Comments on: 5 Signs It’s Time to Fire a Bad Client (And How to Do It)

By: bosslady

bosslady — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 23:35:32 +0000

One of my biggest mistakes with my last client was, that because I didn’t take enough care of my earnings, I couldn’t fire him when I’ve seen these signs the first time…
When you start working on a project for someone that you’re also really passionate about, and the client either doesn’t know what he wants, either wants things that I know I don’t work, or the worse that he kept forgeting everything I explained him… I had to stay with my mouth shut for 3 months while I was getting sick of the thought that he can call me at any time. Good lesson it was!

By: Patty

Patty — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 15:50:08 +0000

In 23 years of website client work and about 125 clients, I’ve fired about six or seven, always for very early/low level instances of the five things on this list. I basically have zero tolerance for any client who causes me significant anxiety and stress. I’ve always done the firing professionally and made sure they had everything they needed from me.

Some of them have been amazingly hapless and incompetent about it. Recently I gave one guy, a high-priced surgeon, 3 months’ notice, so he’d have plenty of time to find another website person. Contacted him again with reminders at 2 months out, at 1 month out, and at 2 weeks out, and each time he acknowledged the reminders, saying basically “AOK”. At 1 week out, I got a vague, childishly-written email asking if I could “just keep a very *small* website up, since we haven’t had time to hire a new person”, which of course I declined to do. As long as I’ve been fair, courteous and professional, I come out of these encounters feeling OK, but it’s never easy.

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 01:04:28 +0000

Practical advice and true. The biggest problem other than payment issues is the “no-spec” they are time consuming and frustrating.