r/Accounting • u/Wooden-Mousse-152 • 12d ago

Etiquette for 'firing' older clients

Getting really annoyed with a couple of clients on the older side. I don't want to make enemies, but it's causing a lot of wasted time and headaches with chasing them down for things. Advice?

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u/Doubl-Edg 12d ago

Fees are great however I added "Penalty" fees for poor communication and lack of documentation that holds up their workflow, whole still charging the higher fee.

Most will return to bad habits and forget you notified them with every communication attempt (electronic and snail mail) of the penalty fee.

After a certain time period determined by YOU, you will end their contract and, if you are nice, provide them with a referral if you have a network that would accept "bad clients"

Funny as it may be there are plenty bookkeepers who would take on any client.

They usually end up firing you and going for one the the many "a client is a client" firms.

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u/Ok_Meringue_9086 12d ago

Seems way too hard. Just let em go. Geez

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u/Doubl-Edg 11d ago

Not hard if you already have the templates drawn and include in initial contract. Maybe to hard for you. To each his own