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If you're working for someone else, you have to handle customers the way your boss wants you to handle them. Often, businesses have to operate under the assumption that the customer is always right. And while this sounds like a strong way to run a business, it's actually not necessarily the best way to run your writing business. While there is a place to be helpful to a client; many times this can easily turn into a situation where you are doing more work than what you initially agreed to do – losing you money and patience. Your job is to safeguard your business and the value of your services. Here's what you need to know.

Preventing Troubles Before They Start

Ideally, in every single writing project you have, you should have a contact that details what you will do and what the client is contracted to do. Make sure the client reads the contract and that you read the contract, adjusting for any changes that you both agree to make, and then have both sides sign this contract. This way, if there is a later dispute, you can go back to the contract to show who is right in their assessment of the situation. The contract should be as detailed as possible about the time commitment, the end result of the project, how many edits will be necessary, and what eth payment plan is. This way, if something needs to go outside of these contract guidelines, you can add to the contract if both sides agree to the changes.

Shouldn't You Just Say Yes to Everything?

The trick with saying yes to every client's wish is that you're setting a bad precedent with this client and with clients in general. When you agree to do more work than you originally agreed to do, you are showing that you don't need to be paid for all of your time and effort. The client will then expect this to be the norm when it comes time for a new assignment. The other trouble with always doing more than you agreed to is that you will be limiting your ability to take on new projects with new clients – clients that will pay you for your services. Saying yes seems like a good idea in the beginning of a writing career, and perhaps that is the best way to start. But as you begin to establish a client base, you need to create rules for how you are treated and how your time is valued. This way, if clients do not want to pay you for your time, you don't need to spend your time pleasing them without getting reimbursed. Clients that do value your services will stick around, after all. Granted, it's not easy to simply tell a client no. You want to make sure they're always happy and content with your work, but that doesn't mean you need to be at their beck and call 24 hours a day. That's not a part of your job description. Some might call this a way of setting boundaries for your clients and for yourself. After all, you are a professional who deserves to do what is asked of you and nothing more. True, there might be times when you do go above and beyond for special clients, but these clients will be the ones who truly appreciate the effort – not expect it regardless of what your contract says.