When you are working as a freelancer, you might think that all clients should be hung onto for dear life. But that isn’t always a good idea.

Certainly, you want to have enough clients to pay your bills. And you want some diversification to ensure that, if one of your clients went away, you still had enough in your portfolio to sustain your business.

That said it may seem counterintuitive to say that sometimes you have to fire a client, but it is so true. Working with a client who costs you money or mental well-being is not worth the time and talent you are putting into your work for them.

So how do you know it’s time to send a client packing? When they…

• Consistently pay late or don’t pay at all.
• Make unreasonable demands and lack boundaries, like expecting you to drop everything (including your other clients) to work on their projects, give little to no lead time but expect an immediate turnaround, or call you late at night.
• Are rude or disrespectful.
• Give you reason to have moral concerns because they are asking you to do things that are illegal, unethical, or otherwise against your values.
• Are unwilling to compensate you fairly, and your investment of effort is not getting an appropriate return to make it worthwhile.

So, how do you tell a client for whom you are freelancing that it is time to part ways?

• Review your contract and make sure you understand the procedures you must follow in order to sever your relationship.
• Give them the appropriate notice.
• Be honest but polite. Example: “I have realized that I am no longer a fit for your needs.”
• Wrap up anything you promised to complete.
• Document everything in writing to leave a paper trail that demonstrates you were professional and you are leaving on good terms.

Sometimes what won’t work for you is the ideal situation for someone else, and you might be tempted to offer referrals of other freelancers for the organization to consider as replacements for you. Do that only if you are comfortable that you won’t be sending a successor into an untenable situation, one you yourself just fled. And give the person you are referring a heads up on your concerns so that they can make an informed decision. 

Recognizing that your relationship as a freelancer to one of your clients isn’t working is a normal part of doing business. It doesn’t make you bad or a prima donna. What it makes you is a smart businessperson who wants what is best for themselves AND what is best for the client. If it’s not a win-win, it’s time to move on.