5 Signs of A Bad Client

Good clients are those that have an organized project, communicates often, and pays at reasonable rate. These clients are often hard to find because bad clients outnumber the good ones. Bad clients spread all around job searching websites like spam mail.

Bad clients are not hard to detect. You just need to know the signs.


Let us keep ourselves from working in these kinds of clients by following these signs:


1. Unreasonably cheap.
$1 per hour for a freelance job that you know can take so much effort such as web design is very cheap. Clients often targets freelancers working in third-world countries, like in the Philippines because they know we accept jobs even if its less than $1 because of a higher exchange rate.

2. Asks for a free work.
You'll know if it's a free work when during the application, a client asks for samples other than your portfolio, like for example asks for 5 articles based on the topic the client provided, or a code for his website or software. Or your client lets you do some things before he consider hiring you for the project then leaves once the job is finished.

Do not work for peanuts

This is also known as spec work.

3. Adds a new task other than what was in the contract.
Your contract, based on what your client offered was only to write articles then suddenly, your client changes the contract and asks you to web design without any increase in your rate is a sign that he wants the project to make more than what you are paid to work for.

4. Does not communicate often.
Communication is crucial for every project. It is to better understand what a freelancer must do and how the client wants it to be done. If your client takes 3 days or more to answer your questions about the work, or does not reply often if you have suggestions or anything, it means that your client does not care much about his project. Which means in time, he won't care about you.

Which leads us to the fifth sign:

5. Delays Payments.
Your contract says that you will get paid every week. If your client delays payment most of the time, it is usually a sign that the project is failing. If you don't end your contract immediately, you will risk non-payment.  Usually, this incident happens on fixed-priced jobs(project based) and forums but rarely happens on freelance marketplace because incidents like these allow you to file for a dispute.

Delayed/Missed Payment is Very Frustrating

What about you? Have you encountered these signs? Share your experiences by leaving us a comment.

Posted in: spec work, tips