The 'over deliver at first' trick versus the 'set strict boundaries' method...

I had a client last spring who wanted a full landscape redesign for their backyard in Atlanta. I did the initial consultation and threw in a 3D mockup for free, thinking it would seal the deal... it did, but then they expected every extra revision to be free too. My buddy runs the same kind of business and he charges for the first sketch upfront but offers a discount if they sign within a week. Which approach actually keeps the nightmare clients away? Has anyone tried a middle ground where you give just enough to hook them but not so much they take advantage?

2 comments

2 Comments

nancyramirez2d ago

Oh wow, people really overthink this stuff huh? I mean sure, setting boundaries matters but it's not like one bad client means the whole method is broken. If you do good work and they still act entitled, just fire them and move on.

henryr451d ago

You say "just fire them and move on" like that's easy. But what if you're a freelancer starting out and that one bad client is half your income? You can't just drop them and hope the next one's better. Firing someone with a loss of that much money isn't simple, it's a real gamble. People overthink it because they have bills to pay and can't afford to be picky.