ILLMAS Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 How often do you decide to stop working with certain clients for not paying, being too demanding or difficult etc...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lion EA Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Not often enough! I need to fire a couple of difficult clients; I've been raising their fees, but I'm not happier. I also have a couple needy clients, but they are very appreciative of my help; I should raise their fees, but they are nice, retired ladies on fixed incomes, so I don't. No pay = no more work from me. That I have been doing. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medlin Software, Dennis Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 No pay, no work. Charge more until you would not describe as demanding or difficult, or they self fire. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberts Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 I don't have any jerks - fired the 3-4 a few years ago. I literally enjoy speaking / meeting with every client. LIfe's too short to be miserable. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail in Virginia Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 Usually the clients I fire are the ones that make me nervous. I am not going to lose my license because some idiot is trying to save a few dollars on his taxes. But most of the time I can spot those on the first visit and they never become clients. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee B Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 I just fired a payroll/tax client, a carpet installer who I had to remind one too many times that he had forgotten to pay me. Nice guy, but now that I am easing into semi - retirement I just don't need the aggravation. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack from Ohio Posted January 21, 2020 Report Share Posted January 21, 2020 20 minutes ago, cbslee said: I just fired a payroll/tax client, a carpet installer who I had to remind one too many times that he had forgotten to pay me. Nice guy, but now that I am easing into semi - retirement I just don't need the aggravation. My answer to that problem is simple: Return is not given to the client OR transmitted, until I have been paid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike D Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 Generally before I engage them! 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Possi Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 (edited) I think I fired my last PITAs in 2019. I'm happy with the ones I have now. But to answer your question, I give them at least 2 or 3 seasons to redeem themselves before I cut them off. If it's for non-payment or failing to wrap things up, I do that pretty quick. If someone doesn't pay me, I stop working for them and count it as a loss... and remember it. Edited January 22, 2020 by Possi To answer your question 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted January 22, 2020 Report Share Posted January 22, 2020 On 1/21/2020 at 2:52 PM, Jack from Ohio said: My answer to that problem is simple: Return is not given to the client OR transmitted, until I have been paid. Easier said than done, sometimes. It's April 14th; client comes in to sign forms. Goes to take out wallet for credit card... left it at home. Promises a check. Gets distracted and forgets. Client lives (or is traveling for work) and e-signatures are needed; get those but not payment. This client also forgets, once home. Just to say that it's a good rule of thumb, but circumstances crop up. No reason to be suspicious when they are good clients who have always paid. Most of them just plain-old forget and are horribly embarrassed once reminded they owe. But yeah, in most circumstances, payment up-front. I've only lost one client because of my insistence on being paid for that year *and* the prior year before releasing new returns. I wasn't sorry to see her go, either. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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