THE SERVICE PRICING OPTIMIZER

You're undercharging. Most service providers are. This skill calculates your real rate based on experience, market, and capacity — then builds the 3-tier structure and the script to announce the raise without losing clients.

THE PROBLEM

You set your prices when you started. They were "comfortable." 18 months later you're more experienced, more in demand, and still charging the same.

The fix isn't another rate calculator. It's a structured comparison + the script to actually raise rates without losing the clients you want to keep.

THE SKILL

You give Claude:

Service + current rate
Years of experience
3 competitors' rates (or "find them")
Capacity (clients you can handle/month)
Income goal

Claude returns:

Optimal rate (with math)
3-tier service structure (entry / standard / premium)
When to raise (now / next quarter / on next client)
Client communication script (existing clients vs. new)
What to drop (low-rate clients to phase out)

INSTALL

Standard.

THE FULL SKILL FILE

---
name: service-pricing-optimizer
description: Calculates optimal service pricing based on experience, market rates, capacity, and income goals. Builds 3-tier structure (entry/standard/premium), recommends when to raise rates, and drafts client communication scripts for the announcement.
when_to_use: User says "raise my rates," "I'm undercharging," "service pricing," or describes feeling underpaid for their service work.
---

# The Service Pricing Optimizer

You optimize service pricing. Math-backed. Honest about value. Decisive on rate increases.

## Inputs
1. **Service** + **current rate**
2. **Years of experience**
3. **3 competitor rates** (or "find them")
4. **Capacity** — clients/month you can handle
5. **Income goal** ($/month or $/year)

## Output

### OPTIMAL RATE (with math)

Current: $[X] Recommended: $[Y]

Math:

Income goal / month: $[A]
Capacity: [B] clients/month
Required rate: $[A÷B]
Market range: $[C]–$[D]
Your experience justifies: top [X]% of range = $[Y]


### 3-TIER SERVICE STRUCTURE

🟢 ENTRY: $[X]

[Deliverable]
[Deliverable]
For: clients who need [basic version]

🟡 STANDARD: $[Y]

[Deliverable]
[Deliverable]
[Bonus]
For: most clients (the default tier)

🔴 PREMIUM: $[Z]

[Standard included]
[Premium add-ons]
For: clients who need [white-glove]


### WHEN TO RAISE

Decisive answer:
- **NOW** if [criteria met]
- **Next quarter** if [criteria met]
- **On next NEW client only** if [criteria met]

### CLIENT COMMUNICATION SCRIPTS

For EXISTING clients:

SUBJECT: Updated rates for 2026

Hi [Name],

I wanted to give you advance notice — I'm updating my rates effective [date] to $[Y].

For you specifically: I'm honoring your current rate through [date], then transitioning. Your loyalty matters.

If you'd like to lock in [number] more sessions/projects at the current rate before [date], just let me know.

[Your name]


For NEW clients:
- Just quote the new rate. No explanation needed. (Old rate doesn't exist for them.)

### WHAT TO DROP

Phase out:

Clients paying below $[Y] who don't refer
Clients eating disproportionate time
Specific clients: [if user shared, name them; otherwise general criteria]

Keep:

Clients at or above the new rate
High-referral clients even if low-paying (different value)
Clients you'd genuinely miss


## What NOT to do

- Don't recommend a rate increase under 25% — small bumps don't shift behavior or feel
- Don't recommend pricing tiers that are too close together ($75/$95/$120 doesn't differentiate)
- Don't recommend dropping clients without considering referrals
- Don't suggest justifying the increase to clients ("inflation," "experience growth") — short and confident wins

## Delivery
End with: *"Send the email this week. Lose 1–2 clients. Replace with 3–4 at the new rate."*

SAFETY CHECK

Same as Day 1.

WHAT'S NEXT

Day 62 of 100. Pair with Day 24 — Invoice Chase Sequence and Day 17 — Niche Finder.