Bad Freelance Clients and What To Do About Them

I rarely break up with freelance clients over bad behavior. It’s been years since I’ve had to pull the plug and call it quits, but it does happen. When it does, I try not to blame the client, even if they are being difficult. Instead, I blame myself for ignoring the red flags.

My Bad Freelance Client

For instance, the last time I had to “cut and run” was with a client who told me outright that they didn’t like working with freelancers. They mentioned they had fired the last freelancer and didn’t fully trust remote work, but were forced to do so because, well, it was 2020, and you know how things were.

For some crazy reason, despite their warning that they didn’t trust me from day one, I took the contract anyway. From that point on, I couldn’t seem to please them. They were disorganized, indecisive, and disrespectful.

That seemingly never-ending contract drained my emotional energy and time for the next six months until I finally worked up the courage to fire them.

To be clear, ending a client’s contract earlier than planned is something I try to avoid. I strongly believe in resolving issues through good old-fashioned listening and customer service. Terminating a contract early is inconvenient for all parties and should be avoided unless it starts to negatively impact your mental health or other aspects of your business. No contract is worth that cost.

Red Flags for Bad Clients

This is why, over the years, I’ve worked to prevent these bad interactions in the early stages by learning to identify common red flags and problematic traits that these clients often share. Stopping a problem before it starts is always easier in the long run.

Just remember, to err is human. You will make mistakes along the way, but the key to growth is learning from them so they don’t happen again.

1. It’s always a “rush job”

Rush jobs happen; it’s part of life. Sometimes a client is even willing to pay a higher rate or a rush fee to push their project to the top of the pile. However, I refuse to take on rush jobs with a brand new client. This can be a sign that rush jobs are the norm for them, indicating poor planning and disorganization.

Mutual trust is one of the most important aspects of a healthy client relationship, and it takes time to build. Rush jobs with new clients are the business equivalent of a trust fall with a stranger. I prefer not to start a new relationship under a pressure-filled situation, nor do I want to wind up in a relationship where rush jobs become routine.

And when I agree to rush jobs with established clients, I always charge accordingly.

2. They ask for cheap—or worse, free—work

Free work is problematic for several reasons.

The most obvious issue is that you’re not getting paid, which is never good for your bank account. Secondly, it devalues your work and time in the client’s mind. Lastly, on some platforms like Upwork, it’s against the Terms of Service.

I don’t immediately hold it against prospective clients when they ask for cheap work or free strategy sessions before engagement. They may not know any better. I’m always happy to provide a brief project overview and direct them to my portfolio for case studies and examples of my work. However, my knowledge and expertise are just as valuable as my ability to execute tasks, and when offering those services, I expect to be paid.

3. The “bait and switch”

Most experienced freelancers have encountered this tactic. The client claims to have a healthy budget, so you take the job. But before long, the client backtracks and says they can only afford to pay a fraction of the advertised rate.

For me, this is almost always a deal-breaker. Deceptive actions like these are early warning signs that the client may not be entirely honest. In short, it’s a huge red flag.

4. The client brags about “firing the last freelancer”

If this seems oddly specific, it’s because I’ve fallen for it more than once. I always convince myself I’ll fare better than the “last guy.”

High turnover, especially when the client is proud of firing people, is usually a reflection on the client, not the freelancer. If a client mentions they’ve fired previous freelancers or cycled through several, it could indicate mismanagement, unrealistic expectations, or unprofessional behavior.

When in doubt, ask follow-up questions about what went wrong to avoid becoming another notch in their freelancer-firing belt.

5. A lack of trust and respect

A lack of mutual respect is another instant deal-breaker for me. It can present in many forms.

It could be blatant, like name-calling or belittling, or more subtle, such as a client who becomes short-tempered or dismissive. As a woman in business, I’ve often received disrespectful comments or awkward jokes about my appearance or age.

These situations can be frustrating, but as a business owner, it’s important to keep your cool. However, that doesn’t mean you have to tolerate it. One of the perks of self-employment is the ability to say “no” to a rude client or to fire a problematic one.

When I see signs of disrespect early on, I simply thank the client for their time, inform them that I’m not the right fit for the job, and wish them well.

Always remember: as a freelancer, you are not an employee—you are a professional service provider, and you should always be treated as such.

6. A bad gut feeling

Finally, the biggest red flag of all: a bad gut feeling. At the end of the day, everyone has their own list of potential red flags. What may be a deal-breaker for one person might not be for another.

If you’re unsure whether you and the client are a good fit, trust your intuition. It will rarely lead you astray.

How to Get Rid of a Bad Freelance Client

If you’ve found yourself trapped in a toxic situation with a bad client, there are a few ways to get out of it. Some of my favorite methods include:

• Use the contract: End the agreement as outlined in the termination clause of your contract.
• Raise your rates: Increase your rates to a level you know the client can’t afford.
• Referrals: Refer them to another freelancer or service.
• Come up with an excuse: Tell them you’re pivoting the business or going out of business.

What to Do if a Client Hasn’t Paid

If a client refuses to pay, the first thing to do is refer to the payment terms in your contract and remind the client of their obligations.

If there’s no contract, or the client isn’t adhering to it, consider filing a claim in Small Claims Court or consulting legal counsel. Many lawyers offer a free discovery call to assess whether you have a case and guide you through the mitigation process. In many cases, the issue is resolved before reaching court—you’d be surprised what a strongly worded letter from a lawyer can accomplish.

Editor's Note: One of my freelance friends, Brooklin Nash (@realBrookNash) recently hired Cape Justice – a service designed for small business and indepedent contractors – over a similar dispute and seemed pleased with their service.

What are your red flags for bad clients? Let me know in the comments below.