The rant!
I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure that just about everyone in our field, will eventually have a client, that has the audacity to ask if it's ok to "pay ya later". If you're anything like me, it's been a constant my entire career.
Well I don't let that crap happen anymore and haven't for a while. Hopefully I can help others to avoid this as well.
It boggles my mind that people think it's ok, to come and ask us to work for them and pay later or get it for discounted/free.
Would you go to a grocery store and ask the cashier, "Hey, can I pay ya back after I've eaten these groceries? I'll feel better about spending the money at that point. I promise I'll pay ya! or you could even have one of the steaks as payment!" or ask a construction worker, doctor, dentist, {insert every other career here}...
Forget that! No more π! Take a stand and show these people that we are to be taken serious and appreciated! We should be treated like any other profession. Don't come to us asking for free work, or a discounted price.
I'm sure some of you, this isn't that big of a deal and that is great! π Until it's not. π© Until you had a client who came through like clock work but then the one time you need the money, and you know they should be paying you around that time, they decide, ya know.. they've been so relaxed on pay that I think I'll just wait and pay them next month.
Now you're screwed! You put in the time, you did the work. You delivered on their deadline and dealt with the constant emails and request. All your hard work goes unseen. You're frustrated with them, with yourself for not demanding payment.
The solution
So what can you do about it?
Well, you have full control over this even if you think that it just can't be. You're the one who picks your clients. You're the one who chooses who to work with and when to work. You may not know it yet, but you are.
If you're in fear of losing clients, don't be. As of 2016, there were 7.53 billion people in the world. google and 3.2 billion people have internet in some manor google.
What's the point? The point is that if you have internet, then you have access to 3.2 billion people and how many of those are potential clients? Even if 1% of that is clients, that is still 32 MILLION!! Stop thinking that just because you only interact with a few people each day, that you don't have access to MILLIONS!
So if you are working for a client that you hate, or is mean to you no matter how good you are to them, then move on! If you can't afford to do it right away, then get yourself out there and find other clients first.
If you're afraid to upset the client (most of us are, which is why we take the bull**** ππ© the clients push on us), then slowly break off the connection. Let them know, hey I've got a lot going on and I will have to start winding down the project.
But what if the pay is amazing?! Is it worth you being stressed out, and crying at night? Is it worth not knowing if you can afford your trip this year? Or worst, your bills? Is it worth the long nights and you taking your frustrations out on those you love?
If you answered no to any of those, then get your shit together and cut ties!
My wife, has helped me with this a lot. She lets me know when I'm being an A-hole. If I get a client and they start taking to much of my time and/or demanding to much from me, I cut ties. Or she makes me! lol. βοΈ
Life is as awesome as you want it to be. You're strong and powerful. You are the one in control of your life! Not your client! Definitely not money!
I'm not saying to end your relationship with your client and then go find others. That would be risky. Money may not control your life, but you can't really have much of a life without money (at least these days you can't).
I'm saying, be self aware of what the affects of your current clients are having on your life. Where is your happy status, is it any of these? ππ‘π·π©ππ€―π±, if so then you need to make changes.
Take care of yourself, know that you deserve more. You are a great person and you need clients who treat you that way. Get the pay you deserve as well.
Not all days will be π¦'s and π¦'s but you will feel the difference, when you wake up and you're excited to work!
Start today, by assessing your current situation and come up with a plan. If you know you need to move on without your current client then get prepared!
Helpful plan
Here is a simple little list that may or may not help you. You can used your own steps if you rather.
1.) Find a mirror, look yourself in the eyes and state the following
- I deserve more!
- I'm awesome and should be appreciated!
- I am not afraid to ask for fair and on time payment.
- I can and will find the best clients
- I will politely stand my ground and let my clients know that either they have to adjust to my new requirements or I'll have to move on.
- I am ready to make a change!
2.) Get pen and paper, or an electronic device to take some notes.
3.) List the "bad clients" that cause the most discomfort (stress, self doubt, anger, frustration, so on) in your life, whether it be how they treat you, the amount of work they pile on you, the pay is not worth the effort, or the pay is not on time.
4.) Now make another list of ideas on how to find clients to replace those clients. If you're doing this right, then you will only need the same or less amount of clients to obtain your current income. Great clients are not worried about cost.
