While this site isn’t really intended to be another freelance tip/advice website, I feel compelled to write this post (or maybe it’s just more like venting. You decide) to share with other freelancers and businesses looking to hire them.
As professional freelancers, we all love clients. The more clients we have, the more money we make, right? In theory, yes. In reality, perhaps not.
By now, you’ve probably been burned by a client or two, or have been stuck with a nickel-and-dime project that’s dragged on and on because you wanted the work for one reason or another.
In my years as a freelancer, I’ve had pretty good luck. Until recently, the clients I’ve worked with have faithfully paid their upfront retainer, and always paid their bills on time. This year so far, and we’re only 5 months into the year, I’ve already had a couple of deadbeats. One of whom met three of the criteria for firing clients that I talk about here.
While not all of these are necessarily grounds for firing a client (use your discretion. Me? I’ve dealt with enough b.s.), it’s a good idea to avoid any who resemble the following. If you’re new to freelancing, you’ll learn to identify these walking nightmares quickly.
1. No budget, no workie. Period. One of the first questions I always ask clients and prospects is if they have a budget. If there’s no budget, alarm bells sound. Yours should too. And if so-and-so’s brother-in-law’s girlfriend’s cousin can do it for them at bargain-basement prices, tell the client to hire them.
2. Projects that drag out for a long…long…long time. Ugh. There’s little more frustrating and demotivating than a client (or a client’s client) that just won’t wrap things up because they can’t get their crap together.
Part two to this point is be cautious of clients who need to get you information and/or research in order for you to do the bulk of your work. This can be one of the reasons projects drag on, and on, and on.
3. What the client has told you to quote on isn’t exactly what the project is. When the project arrives and it turns out to be a 90-page website with fresh content instead of the 25-page site edit and re-write the client had you quote on, Whoa Nelly! It’s time to go back to the drawing board.
4. Clients that go out and do things half-assed on their own when they’ve hired you to do the same thing (only not half-assed, of course). You’ll end up cleaning up their mess in addition to doing the original project. More than likely, you’ll do twice the work than what you originally agreed on.
5. Clients that are impossibly slow or late to pay, or don’t pay at all. This is my number one reason for firing clients, and there’s simply no excuse for this kind of behaviour. Freelancers are businesspeople, and we’re relying on that income to keep our business and households running. Note for would-be clients of freelancers: Pay your bill on time. It’s one of the key ingredients to a great relationship with service providers. Our creditors don’t wait, why should yours?
If you’ve been a freelancer for any length of time, I’m sure you’ve run into some lovely situations. Feel free to add to this list.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m dealing with #2 and #5 right now. I’ll never subcontract with VAs again. What a headache.
Nice additions Amy – and yes, I’ve had experiences with both as well! In fact, I’m working with a ‘Know It All’ right now who won’t listen to what I suggest or recommend and plows ahead with his own ideas. I might get to try my ideas but they’re short-lived – they get a couple of weeks at best for results before we’re back to the drawing board.
I find it’s odd that my expertise is why he brought me in, yet when his own stuff fails he searches out every other ‘expert’ and ‘guru’ going for advice and recommendations. It certainly does a number on your ego and confidence level…and believe me, there are definitely days I want to bang my head on a desk. Maybe even yours – move over, will ya?!
Great post Lisa!
I have 2 more to add to your list…
The Bill Lumbergh Client (boss from the 1999 movie Office Space). They are those narcissistic ones who dump these urgent projects on you that need to be done before Monday (because you have nothing else to do but make them happy). I had one of those when I first started out years ago, I was so desperate for clients I put up with it. Don’t act desperate for work – these clients will circle you like sharks.
The Know It All Client
These are the clients that hire you as the expert and argue everything you say (and I mean everything). I fired this client last month after a friend dropped by my office unexpectedly and mouthed the words “Who are you talking to and why where you banging your head on your desk???”