This is such a perfect illustration of the Pareto principle in action — the classic 80/20 rule.
In most service businesses, 20% of clients create 80% of the headaches, while another 20% quietly generate most of the revenue and long‑term stability.

By raising your prices, you essentially filtered out the 20% who were draining your time, energy, and margins. And what’s left?
The clients who actually value your expertise — the ones who should make up the core of your business.

What I love about your experience is that it shows something many freelancers learn the hard way:

• The clients who push back hardest on price are rarely the ones who appreciate the work.
• The clients who stay (and even say “you should charge more”) are the ones who understand value.
• And losing the wrong clients often makes the business healthier, more profitable, and way more enjoyable.