You might view this as a chance to get some experience negotiating. Talk with them more to see if there is something to sway you more in a direction. The least

You might view this as a chance to get some experience negotiating. Talk with them more to see if there is something to sway you more in a direction. The least to come out of it is a chance to practice a skill that almost everyone sucks at. When negotiating show up with a basket of items that can be on the table. Extra time off (vacation/personal), company paid training, company time to work on pet projects, travel to conferences, better computer/software, small budget for discretionary purchases, assistants or interns, business paid internet to home, etc. They might be truly stuck on the pay issue but there may be something that can make your job easier given the extra responsibility or recognize that this is a promotion. Flexibility on what you are willing to take helps keeps the negotiation conversation going and gives them something to work with. Make up a package that suits you and bring it to them (something that really suits you not something you think they will accept). Have them respond and see if they come up with any new ideas. Then go through the rest of the process; pros and cons, selling yourself vs letting down the company, other issues everyone dwell on to come to a decision like this. edit: When putting together your package, include a pay increase even though they already said it was not possible.