related topic] yet. I’d love to contribute content that builds on what you’re already doing well.

Are you open to working with freelance writers?

Template 3 – Referral/Connection Subject: [Mutual connection] suggested I reach out

Hi [Name],

[Mutual connection] mentioned you’re looking for writers who understand [niche]. I’ve been writing in this space for [timeframe] and recently helped [client/project] achieve [specific result].

I’d love to learn more about your content needs and see if there’s a fit.

Do you have 15 minutes this week for a quick call?

LinkedIn Scripts

Connection Request: “Hi [Name], I noticed we’re both in [industry/interest]. I’d love to connect and learn more about your work at [Company].”

First Message (2 days after connecting): “Thanks for connecting! I saw [Company] recently [specific event/content]. I work with [type of companies] on [specific outcome]. Would it make sense to have a brief conversation about how I might support your content goals?”

Follow-Up (if no response after 1 week): “Just wanted to follow up on my last message. I’d love to share some ideas for [specific content opportunity related to their business]. Would a quick 15-minute call work for you?”

Case Study Template

Challenge: [Client] needed to [specific goal] but was struggling with [specific problem].

Approach: I [specific action you took], including [detail] and [detail]. The content strategy focused on [key principle or tactic].

Result: Within [timeframe], the content generated [specific metric], leading to [business outcome]. [Client quote if available].

Pricing Calculator

Target Monthly Income: $5,000

Working Days: 20 (weekdays)

Revenue Per Day: $250

If charging per article:

• At $250/article = 20 articles/month (1 per day)
• At $500/article = 10 articles/month (2 per week)
• At $1,000/article = 5 articles/month (1-2 per week)

If charging hourly:

• At $50/hour = 100 billable hours/month (5 hours/day)
• At $100/hour = 50 billable hours/month (2.5 hours/day)

Retainer math:

• One $2,000 retainer + one $1,500 retainer + one $1,500 retainer = $5,000
• Two $2,500 retainers = $5,000

Simple Contract Template

Freelance Writing Agreement

This agreement is entered into on [Date] between [Your Name/Business] (“Writer”) and [Client Name] (“Client”).

Services: Writer will provide [specific deliverables] by [deadline].

Compensation: Client will pay Writer $[amount] for services rendered. Payment due within [15/30] days of invoice.

Revisions: Writer will provide up to [2] rounds of revisions. Additional revisions billed at $[rate] per hour.

Ownership: Upon full payment, all rights to deliverables transfer to Client. Writer retains right to use work in portfolio.

Termination: Either party may terminate with [15/30] days written notice. Client responsible for payment of completed work.

Both parties agree to these terms:

Writer Signature: _______________ Date: _______________

Client Signature: _______________ Date: _______________

Final Thoughts On Starting a Freelance Writing Business 

Building a freelance writing business that earns $5K monthly is beyond talent or luck but more about the systems you use. 

You need a profitable niche, portfolio proof that sells your expertise, pricing that reflects real value, and client acquisition strategies that put you in front of buyers. 

Most writers fail because they undercharge, scatter their efforts, and wait for opportunities instead of creating them. 

You now have the exact frameworks successful writers use: niche validation filters, outreach templates, pricing packages, and a 90-day roadmap. The difference between staying stuck at $1K months and hitting $5K is execution. Start today.

Frequently Asked Questions On Starting a Freelance Writing Business

How long does it take to reach $5K/month?

Most writers reach $5K monthly within 3-6 months of consistent effort if they niche down, price appropriately, and focus on outreach rather than job boards. Writers who try to compete as generalists or rely solely on passive marketing take 12+ months or never reach this milestone. The key is treating it as a business from day one—not a side hustle you’ll “get serious about later.”

Do I need a degree to become a freelance writer?

No degree required. Clients care about writing quality, niche knowledge, and your ability to deliver results—not credentials. Many six-figure freelance writers are college dropouts or have switched careers from unrelated fields. 

Focus on building a strong portfolio and demonstrating expertise through your work. If you’re targeting highly technical niches like healthcare or finance, relevant experience helps, but formal education isn’t mandatory.

What niches pay the most?

B2B technology, SaaS, finance, healthcare, and legal content consistently offer the highest rates, with experienced writers earning $100-250+ per hour. Within these niches, specialized roles like white paper writing, case study development, and technical documentation command premium pricing. 

Email marketing and video script writing also pay well due to their direct impact on revenue. Avoid oversaturated, low-paying niches like general lifestyle, personal development, and entertainment unless you have unique access or expertise.

Should I use Upwork or pitch directly?

Both, but prioritize direct pitching for higher rates and better clients. Use job boards like Contena, ProBlogger, and We Work Remotely for initial clients while building your direct pipeline. Skip Upwork and Fiverr if possible—they train clients to expect low prices. 

Cold outreach to companies and agencies via email and LinkedIn consistently yields better-paying opportunities and long-term retainer relationships. Job boards are fine for starting out, but direct relationships scale your income faster.

How do I raise my rates without losing clients?

Give existing clients 60-90 days’ notice of rate increases and frame it as maintaining quality: “To continue delivering the same level of service, I’m adjusting my rates to $X starting [date]. I wanted to give you advance notice so you can plan accordingly.” 

Most good clients expect rate increases annually. If a client balks, they likely weren’t profitable anyway. For new clients, simply quote higher rates—they have no baseline to compare against. Raise rates every 6 months until you start hearing “no” regularly.