Not all clients are worth keeping. In fact, holding onto the wrong ones could be actively hurting your business. Whether they drain your time, underpay, or constantly push boundaries, letting go of bad-fit clients can actually help you grow.In our podcast episode, When Firing Clients Is the Best Growth Strategy, we break down why cutting ties with toxic or unprofitable clients isn’t just a good idea—it’s a necessary step in scaling your business.
How to Identify Clients That Are Holding You Back
Some clients just aren’t worth the stress. If any of these sound familiar, it might be time to rethink the relationship:
- They drain your time & energy. If a client takes up disproportionate resources but contributes little to your bottom line, they’re holding you back.
- They nickel-and-dime you. Constantly pushing back on pricing, delaying invoices, or asking for “just one more thing” for free? These clients will always undervalue your work.
- They don’t align with your business values. Not every misfit client is “” Sometimes, they simply don’t share your vision, communication style, or priorities. If you dread their emails, that’s a red flag.
- The sunk cost fallacy is keeping you stuck. If the only reason you’re keeping a client is because of past effort—it’s time to let go. The longer you hold onto a bad-fit client, the more they cost you in time, money, and missed opportunities.
How to Fire a Client the Right Way
Letting go of a client doesn’t have to be messy. Here’s how to part ways with professionalism and integrity:
- Give them notice. Set a clear offboarding timeline and outline next steps.
- Refer them elsewhere. If possible, recommend another provider better suited to their needs.
- Keep the door open (if applicable). If they improve or their situation changes, a future collaboration may be possible.
Firing the wrong clients doesn’t burn bridges—it protects your business and your team.
About the enVisioning Success Podcast
This article is based on topics discussed in enVisioning Success, our weekly podcast hosted by Vision Advertising CEO Laura DiBenedetto and COO Julia Becker Collins. In it, they discuss all things business and marketing, from lead generation to leadership. Find us on PodBean to download from your platform of choice, or subscribe to our mailing list to get new episodes and other news delivered directly to your inbox. Interested in working with Vision Advertising? Learn more about our services and contact us today.
