{"id":5552,"date":"2020-07-14T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/?p=5552"},"modified":"2022-09-28T22:53:36","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T20:53:36","slug":"when-to-turn-down-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/when-to-turn-down-work\/","title":{"rendered":"When and How to Say No to Freelance Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Do you feel pressured to say yes to every job? Are you feeling drained by projects that just aren\u2019t right for you? When you\u2019re a freelancer, there are no automatic paychecks so it can be hard to turn down work. But taking on every opportunity that comes your way can lead to burnout, loss of motivation, and unhappy clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While refusing work can be scary, it\u2019s an important skill to master. In this post, we\u2019ll cover when and how to say no to a job when you\u2019re a freelancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/when-to-turn-down-work\/#Signs_that_you_should_turn_down_a_freelance_job\" >Signs that you should turn down a freelance job<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/when-to-turn-down-work\/#Client_red_flags_9_warning_signs_to_look_out_for\" >Client red flags: 9 warning signs to look out for<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/when-to-turn-down-work\/#How_to_break_up_with_a_client_without_causing_a_scene\" >How to break up with a client without causing a scene<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/when-to-turn-down-work\/#Being_prepared_to_walk_away_can_sometimes_get_you_a_better_deal\" >Being prepared to walk away can (sometimes) get you a better deal<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Signs_that_you_should_turn_down_a_freelance_job\"><\/span>Signs that you should turn down a freelance job<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes you\u2019re better off saying \u201cThanks, but no thanks,\u201d even if something looks like a good opportunity. This goes for projects from new clients and your existing customers. You might want to decline freelance work if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>You\u2019re not excited about the work.<\/strong> This is a biggie and something I\u2019ve struggled with. If you take on every project that turns up, you won\u2019t be available when your dream opportunity comes around. Being picky about the work you take on (providing you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/cut-business-costs\/\">pay your bills<\/a>) can make you a happier, more fulfilled, and higher-earning freelancer in the future. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"2\"><li><strong>You don\u2019t have time.<\/strong> When you\u2019re self-employed, there\u2019s no incentive to stop working at 5pm. But this can and will <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/should-you-outsource-or-do-everything-yourself\/\">lead to burnout<\/a> for most people. Remember why you started freelancing in the first place\u2014freedom to work flexible hours, more time to spend with your kids, creating the job you want\u2014and don\u2019t overbook yourself. Aside from billable hours, you need time for things like admin, invoicing and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/promote-your-small-business\/\">promoting your business<\/a> too. You can offer a client a place on your waiting list or let them know when your next availability is but if they\u2019re not prepared to wait, why not refer them to another freelancer in your network?<br><\/li><li><strong>It\u2019s not your area of expertise.<\/strong> We can\u2019t all be good at everything. And while there\u2019s a lot to be said for learning as you go and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/overcome-self-doubt\/\">reaching outside your comfort zone<\/a>, it\u2019s okay to turn down work that you just don\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/professional-crisis\/\">feel confident<\/a> with. The last thing you want to commit to work you can\u2019t deliver. Be open and honest with your clients, refer a friend or draft in another freelancer with the right expertise to help.<br><\/li><li><strong>You and the client don\u2019t click. <\/strong>You don\u2019t have to be best friends with every client, but you do want to make sure you can work together smoothly. If they have a very different philosophy, work style, or personality, you\u2019re probably not going to enjoy working with them (and vice versa). If the client shows signs of boundary problems or other red flags (see below), it\u2019s probably best to pass, even if it\u2019s a good opportunity otherwise.<br><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Being picky about the work you take on can make you a happier, more fulfilled, and higher-earning freelancer in the future.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Client_red_flags_9_warning_signs_to_look_out_for\"><\/span>Client red flags: 9 warning signs to look out for<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What are some signs that you\u2019re dealing with a \u201cbad\u201d client? I looked back on my own freelance career so far and asked some others in my network what red flags would make them think twice about taking on a project. Do any of these sound familiar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>They\u2019re negative about others they\u2019ve worked with.<\/strong> Talking badly about your colleagues, competitors, customers, or staff is never a good choice\u2014it shows that you\u2019re unprofessional and not a nice person to deal with. If a potential client skips straight to bad-mouthing their previous freelancer, it\u2019s likely that they were a part of the problem. In this situation, I always ask the client to share the work that they were unhappy with and specify what they didn\u2019t like about it. If they can\u2019t give a straight answer, they probably don\u2019t have a clear idea of what they want or need, making them impossible to please.