Remember when we first started out in business, we were all energetic and our desire to get clients so overpowering –we wanted to help everyone.
Then as time went on and we had engaged a few clients that were quite time consuming and not appreciative of what we do for them. They began to wear us down in terms of energy and desire to go that extra mile. We may avoid their calls and not give them 100% of ourselves. Why would we when we don’t get the responses we need from them?
I was guilty of this too.
And then they refused to pay us.
So we did all this work, tried to keep them happy for as long as we could. Often went that extra mile to make things right (because we often blamed ourselves for their behaviour). Wrote off many hours because there was no way we could have charged them the hours we spent on their work. Worked without invoicing them regular invoices and then they didn’t pay us.
So the way I see it we have two choices:
- Continue to work like this with those ‘crappy’ clients OR
- Change the way you work
Here are a few suggestions that might help you change the way you work with these clients
Number one, which is very crucial, is communication.
Let them know from the start of you recognising they could be a problematic client how you will work with them.
Number two, is consciously remove yourself from the stress they are creating.
Number three, replace these clients as soon as practical.
Number four, identify the traits of a ‘crappy client’
Running a business is so much more than bookkeeping for wonderful clients. It is time to pull up your big girl/boy pants and make some tough decisions for the development of your healthy business – because you deserve it.
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