Warning Signs To Help You Identify (And Avoid) Problem Clients

For your business to succeed, you will need a steady flow of clients coming through your door (or your email inbox if you're entirely online).

When you have enough clients using your business, you will make more money, build up your reputation, and have the opportunity to grow your business.

In many ways then, your clients are the lifeblood of your business. 

But here's the things. Sometimes, your clients have the potential to be your biggest nightmare. If they are always on the phone to you with increasing demands, you will never get time to get work done. If they are late payers or refuse to pay at all, your business could run at a loss. And if they fire you, for no good reason at all, your reputation could take a knock.

Needless to say, you need to avoid these problem clients, as your life would be much better with people who will actually help you profit your business (and help you keep your sanity).

Here are the early warning signs of a bad client.

#1: They have unrealistic deadlines

As an expert in your field, you will know how long projects usually take to complete. A reasonable client will understand this and will negotiate a decent time frame with you. But if a potential client comes to you with a deadline that you know will be hard to meet, beware! You might burn yourself out if you try to stick with their demands, and you might have no time to care for the needs of your other clients. The client might also get angry with you if you don't make the deadline, and they could spread a bad word about you to others. So, try to negotiate a better deadline with them if you can, but if they won't give in, you might want to let them go. 

#2: They have a bad financial history

Business owners with a specific, legitimate purpose can find out the credit history of their prospective clients, so this is something you might want to look into. You might also want to check bankruptcy records, which might be something you have had to do already if you have had late-paying customers in the past. And it's for this reason that you do need to check on a client's financial history because if they don't have the funds to pay you, your business might run at a loss. So, carry out the necessary checks, and speak to people who may have had dealings with the client before. If you're worried they won't pay you on time (or at all), steer clear!

#3: You have a 'gut feeling' that they won't be good for you

"I've got a bad feeling about this," said Han Solo in Star Wars, and you might echo that sentiment when dealing with a prospective client. If they are vague about what they want, or if they come across as arrogant and seemingly 'knowing more than you do,' you might start to doubt them. You might also develop a bad gut feeling if you struggle to get hold of them when trying to get more details about what it is they want. Sometimes, you have to trust your gut, so if you're in any doubt, consider finding a different client.