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"2\"><li><strong>They\u2019ve pushed back on your rates. <\/strong>Freelancing is your livelihood, not your hobby. You\u2019re responsible for setting your rates, giving yourself a raise, and setting clear expectations around pricing from the start\u2014so you don\u2019t waste prospective clients\u2019 time or your own. Even if you quote prices per project, add a price range for your services (like \u201c$500 &#8211; $700\u201d or \u201cFrom $950.00\u201d) to your website\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/pricing-page\/\">pricing page<\/a> to help filter out clients who aren\u2019t a budget-match. I recommend asking clients what their budget is or giving them a \u201cballpark figure\u201d before you spend time on a call with them. If a current client isn\u2019t willing or able to accommodate your most recent price increase, it might be a sign that you\u2019re no longer a fit. Learn more about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/how-to-make-sure-you-charge-enough-for-freelance-work\/\">how to set your rates<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/how-to-ask-for-more-money-as-a-freelancer\/\">how to ask for more money as a freelancer<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"3\"><li><strong>They don\u2019t want to sign a contract. <\/strong>Your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/freelance-contract-terms\/\">freelance contract agreement<\/a> helps you set clear expectations from the start, agree on important things like deadlines, project scope, payments, and price, and protects both parties if things don\u2019t go to plan. Any reasonable client will be happy to sign one, even if they want to negotiate on certain terms. If a client doesn\u2019t want to sign a contract, you have to ask yourself \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"4\"><li><strong>They want a free sample.<\/strong> Sometimes called \u201cspec work,\u201d not every prospect who asks you to complete a test or sample task is bad news, but they\u2019re in the minority. It\u2019s common for scammers to post a \u201cjob\u201d on a freelance job board (here are more ways to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/20-online-tools-for-every-freelancer\/\">find freelance work online<\/a>), receive lots of applications, and ask every freelancer to complete a test or sample task for free. Get 50 freelancers to take the bait? That\u2019s a lot of work they\u2019ve bagged for free. If a client wants to see your style and previous work, point them to your <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com\/website\/freelance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">freelance portfolio website<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/build-great-consultants-website\/\">consulting website<\/a> or reply politely with your rates and availability to complete their sample project. If they still push back, listen to your gut telling you to walk away. Still need to create your site? Check out these <a href=\"\/examples\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">websites examples<\/a> for inspiration.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"5\"><li><strong>They aren\u2019t organized.<\/strong> Working with unorganized people is especially draining for freelancers because we\u2019re not just managing our own time, but multiple clients and projects too. Waiting for clients to send you information, answer questions or approve work can mess with your schedule and burn up your billable hours. This is why I start my new retainer clients on a short-term agreement, so we can both make sure we\u2019re happy working together before committing to a longer contract. Remember that the client\/freelancer relationship is a two-way street and staying with a client who can\u2019t hold up their end will drain your time and energy.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Remember that the client\/freelancer relationship is a two-way street and staying with a client who can\u2019t hold up their end will drain your time and energy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"6\"><li><strong>They treat you like an employee\u2014but not in a good way.<\/strong> When you\u2019re a freelancer, you\u2019re no longer just a skilled professional, contractor, or creative\u2014you are a business. You\u2019re not entitled to employee benefits like sick pay, vacation days, or a company health plan, but there are other benefits and freedom. As freelance developer @GraftStudio put it on Twitter, \u201cWe work *with* clients. Not *for* them.\u201d This means we choose who we work with, what projects we agree to, and we set our own working hours and deadlines. If a client expects to throw work at you anytime between 9-5 or tries to restrict when you can take time off, it\u2019s time to cut them loose.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"7\"><li><strong>They lack boundaries.<\/strong> This client bombards you with phone calls, emails, Slack messages, and (gasp!) even texts, at all hours of the day and night and they expect an instant response. This shows that they have no respect for your time or personal life. It is, however, your responsibility to set boundaries from the start. For example, be clear about your working hours and only reply to messages during set times (I like to deal with emails between 12 noon and 5 pm when my creative energy is slightly lower) or add \u201cworking hours\u201d to your email signature so clients know when to expect a response. Otherwise, you\u2019ll spend all day chasing messages and never get any billable work done!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"8\"><li><strong>They say, \u201cCan you just\u2014\u201d <\/strong>Jump on a quick call, write this tagline, make us a quick logo\u2014we\u2019ve all heard them. Be wary of any sentence that starts this way, especially if the request comes outside your normal working hours. Again, this shows a lack of respect for your time and your contractor status (ie. you\u2019re not an employee). You can nip this in the bud early by having a separate business phone you can turn off, not replying to emails in evenings or at weekends, and treating all new requests like a new project. Here are some useful responses:<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cOf course, I\u2019d love to help you out. Let\u2019s schedule a time to chat next week.\u201d<\/li><li>\u201cMy rate for this type of work is between X-X. Would you like to book it in for ?\u201d<\/li><li>&#8220;I\u2019m fully booked until X date. If this is urgent, I can recommend .\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\" start=\"9\"><li><strong>They tell you how long things should take.