If there’s one thing service providers aren’t prepared for when they start their own business, it is the fact you won’t be able to serve every client that comes your way. There will be those who drive you up the wall, making your life a living hell… to say the least.

While it is easy to hate a problem client, realistically speaking you can’t expect to get along with everyone you meet (and vice versa) and clients being people too, are no different. So how do you tell them off without being nasty yourself. These strategies might help.

How To Tell Clients That’s Not What You Do

Sometimes you take on a job fully knowing you are capable of producing. But somewhere along the line, the client piles on other work and expects you to complete it not knowing they require quite a different set of skills. If that’s not part of the services you offer, let them know the scope of your expertise and services. Even if you are perfectly capable of doing the additional tasks, I’ve found it useful to still let the client know.

For example, a client wanted us to add a signup box to their blog once. Which is no big deal but they also wanted an attractive signup design with nice graphic buttons. We are techies, not graphic artists. While we do our own graphics for certain things and are capable of doing a simple button, we let them know that we aren’t graphic artists, we don’t have all the right tools and the outcome may not be what they are looking for. We can try but if it falls below expectations, they should contact a real graphic artist.

This helps the client adjust their expectations. At the same time you are firmly asserting that it not something you do regularly, this can be considered a favor and there may not be a next time. Also, it helps if you have a referral on hand for someone who can expertly complete that portion of the task.

How To Tell Clients You Have A Life Too

It is sad that we hear many stories about clients not respecting a service provider’s hours, expecting them to work around the clock, on weekends and holidays even, without extra pay. But it happens far too often. That’s why it is often good to post your hours on your site or state it clearly before beginning a project. But in the event this was not done, there’s still hope. One of things we do even when we receive an email with impossible to meet deadlines is to tell the client frankly.

Example: “Our time is currently booked by another client and the next available slot is ____. We can start work on it then. Would that time frame work? If not and you’d like to rush this job, our rush fee is ____. If that’s still not acceptable, we regret we will have to turn down this task. Perhaps our friend ____ may be available to help you this time.”

99.9% of the time, clients say “Yes that’s an acceptable time” because they don’t want to pay extra and they realize that they have boxed themselves in time ways. Now that they know they can’t bully you into rushing a job due to their bad planning, next time they will be more careful… or at least we hope so.

How To Fire A Client

There is no helping it. Some clients, despite your best attitude and firm reminders still don’t get it. It might be time to tell them goodbye. The best way is to be short, to the point and respectful. It could be as simple as tell the client that you can regret you can’t meet their requirements and for everyone’s best interest, you believe it best to terminate the relationship after ___ (state end of job/task/time). If you have someone you can refer them too and whom you know is a better fit for the client’s personality. Pass the information along.

In all scenarios, be respectful. Don’t attack them even if their behavior is terrible. Deal with the situation not the person and keep your temper. It is often better to come back to it after taking a break and not hammer out a response immediately.