We’re on our last week of June! (I don’t know about you,
but this month seemed to go by faster than most to me.) We’re going to close out this month with how to pull the trigger on deadbeat clients.
First off, I’m just gonna put this out there…make sure you can afford to drop a client. Sometimes it’s worth taking a risk, but it’s always better if you’ve put in some time to focus on your marketing and line up some replacements before you go cutting people loose.
Second, I need to say
that, before you even get to this point, your contract should outline a clean “out” if you as a freelancer decide you don’t want to work with a client anymore. (Mine gives me the option to give 30 days’ notice for any reason.) With that covered, let’s get to it!
Option 1: Raise Your Rates
Sometimes the best way to get rid of a client is to roll the dice on keeping them.
If a client just isn’t worth it, take the
opportunity to test increasing your rates. Worst case scenario, they’ll stay and you’ll be getting paid more for your headache AND you’ll know that you can likely get paid more for your work in the future. (Only do this though, if the increase will make it worth your time.)
Option 2: Set Boundaries
At the beginning of this month I told you about a client that kept calling on Saturdays.
What I could have done
with them (I didn’t…but just go with me here), was send an email or have a conversation letting them know my office hours. This will work with any gripe you have. You can simply confront it directly and let them know about your standards. For some clients, this might be difficult to pull off without something in writing, but at the very worst, it can get a conversation started around your parting ways.
Option 3: Pass them On
A great way to
avoid leaving any hard feelings is referring a client to another freelancer. That sends a strong signal that you care about their business and want to do everything you can to keep them happy. If you have a freelancer in your network who you trust, pass the work on. (Bonus points if you can help make the transition as easy as possible for your client.)
One thing I’ll recommend against is just ghosting or letting your work fall off. Either of those might leave you with a
damaged reputation (trust me, people in your niche talk), and that’s something no freelancer can afford. Plus, if your reason for letting the client go is temporary (such as a short-term health issue on your end or internal issues on theirs), you might want to come back one day.
Whatever you choose to do, just be up front and honest and you’ll have a much easier time building out a client roster that works for your
business.
Megan
P.S. Here are the Academy resources that you’ll want to check out this month…