How can saying no be good for business, you may ask? Well, several relationships can be toxic to your business, and cutting ties can benefit you in the long run. There are some things you can do before saying no, but you may get to a point where that is the only option.

You have definitely come across a toxic or highly demanding client if you run a business. The ones that are never wrong, scope creep, and never want to pay fair trade prices.

When you go the extra mile for a client, and they respond positively, it is a good thing. It is decision time when it infringes on your health, relationships, family, or other clients.

If you have a toxic client, these are some ways to manage them.

Set clear boundaries

At the beginning of a relationship, we are only too happy to please. Putting in more hours to onboard and impress them. But it is not sustainable and can set the wrong expectations upfront.

Set clear expectations in writing so everyone knows what and who is responsible. Each party needs to be held accountable for their part of the partnership.

Have the right team running the client

Assign your strongest team and personalities to the client, so they can speak up and speak on equal ground. If your staff are too soft or quickly bulldozed, the client will eat them for breakfast, and at the end of the day, you stand to lose more than a client. Staff that feels bullied can also call it quits if they do not get support from the management team.

Keep calm

Toxic clients can be quick to lash out or say things they don’t really mean. It is not personal. It is vital to remain calm, let the dust settle, and respond calmly and rationally. Nobody wins an argument when there are tempers involved.

Learn to say no

The most empowering thing you can say to a toxic client is to say no. Clarify the job spec and ensure they are aware of the additional work. Whether they are unreasonable with costs, timelines, or deliverables, you can set new timelines and send them a cost estimate for the supplementary costs and time involved.

One emergency is one thing; multiple emergencies are just bad business practices. So often, a client may think that their lack of planning means you have to pull all the stops and favours to get work done or product in with short notice. They need to expect additional costs to mitigate this happening all the time.

Bizcash is a proudly South African business that offers alternative funding options and solutions for SMME businesses. Let us help you with your business cash flow, especially with those problematic clientsPlease speak to our team to find out more about supporting your business growth with alternative funding options. Get in touch with us on 0861 93 93 93 or email us on info@bizcashscf.co.za or contact us here.

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