If you’ve ever found yourself afraid to raise your prices because you worry you’ll lose clients, you’re not alone. Many business owners—especially those who started small—struggle with pricing confidence. But today’s story proves that you can charge more and stress less by valuing your work.
Meet Sarah Haggard, Owner and President of Deluge Consulting, a storm water management firm that started with one woman, a laptop, and a love for soil science—and grew into a 22-person operation serving over 80 clients.
From Convention Go-er to Business Owner
Sarah didn’t plan to become a business owner. After earning a degree in Earth Science from Cal Poly, she attended a few professional conferences that changed everything.
At one event, she discovered the world of erosion and sediment control—an industry that sits at the intersection of soil, water, and construction. She fell in love with the hands-on work, the environmental impact, and the sense of purpose behind keeping our water clean.
A contractor noticed her expertise and asked for help writing an erosion control plan. That one project turned into another, and soon, Sarah found herself in business.
Building a Business That Works for You
When Sarah launched Deluge Consulting, she did what most of us do—said “yes” to everything and everyone. She priced low to compete and worked long hours to keep up. But as her business grew, so did her expenses: insurance, vehicles, rent, employee benefits, and overhead.
She realized something needed to change.
“We were doing great work, but I was stressed all the time. We weren’t charging enough to match the quality we provided,” she said.
So she made the bold decision to raise her prices.
The Power of Pricing with Purpose
Raising prices isn’t about greed—it’s about sustainability. Sarah restructured her pricing model to account for employee costs, insurance, and operational overhead. Instead of billing hourly, she started charging flat fees per event or project, which gave her clients predictable costs and her team freedom to work thoroughly without watching the clock.
Her secret? She called clients directly to explain the price increase and why it was necessary.
“When you build relationships with clients and consistently deliver, they understand. They don’t want the cheapest—they want reliability.”
By charging more, Sarah didn’t lose business—she gained respect, stability, and peace of mind. She learned she could charge more and stress less.
Charge More and Stress Less with Systems
With better pricing came better systems. Sarah implemented the Profit First financial method, ensuring she paid herself first, planned for expenses, and always had cash flow clarity.
She also delegated more responsibilities to her team and invested in management roles, shifting her focus from working in the business to working on it.
That’s where many entrepreneurs hit the next stress point: letting go of control. But Sarah learned that building trust and empowering her people was the only way to grow without burning out.
Why Charging More Actually Helps Your Clients
When you’re underpriced, you’re under pressure. That stress trickles into your work, your team, and even your relationships with clients. But when you charge what your service is worth, you create space to do your best work—and serve your clients at a higher level.
Sarah’s company now manages hundreds of inspections a week, provides consistent client communication, and delivers work that stands out in a crowded field—all because she stopped undervaluing her time and expertise.
“Charging more doesn’t push people away,” she said. “It attracts the kind of clients who value what you do.”
The Real Lesson: Sustainability Over Survival
Every entrepreneur dreams of more freedom and less stress—but few realize the path to that freedom starts with pricing.
Charging more doesn’t just cover your costs—it protects your energy, funds your future, and allows you to build a business that can outlast you.
Sarah’s journey from convention attendee to confident business owner is a reminder that your prices tell the world what you believe your work is worth.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed and overworked, take a step back and ask yourself: Are you charging enough to thrive, or just enough to survive?
Because when you charge more and stress less—and your business finally starts to grow.
Key Takeaways
- Raise prices based on actual costs and value, not fear.
- Build strong client relationships so price increases are respected, not resisted.
- Switch from hourly billing to flat-fee models for less stress and better clarity.
- Implement financial systems like Profit First to stabilize cash flow.
- Delegate and trust your team—growth requires letting go.
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Reach out to our guest’s website: Deluge Consulting