Hello all--Just a little background: I am a full-time website designer for a company, but I also freelance on the side. I freelance basically for rainy day money so I can go on trips, pay extras etc. One of my freelance clients has been with me for about 6 years--he was one of my first websites. However, he has become increasingly difficult over the years. Out of all my clients, he is the only one who never pays his bills on time--so I started making him pay up front before I did any design work. He freaks out if something isn't done exactly to what he had in mind, he is always trying to nickel and dime me (good grief--I only charge him $35 per hour) and his revenue for me is very little--probably $35-$70 every 2-3 months. Quite frankly I am tired of dealing with him, and don't feel he generates the kind of revenue that I should have to deal with his crap. The question is: Do I hope he will just find another designer? Or do I drop him as a client? And if so, how do I do that without burning bridges? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I have found a good way to deal with this problem is by letting him know that you are raising your prices. Especially if you know you are not making much off him anyways, if you are doing quality work then tell him you need to start charging more.

If he wants to keep you then you will start to make more money and that may or may not be worth keeping him as a client then (up to you). Or if he thinks it is to pricey then he will find someone else and that way it doesn't burn any bridges for you.

I don't know that I would just raise your prices in hopes of getting rid of him. That is kind of like a landlord raising a tenant's rent in hopes of getting rid of them.
If you do not want this client as a customer anymore, I think the most professional thing to do is to let him know you have decided to discontinue working for him. You can give him some recommendations of other web designers and let him know you will be happy to work with his new designer to transfer the files and access to them.
Sometimes you just have to tell people "no". I know that is difficult to do sometimes, but you will thank yourself when it is over.

It might be worth the headache of dealing with the clients difficulty for a little more money. I mean, it sounds like the issue is she just doesn't think the pay she is getting from him is worth the headache. So raising the price for him is not unprofessional; its just a way to make it worth dealing with him.

Well my whole thing is: If I raised my prices AND I was doing work for him every week then I might just grin and bear it. I have another customer who can be semi-difficult at times, but I do a boat-load of work for him, and so its definitely worth it. Plus--he never nickels and dimes me etc. like this guy does.

I thought maybe making him pay first before work is done would get rid of him, but now what happens on occasion is that he procrastinates, then says the check is in the mail. (which its not) and then he ends up doing the work for himself, and then it looks like crap.

I mean, I am well aware of the fact that he was one of my first clients many years ago and that he took a chance on me. (we did 50/50 trade and money back then) But every time I have to deal with him--and THEN he complains about paying a big old whopping $35, my blood pressure just goes through the roof.

If I let him go, how should I say it?

The best way to deal with a hard web design customer is really to just be nice for the duration of the project and be "busy with other projects" the next time they call. I've found that problem clients, even ones that pay well, generally aren't worth the effort in the long run.

Hey simpova "QUIT SPAMMING THE BOARD."