They can be a pain in the neck yes? They come in different ways. Mr complainer, Mrs screamer, Miss fault finder, oh please go ahead and name them, I am sure you must have worked with at least one of them.
There is however a strong need to ensure that in getting rid of them, you do not burn the bridges as they may be in a position to refer you someday.
I will share tactical ways to show annoying clients the door.
Give ample notice:
A 30-60 days notice is apt. Be careful as Mr complainer may suddenly become lovy-dovy. You must be firm and polite about your decision.
Referal always works:
Once you see the warning signs, you can refer them to a more suited partner that will be able to deal with their excesses. Be nice enough to tell your entrepreneurial partner all the issues you had with Miss Screamer.
Be Professional:
Keep it brief and straight to the point, A simple script like ‘Apologies, I am pretty much tied up in engagement and will not be able to deliver to your timelines’ is apt.
Increase prices:
This works magic every time. Penny Pinching Clients are always high maintenance. They do not want to pay for the value you bring onboard but demand more and more of your services. Just increase your price by over 100% and watch them walk through the door themselves while you heave a sign of relief.
Set the boundaries:
Noting that customer acquisition and retention are key to the growth of any organization before you cut them off, you must have gotten other clients to replace them. However, in the process of cutting them off, stick to the original terms of the contract and be wary of taking on additional jobs from the offending Client.
