We all have that one client. You know the one I’m talking about.

 

This client feeds on good ideas and the souls of dreamers.

 

This client is mean and condescending, second-guessing every point of strategy you recommend, of which the end product will never be good enough.

 

This client is needy, sending multiple emails in waves of sentence fragments and non-sequiturs that make less sense than Donald Trump’s tweets at 3am.

 

When you see these emails, you become preemptively angry at the avalanche of crazy that is about to come barreling down on you with crushing weight.

 

Basically, this client is making life for you and your team a living Hell.

 

In my online course out in March, I’ll go over tactics on how to break up with a client from Hell, so that you can make room for clients who appreciate you and pay you more.

 

In the meantime, I thought I would share some tips on how to avoid clients from Hell altogether.

 

Because the best way to deal with a client from Hell is to say, “NOT TODAY, SATAN,” and never get involved in the first place.

 

 

 

There’s a difference between negotiation and being difficult. If you’ve been through several rounds of agreements, and you’re getting nowhere, it may be time to pass.

 

 

 

Sometimes, clients will ask you to mock something up without signing a contract. For instance, they’ll say, “mock up three logos, and we will see if we like one.” Say it with me: JUST SAY NO! Your time is too valuable for this. They basically want free work from you. You’re not getting paid on contingencies – you’re getting paid for your time.

 

 

“I don’t do email, I’m not available for a weekly check-in call.” These should be red flags. Creative projects are collaborative in nature. If they’re not available for basic communication and regular check-ins, your project is going to stall. More importantly, you may never get paid.

 

 

If they’ve already left a path of destruction with past freelancers or employees, or if they have a new contact person every week, they’re probably a client from Hell.

 

 

You ever get an email and you’re just like… whoa, this person is way too intense? Listen to that little voice inside.

 

 

Sometimes, people are just downright shady. If they’re asking you to do something that doesn’t feel right, stay clear of this person.

 

 

If they dismiss customer feedback, the people who are paying them, they are definitely going to dismiss your feedback.

 

 

 

Do they take up your time with a lot of back and forth? Do they need a lot of babysitting and hand holding? If yes, they’re literally sucking the life out of you, or what I like to call, a time wraith. Some times, these people don’t mean any harm, but they’re taking up space that you could be using more productively. 

 

If you’re dealing with a potential client who is raising some red flags, you have a choice to make: Either pass or take them on.

 

If you DO take them on, then I suggest quoting them higher than your standard hourly rate. Yes, they’ll still be a pain in the neck, but at least you’ll be getting paid to deal with them.

 

This is a subject I’ve touched on before, but I’m curious to know how you’ve handled clients from Hell in the past. No need to name names, but everyone loves a good horror story. Let it rip, and I’ll see you in the comment section below.