Throughout your freelance career, you will cycle through lots of different clients. Sometimes it happens naturally, but occasionally you might find yourself in a situation where you’ve outgrown a repeat client.

One general rule is to not burn bridges whenever possible. The motion design world is small and people talk. Preserve your reputation by treating people with respect. Even if the client is absolutely terrible to you, you can respectfully decline any project.

Step 1 - Decide whether you should try and negotiate or cut ties

​Reasons to fire a client. These go in order of “negotiable to cut ties”…

• The closer to “Cut Ties” your reason or the more reasons you have, you should consider cutting ties

• But if there are only one or two reasons closer to negotiate, consider asking for what you really want… more money, more creative freedom, more responsibility, etc.

• If they say no, then no worries, you were considering firing them anyway. And if firing is inevitable, move on to Step 2.​

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Step 2 - Fire your client with one of these methods

1. The I’m Busy Method

The next time that client tells you about another project, you reply with, “I currently don’t have availability to take this on, but I would recommend reaching out to Johnny Freelance.”

Note: if the client is truly a red flag client, you don’t have to recommend someone. You don’t want to throw your friends into a terrible situation.

After a while, that client will stop asking you to do projects for them.

2. The Direct Method

If you want to avoid playing the “I’m busy game”, tell them you are going in a different direction and will no longer be able to take on projects with them.​

You don’t owe anyone a reason for moving on.

Remember, you’re not doing this out of spite, but to set healthy boundaries for yourself and your business.​

Clients come and go. Sometimes they let you go. Sometimes you gotta let them go.
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Next time you have to do it, I hope this framework is helpful.