I Got More Business From My Client AFTER I Fired Him.


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We’ve all had THAT client. Communication is spotty, and when it happens, it’s cursory, never with the depth or breadth of information you really need. Getting information is like pulling teeth and getting approval or edits is even worse?

Well, I had one recently. Nice guy. Great business. Paid his 50% upfront without batting an eye. Loved the stuff I had already completed. But when this “three-week” project edged into its third month, after numerous efforts on my part to keep it on track, I was over it.

I wrote him a very nice, professional email stating the job we had agreed on (my project agreements always stress the importance of timely receipt of info, edits and/or approval), and detailing how things had gotten off track.

I explained that I just didn’t think that I was the right writer to continue the project. I told him I wished him well, but I was forfeiting the remaining 50% that would have been due upon approval and, if he wanted, I’d be more than happy to send the existing files and any necessary documentation to whoever he chose to continue in my stead.

Finally, I said I’d love to keep him as a client, and I outlined what that would entail on his part. This included going ahead and paying the 50% remainder in advance as a show of good faith, as this project was bleeding over into time I’d set aside for other projects, and affecting my ability to schedule other clients.

To my surprise, not only did he apologize for “wasting my time,” he sent me a check for the remaining 50%, and 1 week later we were done. Since then, he’s sent two referrals my way. And he just sent me a request for a quote on a new project (with a promise to be better about communicating in a timely manner).

I was fully prepared to walk away from this gig. Instead a $750 gig has turned into nearly five times that (including the referrals), all because I had the courage to fire him.

Take pride and stand up for yourself. Occasionally it pays of in more ways than one.

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