Whether from personal experience or from what colleagues tell them, all freelancers are well aware that there are bad clients out there. Read how you can "manage" the clients out there. We've seen many blogs describing how to spot a bad client or project, or blogs encouraging freelancers to say "no" to bad clients.
However, there are no blogs that explain exactly how a freelancer can reject bad offers or evaluate potential clients. Turning down work is a lot harder than you think (as any freelancer who's ever accepted a bad project will tell you)!
Why is that, though? First, we are not used to turning down jobs. Everything about our freelance business is geared towards finding and attracting clients. Also, if someone is used to working in a traditional corporate environment, they may not be familiar with the idea of having complete freedom to say "no" to a client or a project.
For this reason, today we will provide you with 8 ready - and at the same time honest - answers that you can give when you are asked to deal with a project that you consider not suitable for you. (Because time is money, and no one wants to spend it on projects they're not going to take on.)
Answer #1: I'm very busy
Have you ever accepted a job even though you were already very busy? Probably yes.
It's easy to say yes to a project instead of saying no when you're already overwhelmed because:
- You may not have taken the time to really think about the project.
- You may not have done the necessary research on the client.
- You may be feeling overly "optimistic" about your business.
Better to avoid quick responses to new suggestions when you are busy. Try to put off the prospect until you've had time to really think about what they're asking you to do. Try saying something like this:
“My schedule is pretty full for the rest of the week. Can we talk about it on Monday?' — this is a very polite way to say "no" to bad customers.
If you've had time to thoroughly research the prospect and the project and you think it's not up to you, remember that being busy is a perfectly acceptable reason (and way) to turn down a job.
Answer #2: I'm not the best fit for the job
Sometimes you will be asked to take on projects outside of your specialty. It may be work that you do not know how to do or that you are not interested in doing. You might be tempted to accept just to keep the customer happy.
Don't do it
There are not a few freelancers who almost every time they accept a project outside of their specialty, they regret it. The best way to handle such a situation is to simply let the client know that this type of work is out of your area of expertise. You can also use Answer #5 and refer him to another freelancer.
Answer #3: I never take on a client without a contract
That statement alone turns away many bad customers in a heartbeat. We suggest that you establish this practice, and never close business with new clients without the corresponding contract or employment contract.
If a prospect refuses to formalize your partnership with the corresponding "paper", there is usually a reason. And 9 times out of 10, he's not good. For this, you need to learn to say "no" to bad customers — like the case above.
Answer #4: I never start without an advance
New freelancers are often hesitant to ask a client for money before starting work on the project. However, there is no reason not to ask for an advance. Professionals in many fields ask for upfront payment, and it's completely normal!
When combined with a contract, a down payment is not something that should scare a customer. On the contrary, it shows good faith on his part. You can also make the advance payment one of the conditions in your respective contract/contract – that is, work on your part will start when you receive the stipulated advance payment.
This "policy" also tends to drive away a lot of bad customers. If they hesitate to prepay a portion of the total amount, it may mean that they do not intend to really commit to the project. They might even be planning to prank you later.
Answer #5: Refer them to someone else
It's a good idea for any freelancer to network with other professional freelancers whose skills complement their own. That way, if a client asks you to write copy for their website, you can refer them to a competent copywriter.
Ask your contacts in related fields if they would mind if you occasionally send them work. Also, ask them if they could refer you which client needs services you can offer!
Answer #6: What you are asking is not possible
It's very likely that at some point in your freelance career, you've been asked to do something that really can't be done. There are usually 2 reasons why something can't be done:
- The tools don't support it. For example, a client might ask you to design a website and want its users to smell fresh cookies every time they enter. With current technology and tools, this is not possible.
- There is a legal or ethical problem. For example, a client might ask you to design a social media platform like Twitter. Of course there is a legal problem with creating a site that copies another.
In any case, you must be honest with the customer. If the tools don't support what he's asking, let him know. If there are likely to be legal restrictions, he should also be aware of that.
Answer #7: No answer
What most freelancers don't understand is that not responding is just another way of saying no.
Better to ignore spammy requests, i.e. requests that the sender may generally address as if they have sent them in bulk, as well as requests that appear to be a scam.
Answer #8: Sorry, I can't accommodate you
Don't forget that you don't have to explain in detail why you are saying "no" to a prospective client.
You may be going through a personal crisis that you don't want to share, but which is preventing you from working. Or, it may not be the right time to compose a "literature" response (as in the case of travel).
One of the good things about being a freelancer is that you can say "no" to work you don't want to take on, so don't hesitate to exercise this privilege!
