Today, for the first time, we blocked a client.
From day one, we stayed professional and respectful. The website was approved at every milestone. We even gave a discount because the client’s budget was limited.
Every requested revision was completed.
Our policy includes one month of maintenance after delivery to fix any issues. Three months later, the client came back with new requests, and we still completed them for free. Today, months later, they returned again asking for more changes. We quoted less than half of our normal hourly rate simply because they were a returning client.
The response we received was enough.
Looking back, the client had been rude throughout the entire project. We kept telling ourselves it was probably just a language barrier. It wasn’t.
Here’s what we learned:
Never let a client speak to you with disrespect.
The cost of working with the wrong client is far higher than the money they pay you. It drains your energy, your confidence, and your love for the work.
At the time, we were new to the platform where this project came from. We accepted it because we wanted the experience and the completed order on our profile.
Six months later, one message reminded me that some projects simply aren’t worth taking.
Not every client deserves access to your time.
Sometimes the most professional thing you can do is say no — or, if necessary, block them and move on.
Have you ever had to fire a client? Or did you keep trying to make it work longer than you should have?
