Breaking Up With A Client
How and when to do it.
It sucks, but sometimes you have to officially break up with a client.
It could be because the client is trying to make unreasonable demands, not pay you, constantly ask for discounts, wants you to do things outside the scope of your role, or any other reason.
Just like when breaking up with a romantic partner, you do not need to have “bad enough” or specific enough reasons to break up with a client. If YOU are not comfortable with the relationship, that is enough of a reason.
When should you break up with them?
In an ideal world, you’d break up as soon as you were unhappy or uncomfortable with the relationship.
But this isn’t an ideal world, and we often try to “work it out” or think it will get better soon or justify that it’s “not that bad.”
As a freelancer and/or entrepreneur, you are your own best and sometimes only advocate. No client in the world is going to say, “You know what? I think we should pay you more.” They are advocating for themselves — trying to get the best deal, the best discount, the most bang for their buck.
It’s not your client’s job to justify your prices or know your value and worth — that is 100% your job.
Once you realize you’re getting taken advantage of, you’re allowing it to continue happening if you don’t stand up for yourself.
Standing up for yourself comes in many forms:
- Saying no to additional work for no additional pay.
- Having a conversation to let them know the price for any additional/different work.
- Not giving discounts on your already-reasonable prices.
- Not allowing clients to undervalue you by working more hours for no additional money.
- Not working anymore if they have not paid the last invoice.
- Walking away from the working relationship if you need to.
Your best option is to break up with a client as soon as you stand up for yourself and nothing changes.
Much like parenting or having any boundaries in life, you have to be willing to follow through. If you say, “I need you to pay the invoice for October before I can do any more work.” And then they don’t pay, you MUST stop doing any more work. If you keep doing work, then they win — why would they pay immediately if there is no reason or consequence? They now know they can delay payments and keep getting work from you.
Example 1:
If you say, “I have met the 10 hours per week we discussed this week and cannot do anything else until next week unless you pay for extra hours,” and then they come back with “Just write this one last email really quick!” DON’T DO IT. It doesn’t matter that it won’t take you very long or be difficult — you’ve set a boundary and a limit and unless you stick to it EVERY SINGLE TIME, your boundaries are meaningless.
If the client persists and pushes, then you know it may be time to break up.
Example 2:
If you raise your rates or realize a client is underpaying you, then have a conversation with them. If you say, “As of X date, my rates are changing to $x per word/article/project” and they do not agree to it, it might be time to move on. Or if they push back and try to push hard for a discount or to continue at the current rate, then you know it is not going to work for you.
How to break up with a client
It is completely normal to want to avoid confrontation or not anger a client. Hell, you may not even WANT to lose their business.
But if you’ve gotten too much pushback and are being taken advantage of, then you must.
Remember: You are your own advocate. You MUST do what is best for YOU and your business.
The money and time you are losing to a “bad” or pushy client could be better spent searching for and working for better ones. One who sees your worth and respects your limits — which, in most business relationships, they will have accepted and signed a contract agreeing to before you begin work.
For me, the best way to break up with a client is over email.
Here is an example of a breakup email:
[name],
Thank you for being my client for the last few months. I’ve enjoyed working with [company] and helping you craft articles and marketing emails for [product/service/website].
As we’ve discussed, I am not able to work for the current rate, as [my rates have increased/the work has gone up significantly/the invoice has not been paid/you are asking for a lot more of my time than we agreed on/the work has changed, etc.].
If you decide to [pay this new rate ($xx)/pay the invoice today and on time in the future/stick to the hours we agreed on/continue working only on XYZ], then I can continue working with you. According to the last [payment/agreement, etc.], my last day working on your project will be [date].
Thank you and best wishes in your business,
[name]
I sometimes offer to jump on a call, which I do for a few reasons: to clarify anything they have questions on, update them on the progress of whatever we were working on, let them know my last day, clarify if I will finish what I was working on before that day (if needed), and also to see what they have to say. After all, seeing that I am serious about sticking to my boundaries may change their minds.
IF it is a client I actually still want to work with, them changing their minds can be a good thing. If I am for sure done with them, then I do not need to have a call and can respond to that request with “I appreciate that, but I’ve decided it’s time for me to move on and I have other clients lined up, so I won’t be able to do that.”
Boundaries are important
Again, you are the only one who is truly looking out for your best interests and your bottom line. No one else can do it for you.
And if you’re going to be an entrepreneur, it’s important that you learn to say no — and utilize that powerful word regularly.
If you don’t stick to your word, then your word becomes meaningless, and that is certainly not what you want!
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