How to deal with the more difficult freelance clients

As much of a joy as it can be to work freelance, you will inevitably occasionally encounter a client who is difficult to manage. Client/customer satisfaction is vital if you are to achieve repeat business, which is why you should plan a strategy for dealing with the worst clients carefully, according to leading accountants in Reading Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com).

It's much easier to iron out any potential for misunderstanding from the very start of the project, which is why our accountants in London would advise you to take time in interviewing your client about the job, identifying their needs, objectives and perspectives. If you carefully document what you agree to and when, you will be able to refer back to that section of your proposal if you need to. Remember, too, that projects can easily drift off track unless you hold regular telephone conversations or even in-person review meetings, the latter presenting you with the opportunity to ask the client to sign off work that has been done so far.

These progress conversations could result in you receiving requests for changes or work outside of the originally agreed brief, in which case you should send a client an email immediately afterwards to confirm the request of this additional work. You might want to use the short 'contract report' that is common in the advertising world to outline the date and place of a conversation along with its participants, followed by body copy of the action that it is agreed needs to be undertaken, when and by whom. Details can also be provided of any additional charge and changes to the delivery date.

Our accountants for freelancers would always stress the importance of a final proposal or contract that is not vague or able to be misinterpreted. All terms and conditions should be clearly explained in this document, including relevant timescales, dates, deposits and payment terms, as well as any other options that may have arisen at the interview. When you are communicating with the client, you should speak in their language rather than use any off-putting and confusing technical jargon. By keeping every aspect of your assignment carefully documented, your client is clear about what you are doing for them, and can interject at any time if they have concerns.

Inevitably, many of the clients of our accountants in Richmond wish that they could fire certain clients! However, these are just some of the things that you should do to reserve your reputation and increase the chances of repeat business. If certain mistakes are made, you may even wish to financially compensate the customer. Here at Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com), we would always stress that you are flexible and not take criticism personally, instead always being open to new ways of improving your freelance business.

Editor’s Note: Freelancer Accounting (http://www.freelanceraccounting.com) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.