I run a small landscaping business and had to let go of a client today. They were constantly disputing invoices, demanding extra work for free, and being rude to my crew. It got to the point where my guys didn't want to go to their property. I sent an email ending the contract. Feel relieved but also guilty because the income was steady. Anyone else dealt with this?
Customer Issues
I had to fire a customer and it wasn't easy
Firing a customer is tough but sometimes necessary. I had to do it once for similar reasons. The relief outweighed the lost revenue pretty quickly.
Good for you for protecting your crew. Not worth the stress.
How did you word the eqmail? I always worry about being too blunt or too soft.
I kept it professional, just said we're unable to continue services due to ongoing issues with scope and payment. Didn't ger into details. They replied with a nasty email but I didn't engage further.
That's the right approach. Don't get dragged into a back-and-forth.
I had a customer like that in my cleaning business. She would always find something to complain about to get a discount. Finally I told her we weren't a good fit. She was shocked. But my stress levels dropped immediately. The losf income hurt for a month, but but then new clients filled the gap. Stick to your guns.
It's amazing how much energy bad clients drain. We spend so much time trying to please them and it's never enough.
Did you have a contract? Just curious if there were any legal issues.