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Every freelancer has high-maintenance clients, it comes with the territory. There comes a time in the life of your business, that in order to grow you have to cut ties with old clients to make room for the new.

First let’s draw some boundaries. There are a lot of difficult people out there who need a lot of hand-holding, but this does not make them immediately expendable.  If you’re having problems with a client, it’s best for you to explain what the problem is and work for a solution.

Really bad things:

There are some actions that can be considered completely unacceptable, here are a few.

Not Paying
This goes without saying: If they stop paying, you stop working

Spec Work
It doesn’t matter how cool it will look in your portfolio, don’t do it. You’re a professional and have worked hard to get there. If you set the precedent that you will work for free it will be expected on ever project going forward.

Abusive behavior
Everyone gets stressed out from time to time so some frustration is acceptable. What is not acceptable is a mean or threatening client. Little threats will lead to bigger ones down the road, don’t give in.

Troubling behavior:

There are some red flags that might not be grounds for immediately releasing a client but they are factors to take into consideration before working with them again.

Paying late:
Waiting 30 days for payment is a standard amount of time. If a client is habitually late, it’s a sign they don’t respect you and your work. It could also be a sign that your client is in financial trouble.

Work outside the scope of the proposal:
A good clear proposal will keep, what is often referred to as “Scope Creep”, in check and allow you to add to the estimate as the project grows. Other things to keep track of are time spent on the phone, writing explanatory emails, needless revisions and traveling to unnecessary meetings. Be sure to articulate what the deliverables will be as well as what each task entails.

You’re the scapegoat
Freelancers often take the blame for failed projects since they are not in the office to defend themselves. This also hurts your reputation. Taking the fall when you’ve done nothing wrong is big red flag. You might want to get out before you are kicked out.

Annoyances:

Sometimes valuable clients are frustrating to deal with. They might pay well or you might be getting some really good portfolio pieces.  Here are some concerns that may not warrant ditching your client but could be used to bolster your argument.

It’s just bad work
A very wise designer once told me that his best advertising is a successful project. If you’re being asked to make changes that degrade the quality of your work then you may be better off looking for clients that will improve your portfolio.

Disorganization
Last second or immediate requests are a killer. They not only take away from the quality of your work but they also disrupt the time lines of your other projects.

Working in a vacuum
Often times unnecessary changes and obstacles come from unseen bosses. If your working for a contact within an organization it’s a good idea to get to know the people your contact works with so your not left with a handful of unfinished projects when they head for greener pastures.

Turning down better work
If you are turning down better work to fulfill obligations to a bad client it’s time to reassess your priorities.

I’m ready to do it.

“I’m going to fire my client, how should I do it?” One word, PROFESSIONALLY. It’s common sense, I know, but at the end of a draining project frustration can build up. As  mentioned above, it’s best to communicate problems with your client as they come up instead of letting them linger. Your client shouldn’t be blindsided by your decision. Don’t forget, clearly communicate why you are choosing to discontinue work with them.

Avoiding emails or phone calls will put more stress on you.  Be upfront.  Come up with one good reason (ie: I’m losing money on these projects or I’m not happy with the quality of work I’m doing and I’m not a good fit for your company). Be ready to give examples but don’t bring up a laundry list of grievances, only bring up points relevant to your primary reason.

Things to keep in mind:

Try to finish the project you’re working on.
You don’t want to get a reputation of being someone who bails at the first sign of trouble. Bad news spreads quick. In some cases you might be bound by a contract, so be sure you are fulfilling that contract.

Burning bridges
Letting go of a long time client may leave some hurt feelings. We are professionals but we are also people and rejection stings. You will probably burn that bridge; so be certain you’re ready to defend this decision because you’ll probably never be able to go back.

Tags: clients, freelancing