<\/strong> You are the expert in your field and only you know how much work any one task will be. Sure, it\u2019s nice to help out a client in need when you can, especially if they\u2019re a regular, but good clients won\u2019t try to dictate how long something should take or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/how-to-make-sure-you-charge-enough-for-freelance-work\/\">how much you should be charging for freelance work<\/a>.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Spotted any of these red flags recently? Trust your gut\u2014if it doesn\u2019t feel right, it probably isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_break_up_with_a_client_without_causing_a_scene\"><\/span>How to break up with a client without causing a scene<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re turning down a new client or parting ways with an existing one, here\u2019s how to say \u201cNo\u201d diplomatically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Check your emotions.<\/strong> Everyone has them, but negative feelings have no place in your business transactions. Arguing with clients or falling into \u201che said, she said\u201d will only burn bridges, meaning you can\u2019t work together in future or count on them for a referral. Having<strong> <\/strong>a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jimdo.com/blog\/freelance-contract-terms\/\">freelance contract<\/a> in place will help you keep conversations focused on the agreements you have on paper, rather than opinions.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Think of you and your business as separate people.<\/strong> \u201cIt\u2019s not personal, it\u2019s just business\u201d\u2014this might sound like a Leo-zinger from the Wolf of Wall Street but you need to understand, believe, and embody this if you\u2019re going to have a happy freelance life. Oftentimes, we keep working with clients we like even if the business side doesn\u2019t feel productive anymore. When a breakup is inevitable, I make a point of telling them how much I\u2019ve enjoyed working with them, and why. This way, you go out on a positive note and leave the door open for more work in the future. And hey, it\u2019s nice to be nice.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Never apologize for a business decision.<\/strong> Cut the word \u201csorry\u201d out of your emails\u201499% of the time it has no business being there! Instead, clearly explain why you\u2019re not the right fit and reference clauses in your freelance contract if you need to. Never apologize for making a business decision or enforcing your contract terms. Try to avoid words like \u201cI feel\u201d and \u201cI believe\u201d and phrases like \u201cyou said\u201d or \u201caccording to you.\u201d Keep things neutral instead.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Set them up for success.<\/strong> I always try to recommend someone in my network or put a call out on freelance groups on Facebook, Slack or Twitter for possible replacements, so I can leave with, \u201cHey, I know this hasn\u2019t worked out. But here are a few professionals who might be the perfect fit for you.\u201d One of my favorite things about the freelance community is how much we support each other. If you\u2019re feeling lonely in the online world, join in with @ContentClubUK or @BeingFreelance on Twitter.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to politely decline a freelance job offer (email template)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hi Bill,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Thanks for getting in touch. While this sounds like a great project, unfortunately it\u2019s not the type of work I can take on at the moment. I can, however, recommend  who specializes in this area.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>All the best,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Suzanne<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t have a freelancer to recommend, you can omit the third sentence or include a link to your industry governing body. For example, \u201cI\u2019d recommend taking a look at the ProCopywriter\u2019s directory where you\u2019ll be able to find a match.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Being_prepared_to_walk_away_can_sometimes_get_you_a_better_deal\"><\/span>Being prepared to walk away can (sometimes) get you a better deal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it might not feel like it, there will always be another opportunity around the corner if you\u2019re prepared to keep looking. Clients are more likely to respect you if you show you have a professional process in place and won\u2019t compromise on your \u201cnon-negotiables.\u201d Not only will this help you avoid \u201cbad\u201d clients and build more positive long-term relationships, but you might also find that serious clients are prepared to wait to work with you, accept your new terms, or respect your higher prices.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center post-cta has-white-background-color has-background is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-0111f410 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bring your business online with Jimdo.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-right is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-17124a9a wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a data-tracking=\"post_cta_create_website_signup\" class=\"wp-block-button__link\" href=\"https:\/\/register.jimdo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Start Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever regretted saying \u201cYes\u201d to a project? Here\u2019s when to consider saying \u201cNo\u201d to a freelance job and how to do it without offending your clients.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5553,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[116],"tags":[4707,121],"class_list":["post-5552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-tips","tag-freelancing","tag-small-business"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Saying No to Freelance Work: When and How to Do It | Jimdo<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ever had a bad feeling about a freelance project but been scared to turn it down? 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