How To Spot A Bad Freelance Client And What To Do About Them

Freelancing can be a risky business if you have bad clients. If you want to make sure you get paid, and paid what you’re worth, you need to see the warning signs of a bad client before you agree to work with them.

Some clients are bad on purpose, while others are oblivious to what an inconvenience they really are. Here are a few signs to help you spot both types:

1. They’re vague

Communication is key to a positive client relationship. The more details they can give you about the project, the better you can cater the work to their needs.

That’s the problem if a client is vague. They don’t know what they want, and they don’t give you much direction. Sometimes, you can deliver something perfect that they’ll be happy with. But in most cases, they’ll only figure out what they actually want after they see your finished project.

Clients like this almost always want revisions, wasting your time and the value of the project for you.

2. They micro-manage

This type of client is one that doesn’t seem to trust you to do your own job. They want to be involved in every step of the creative process. Say a client requests an outline, revised outline, draft, and revised draft of a writing project. If they hired you to write a book, that’s reasonable. If they hired you to write a 700-word article? Not so much.

Keep in mind that the more involved a client is in your work, the more time it will take you to complete it.

3. They change the game

Say a client gives you clear instructions to design a simple, 10-page website with HTML. You quote a price and agree on the terms. Then later they start shooting you emails. They want to add 2 more pages. And can you do the schema markup for them?

In the freelance world, this is called scope creep. They keep adding new tasks to the project that seem like no big deal, but they add up. After you’ve finished the project, you realize you should have charged double for the work you did.

4. They don’t like to pay up

This is probably the scariest type of client you can come across. So many novice freelancers fall into the trap of agreeing to payment after submission. Then the client never follows through. Or they pay a portion, 3 months late.

Coming across a client who’s reluctant to pay a percentage in advance is a red flag. It means either they don’t trust you can deliver the right work, or they never had plans to pay in the first place.

5. They’re forgetful

Your client could be a nice person and pay you well. But if they’re forgetful, they’re still a bad client.

A forgetful client may ask you to include a new element to a project, then later ask why you did that. Then you’re stuck sifting through old emails to prove to them that they asked you to.

A forgetful client can also think they paid your invoice when really they didn’t. And again you have to do the dance to prove them wrong.

All this wastes your time, and doesn’t earn you any extra money.

What to do about bad clients

Here’s what you should do if you find yourself working with a bad client:

1. Set boundaries

If a client wants to micro-manage your projects, try to set boundaries. Tell them straight out you’re not available for a 3-hour phone call to brainstorm their logo design, but you’re happy to make revisions if the finished product doesn’t suit their needs.

2. Charge extra

Tow a hard line, and don’t agree to a single piece of extra work unless they’ll pay you for it. If you do something for free one time, then the expectation will be that you’ll always do it.

3. Insist on advance payment

There’s no way to know if a client plans to cheat you out of your money. To avoid inadvertently working for free, always insist on advanced payment. Or you can use a tool like Escrow to hold funds for you until the project is complete.

4. Tell them they’re a bad client

Many clients might not realize they’re being a pain. Sometimes, all you need to do is tell them that they’re being too vague on project guidelines, or they’re too controlling. Some clients will get angry, but others will take it in stride and improve their behavior.

5. Don’t ignore your gut

In many, many cases, no matter what you do, a bad client is a bad client. It’s better for you to be picky and refuse to work together than deal with someone who’s difficult. So don’t ignore your gut.

As a freelancer, time truly is money. No matter the circumstances, you can’t justify working with clients who waste it.

Written by Abdullahi Muhammed for FORBES