Throughout my freelance career, I have met many different types of clients. Some of them consciously step on my toes, but most of them are really nice professional people who make the working relationship all the more pleasant from the very beginning. I’ve come to realise that there are 5 things that clients should never say to a freelancer – simply because when clients utter these words, it shows that they don’t treat the freelancer as a professional. And mind you, freelancers are professionals in every aspect of their job.

1.) Copy this, replace their logo with mine and charge me lesser for this copy & paste job please…
Hello! I am not a photocopy machine. If you need one, just go to the photocopy shop. If you’re telling me to use this as a sample or reference for the project, that you are looking for something along the line, it’s fine. But if you’re asking me to produce exactly the same including how the images are placed and the words printed, then go get yourself a photocopy machine. I’ll send you a complimentary copy of copyright laws so that you’ll know what trouble you’re getting yourself into.

2.) I can get someone else to do this cheaper than you.
Well, by all means, go ahead and find that someone else. You can repeat the statement 10 times to me and my quotation would still remain the same simply because I want to be satisfied working on your project and not grumble throughout the process because I feel underpaid.

3.) Do the first project for free, then when we like what you do, you get to work on the rest of the projects in the future.
And how near is the future again? Next year? 3 years later? A decade later? If you respect me, you won’t be saying such things. Whether it’s a trial run or a first-time, there are work and time involved. Learn how to respect the effort I put into each project and gain the respect you deserve as a client. Freelancers are professionals. We are out to make a living too!

4.) There, I signed the quotation. Now can you throw in a free website for me since I gave you the job?
Erm, NO! You’re only paying me to work on a brochure. And a website is not something that I can cook up in a minute. It’s a totally different project altogether. It’s okay for clients to ask for freebies such as a discount for the next project or a photo touch-up. But a different project altogether? Now, that is too much. Remember, freelancers don’t owe you just because you gave them the job. You’re not doing them a favour, it’s a business deal.

5.) I’m a startup company. I can only pay you when I make money from this project.
I’m a freelancer, I need to make a living too. Duh! When I meet clients like this, usually I try to work out the budget with them and perhaps let them pay me by installments. But when they start insisting to do it their way, I would normally just drop the case. Seriously, who is going to compensate the effort and time I put into the work if I don’t get paid at the end of the day?

So, you meet clients who don’t treat you like the professional you are – what do you do? Keep your grip! Just because they don’t respect you as a professional, doesn’t mean you have to lose your cool and be un-professional. Handle the scenario with professionalism. Approach them and respond to them like a professional and prove them wrong. Sometimes, it’s important to educate your clients so that a fulfilling working relationship can be formed.

Originally written by Gina Yap Lai Yoong © 2010

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