Client Red Flags to Avoid in Your Design Business

It feels like yesterday that you started freelancing, doesn’t it?

Optimism was around every corner, just waiting for you to catch up. Every client was *definitely* going to love your work, and value your time. Of course, you didn’t expect every project to go perfectly, but you knew people were nice, and you couldn’t imagine that a project would ever go completely off the rails. (Right?)

But then… that one project went off the rails, and you wondered how in the world you even got yourself in that situation to begin with. As you later learned, not every client will be right for you. The question is, how can you avoid those not-right clients?

Well, we’ve been there a time or two. And we’re happy to share that we know of a few red flags that’ll help you avoid those clients that aren’t the right fit for you, your business, or your work style! The only challenge is that these warning signs can be easy to miss if you don’t know how to look for them - trust us, we’ve missed plenty!

In an effort to help you avoid bad-fit clients in the future, we’re sharing the top 4 red flags that we’ve come across and paid attention to over the years. Pin this blog, screenshot it, or email the link to yourself so you can easily refer back to it - whatever you do, just make sure to keep these 4 red flags on hand. 🚩

Our Top 4 Client Red Flags

Red flag #1: They’ve worked with multiple designers before. Or they complain to you about another designer that they’ve worked with in the past.

To be fair, this isn’t always a bad sign - maybe their last designer really didn’t do a good job. BUT it could also be a sign that they are a difficult client to work with. So, remain cautious!

If you encounter a client who complains about fellow designers, make sure to ask them to share more details about their past experiences.

Red flag #2: Their budget is super low, so they ask you to lower your rates or work for exposure.

Sure, maybe they’re just starting their business and they genuinely don’t have the income to invest in design - that’s totally understandable! But that doesn’t mean you automatically need to lower your rates to meet their budget. And if they ask you to work for exposure? RUN.

This trend of trading work for exposure in the creative world needs to go - if you ask any creative who has worked for exposure before, they’ll tell you that it’s *rarely ever* worth it. Even if they tag you on their brand account on social media and you get some new followers, it won’t automatically result in new work or income. You deserve to be paid for your time.

Red flag #3: They have an unreasonably short timeline for the project.

Good design takes time; your clients should respect that fact. Clients need to understand that you can’t always start with people or projects immediately. If the client expects you to be good at your job, they should also expect a waiting period!

Red flag #4: They are rude or don’t seem to take you seriously in your initial communication.

If the client gets on your intro call and gives you the feeling that they don’t value your time, that’s a huge red flag. Just think: if they can’t treat you with respect during a 30-minute call, how will they treat you throughout the course of a full project?

What to do when you notice those red flags

SAY NO. (Sorry for yelling!)

You do not have (or need) to say yes to every client that comes your way. Honestly, saying yes to everyone will only decrease the likelihood of you enjoying many of the projects that you work on. And as a creative, you need to prioritize working on projects that you’re inspired by, because that’s when you’ll do your best work.

Believe us when we say that we know that saying no in the beginning stages of freelancing can be difficult, or maybe even terrifying. Especially when you have bills to pay. So, if you need to say yes to some non-dream clients in order to cover your expenses, that’s okay! Just remember that you’re working towards having the freedom to explicitly say yes to dream clients in the future.

If saying no makes you feel guilty, remember that rejecting a project isn’t just beneficial for you - it’s also in the best interest of the client. By saying no to a project that you don’t feel aligned with, you’re giving that client an opportunity to find another designer who will be a better fit. Sometimes, saying no is actually the best way you can help them.

No is a good thing, we promise.

We hope you feel encouraged to practice saying no when you need to. If you’d like some guidance on how to handle awkward client situations, we have a guide for that! Download it here.