We are just beginning to see the end of one of the worst economic downturns in history and unemployment levels are at a record high. Sacking a client would be pure madness wouldn’t it? I’ve just done it.

For me, one of the highlights of freelance work is that I can pick and choose my clients, if I’m going to be spending my would-be spare time working I’d rather it be on a project that is as stress free as possible and a project that is enjoyable.

Sometimes the relationship between a designer and client just doesn’t work out, it can be for a number of reasons, here are just a few.

Lack of Interest

This is quite possibly my number one reason for sacking a client. Whilst I appreciate that you are busy and have other things to worry about; a lack of interest in the project just doesn’t help your designer deliver exactly what you want. By lack of interest I’m talking about missing deadlines for delivery of content or deadlines for approval of design concepts. As a designer, it can take days or weeks to create the design mock-ups that are presented to the client for approval, you then waste another couple of weeks chasing the client for feedback or sign-off so you can begin the process of building the site. The project is then behind schedule, meaning you either have to deliver the project late or rush the job to get it done on time. Neither are a good compromise, plus the extended time taken on this project is stopping you taking on new projects. However, I’m not saying that I want you to be overly interested and be on my case every other day….

Too Much Interest

You have just been through the design brief with a new client, you tell them that you will get to work straight away and get back to them when you have something to show them. The next morning you receive an email from the client asking to see what you have come up with so far – what do you show them; the sketches in your notebook? You let them know that you don’t have anything solid to show them and you’ll send something over once you do.

Later that evening you receive several emails, usually around the 10MB mark in size each. The client has asked their nephew/neighbour’s kid/colleague to come up with some design ideas to send to you as you are “struggling” to come up with any solid ideas. Can I have my inbox back please?

Changing the scope of the Project

You are just coming to an end of cross browser testing and are about a week from launch of the website. You receive an email or phone call from the client, saying that they have decided they want to be able to update the content themselves, add a blog to site and sell a range of products through the site. Suddenly the project has gone from a semi-simple static website to a full blown e-commerce site with full CMS. This wasn’t in the terms of your agreement, which you explain to your client. Turns out they don’t care and you won’t get paid unless you do it. Time to walk away!

They push your Ethical Boundaries

You have just taken on a new project, you’re really excited about it and have a million ideas running through your head. Laptop booted, you can’t wait to get started. A few hours later, you receive an email from the client:

Hi,

Just been looking through a few websites for ideas. Take a look at www.mycompetitorswebsite.com , can you just copy this site, put our logo on it and just change a few colours. You can take the majority of their content too, just switch their company name for ours.

Thanks,

Mr Client

I don’t think I need to say much more on this point, just take the design brief you completed, stick it through the shredder and let your little sister know you have some bedding for her pet hamster. Time to say an emotional farewell to the client, it’s been a pleasure, honest.

They don’t take your advice

You have told them repeatedly that a Flash Intro Splash page is not a good idea; the logo design they want won’t work as it relies too heavily on colour and isn’t scalable; they should think about cutting their homepage content considerably as its far too long; and that there’s no need for them to place the icon of every social media site ever created on the site. Every suggestion you make is dismissed, the client won’t listen to anything you have to say and you are simply someone who knows their way around Photoshop to bark orders at.

When working with a client who is inexperienced in web design, I feel it is part of my job to educate them and make sure that the final product doesn’t end up looking an unusable, inaccessible mess. Sure it would be easy to do everything they say, take their money and walk away, but I take pride in my work and simply don’t work this way. I’m not saying that unless a client accepts every one of your suggestions that you should sack them, but when it gets to the point where they don’t listen at all, maybe it’s time to move on.

Summary

Taking the decision to sack a client is never easy, and not a decision you should take lightly. This is the first time I’ve ever thought of doing it, let alone the first time I’ve actually done it. If you have a signed contract with the client and taken a deposit for the project (which I highly suggest you do!) it may become more difficult to sack the client for simply being difficult to work with. If they have and continue to breach the terms of your agreement however ,it may be a lot easier to sack them.