5 Lessons I Learned From My Worst Freelance Client

Don’t force yourself into these sticky situations

I’d had enough.

It had already been 3 months. I had completed their new website in the first month and a half. I even did their copywriting. And I don’t mean just their front page — this included building and writing copy for a form so long, scrolling through it felt like a marathon.

As someone with a background in human-centered design, being tasked with this was torture. However, try as a I did, I simply couldn’t convince them otherwise. If you‘re a freelancer, failing to convince a stubborn client with bad taste is likely a situation you have dealt with before. Otherwise, consider yourself lucky if you have only worked with good clients.

With this client, I was on the verge of a breakdown. How could someone be so incapable of sticking with anything? And what insanity did I manage to get myself into? With time, I was able to course-correct when I realized some of the self-sabotaging choices I was making.

Mistake#1: Not setting limits or providing a timeline

Clients don’t know how long anything will take. They assume you’re the expert and you know. Take advantage of this, because you are in control.

If only I’d known this sooner. My fellow freelancer, this is the most important thing you’ll do-providing a timeline for the project. Fail to do this, and you’ll end up where I did — an endless cycle of editing to suit constant changes. I didn’t do this at first, instead of providing a loose estimate for the timelines and assuming that the project would go smoothly.

Here’s what you can learn from my mistakes:

• Set limits or cutoff dates on the number of edits a client can request. This prevents the project from wearing on you while working with picky clients.
• Set contact hours. Provide them with limited hours they are able to contact you. You’ll need this one for your sanity.
• Charge the client for future requests after your established cutoff date. This prevents the client from taking advantage of your time.

Mistake #2: Taking on too much at once

Taking on too much at once can manifest itself in many ways. As a freelancer, it can be:

• Scheduling meetings during non-work hours
• Trying to respond to every email that the client sends every day
• Not asking the client to clarify something they requested to be edited, and instead of trying to read their minds

When the project started, I was set on being the go-to guy for all questions and concerns at all times. This was self-sabotaging because I didn’t set contact hours (refer to Mistake #1.) And, since I didn’t make these boundaries clear, my client didn’t have the slightest idea when it was inappropriate to contact me.

I would often schedule client calls on weekends, not evenings considering the fact that I should rest during that time. I made it my goal to respond to every email they sent, even if it kept me up late into the evening. I stopped prioritizing my own relaxation and rest.

While it is a fact that everyone needs their space, you can’t expect clients to read your mind, either. This is why you must always make it clear to future clients how much you’ll be willing to take on at any given time.

You can do this by clarifying a time when you’ll stop answering emails or handling requests. Doing so shows the client that you not only respect your time but that you have other matters to attend to.

Mistake #3: Offering “Everything”

Everyone wants to be great at everything, but that’s simply not possible. It’s also a serious mistake if you’re a freelancer.

I made this mistake because I tried to be great at everything.

At first, the client asked if I was capable of building the website, configuring form automation, writing copy, editing photos, and setting up the domain. I quickly said yes to all of these. Why turn down an opportunity to learn? I thought.

I quickly retracted that thought once I realized just how much of a pain it was to deal with the client’s constant requests for changes. I hadn’t even completed the design portion of the assignment, and even through that, the client had proven to be too demanding. I had to cancel my original offering of configuring the form automation.

Offering everything, in the beginning, didn’t benefit me in the end after all.

Don’t do what I tried (and failed) to do. Try sticking to a skillset and do really well with it. Whether that’s website design, branding, business management — find one thing that works for you, become an expert, and from there, you can charge as much as you want after building a solid client base. And turn down offers from clients that expect you to offer everything — work on what interests you, and let them hire the talent to handle the rest.

Mistake #4: Getting ahead of myself

It’s one thing to be a go-getter with the initiative to take action. It’s another thing when a failure to communicate wastes precious time.

I failed to do this when taking the website domain live before the client had given me permission, assuming that the project was completed. The result? I had to go back and revert everything back to the way it was before because the client did not specify that they needed that done at the moment.

Pro-tip from my experience: the key to a good client experience is communication, communication, communication — and it is a must.

Communication is a thankless job because it’s something that is inherently expected — not just in your relationships, but in your business matters. While your clients won’t thank you for it, you’ll definitely save time and needless headaches.

Mistake #5: Not knowing my worth

“That’s a bit too expensive for our organization to cover…”

This phrase should have made me realize the kind of client I was working with, and the conversation should have ended there with me firmly stating my original rate.

Instead, I gave in and lowered it.

If there’s one thing you can learn from this interaction between my client and I, it’s this: lowering the rate you charge clients for your services lowers their expectations of you. You essentially become the “discount freelancer” — the kind of freelancer that appears desperate for a quick buck and will do anything, anything to win the client over, so long as they pay in the end.

While my decision felt like the right thing to do in the moment, it was people-pleasing, plain and simple. It set me up for failure and frustration in the end. I felt devalued for the entire remainder of the project.

Clients who complain about pricing don’t appreciate what you have to offer, and therefore don’t deserve it. Value yourself, and the right client will value your work.

I’m actually thankful for this (terrible) experience

I told the person who referred the client to me that despite how terrible this experience was, I was actually thankful. The look she gave me was priceless.

She immediately replied that I had “the most positive disposition ever.”

I suppose “the most positive disposition” is a good way to put it. Other ways to describe my gratitude could have also be labeled as “crazy” or “masochistic”.

But hear me out: working with bad clients is actually the best way to learn what not to do as a freelancer next time. Given that not all freelance projects will go smoothly, you’ll have a bad experience for every series of smooth ones. Bad clients teach you what good clients can’t — and that’s how to deal with the unexpected changes, the frustrating last-minute requests, and the seemingly never-ending hell that is the elusive “deadline” you didn’t set (because you didn’t want to seem too harsh).

As a freelancer, you’ll encounter situations that force you to stand your ground. Even if you’re a grade-A people pleaser, there will be that one client that drives you so mad that you do it just to keep sane. That pushback is good — it means that you’re beginning to set your own boundaries.

Your worst client might just be a phone call or email away, but don’t let that deter you from doing what you do best. Learn from the bad client as I did, and you’ll come to realize that it’s gratitude — not misanthropy — that wins in the end and defines your road to future success.