- business cards (they are cheap!)
- word of mouth, talk to your family and friends, current clients as well!
- social media
- google, how to find more clients
5.) Make the moves on using your new resource to find new clients, and find them!
6.) Assess your client situation. First tell them you need things to change, if they are unwilling to meet you at a place that makes you happy, then move to step 7.
7.) As you start to get new clients, and you feel that you are safe to lose a client that you listed on the "bad clients" list, then move to step 8, for each client as the time comes.
8.) Think of the type of client this is and how to best approach them to let them know you will no longer be working with them. Here are some of the things I've done in the past or would have done given the situation.
Helpful scenarios
Note: When cutting ties with clients, please protect yourself. Never damage work you've done with them, without items they've paid for or you agreed they could have (even if it's not fully paid yet), or lose your temper with them. They will do a lot to get under your skin and even more when they find out you're leaving them. But safe yourself a legal battle and don't stoop to their level. Leave your work documented and how the next person can take over. Leave all purchase/licenses with them unless it's documented that they do not own it. This will apply for all scenarios.
Mean client who yells at me:
I simple let them know that I have come in to a situation that will limit my time. I let them know I'm super happy to wrap up what I can on the project and try and help them find other resources to replace me. I then remove myself from this as quickly as possible. Once it's to a point that they understand I'm done on the project, I ignore all calls/text/emails unless it's something simple like their new dev/designer has a question. These clients will make you feel guilty or accuse you of leaving them in a hole they couldn't possibly get out of. Don't fall for it. Toxic people are going to do this.
Pushy client:
This client could be nice, mean or indifferent. They tend to push everything on you. They will dismiss what you say or pretend they didn't hear you. You could tell them, they I have to move on due to (insert excuse). They will completely ignore that and keep talking to you as if you never approached them. Or even give you more work on top of the existing load. You have to stand your ground and if the 3rd time of telling them doesn't work, well then that is their fault.
Guilt trip client:
This client can speak words that will have you feeling sad for them. Or believing they can't move on without you. They may tell you what you want to hear, or it could be how you are harming them. They will play in to your emotions just to keep you on board. Don't fall for it. It's plan and clear manipulation. Sorry to say, but you are not important enough in a clients life, that if you went away so would they. They are worst than the mean client, because they can guilt trip you and you may have no clue they are doing it! This one may take you a few tries to quit, you may get home and be eating dinner when you come to realize that "I'm still working for them! damn it, they tricked me".
Others:
Just be honest. Sometimes this is best policy. If they are willing to talk to you without anger, or pushing guilt on you, then they deserve the truth. Let them know you tried really hard to accommodate them but do to the reason (give them a simplified reason as to why) you just can't work with them any longer. You make feel like crap doing this, but afterwards you'll be proud of yourself and relieve that you broke ties.
This is the best way over all because it is a sold disconnection, you stood your ground and you gave them feedback the will hopefully help them be a better client.
Feedback/questions/grips?
I'm not the best at spelling, proper grammar and so on. Please feel free to correct me.
Disagree with something, that is great! We live in a world where we can have different opinions, list it in the comments and I'll possible add it to my post.
Have suggestions or stories, would love to hear them.
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
-- DeChamp.
Top comments (9)
Superior writing!
Love also this one: reddit.com/r/freelance/comments/8g...
Especially the part: "You're a business, not an employee"... cuz most people do freelancing with and contact people as "X person" instead of "Y business" and then nag about the client being an a**hole.
Thank you so much! I appreciate that!
Once I said a client, who was not responding for two weeks, that I would charge him $x.xx if he didn't reply me in xx:xx times. He reported it as a threat immediately, and my Upwork account was down the very next day.
I'm sorry to hear that. I am sure that will happen, but if you use a platform you have to keep those things in mind. I haven't ever used a platform, so I was not in risk of having it shutdown. It's sad that people can be spiteful.
When it comes to a platform, things get out of the control. Most of the platforms value investors, clients for us, rather than freelancers. It is always risky. It also hurts freelancer's reputation.
..and not everyone is lucky to have a wife as good as yours =)
I am, and she tells me right away that why I am behaving so bad.
That is very true! :)
thx for share ..