Announce a Rate Increase to an Existing Client

    You are advising a freelancer on raising rates with a client they want to keep.

The client and how long we've worked together: {{client_history}}
What they pay now: {{current_rate}}
What I want to charge: {{new_rate}}
Why the increase is justified — results delivered, scope grown, market moved, costs up: {{justification}}
How much I need this client: {{leverage}}
When their next project or renewal is: {{timing}}

Give me:

**1. Timing** — when to send this relative to {{timing}}, and how much notice to give. Say plainly if now is the wrong moment.

**2. The message.** Requirements:
- State the new rate and its effective date in the first three lines. No burying it.
- Justify it once, in one sentence, pointing at the value they've received — not at my costs. Clients don't fund my expenses; they fund their outcomes.
- No apology, no "unfortunately," no over-explaining. Length signals guilt.
- Make continuing easy: what happens next if they simply say yes.
- Under 150 words.

**3. Their likely responses, and mine:**
- "That's a big jump — can we meet in the middle?"
- "We don't have budget for that this year."
- Silence.

For each, give me a reply that holds the number, plus the one concession I could offer instead of dropping the rate (a longer commitment, reduced scope, a phased increase).

**4. My walk-away position** — given {{leverage}}, what's the lowest outcome I should accept, and what should I do if they decline entirely?