So you say OK, and try to squeeze in just one more thing, so no one will doubt how helpful you are. I wouldn't be comfortable taking your project knowing that you won't be getting our best work. 7. Expressing gratitude for the opportunity is another polite gesture that will enhance your professional reputation. This response 1. doesn't leave the PR contact hanging 2. let's them know they've hit the influencer jackpot since you love their company, too and 3. they can eliminate you from their list of influencers they need to meet their quota for the project at hand. I wish you all the best of luck with your project. . No two no's are alike: No, the timing isn't right. Youre welcome and thank you for reading! Turning down a quality-driven client is hardest and the response often involves both cost and time. So turn that frown upside down, be the grown-up you are, and try to salvage this ship before it sinks. Thank you again for your participation. Bill Gates once said, Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Clients who dont show respect for your time and services from the get-go will not likely feel inclined to do so once you have taken them on, either. But, rejection is part of their jobs, so I tried to not feel too bad about it overall. that require passion to sell a message. Turning down a client can seem like a difficult task, but it doesnt have to be. Unfortunately, this project isnt a good fit for our team [insert a brief explanation, if the situation demands]. But in the long run, I find it is very good business because I am still providing a service to the client. Why is this the case? With that said, regardless of whether youre working for a boss or independent clients, you will occasionally come across a project that you simply wont want to take on board. I can gladly add you to my waiting list if you would kindly let me know by the end of the week.). Here are some tips on how to politely turn down proposals. Do just that! This may seem like a no-brainer, but please: do not make the mistake of begging people for work and then turning someone down because you dont want to work for them. Step 4: Share Your Reason (s) Better Job Offer Found. Your time is valuable, and your set rates reflect your level of expertise, skill, and respect for the quality of your work. Take some time to consider what the project is and what the client is looking for. We are grateful that you considered us for your project. Here are just a few good reasons to turn down a project: The client wants to pay you so little it's insulting. Body: The body of the letter is the most important part. [option 1: insert date and time] Dont compromise unless you are comfortable doing so! Thanks so much for getting in contact about your project. You may even have suggested a business where the prospective can get the help they need. In the end it takes most of my time and Im starting to worry because i dont have enough time to do whatever it needs to find full time job. If anything seems amiss, you now know how to turn down a client politely and find a venture thats better suited to your needs. : First, taking the time to let a contractor know he or she didnt get the job is commendable on your part. Youre working longer hours, and because you can only do so much, you end up getting behind. Ive decided to turn him down but how would I go about that after so long? the time and effort you put into your proposal is evident. Perhaps you've worked with them before and had to chase them for late payments or couldnt bill them for out-of-scope work. No but here are some free resources. Are they going to pay you what you're worth? And neither of these options are going to make you look like youre on top of things. Declining an assignment can be easier if you offer your manager or colleague an option outside yourself. Thanks for the great article Brent! Asking for more than half of the project cost up front, though, is a big red flag. The client is a nice person actually, but i found from my experience in working with him that hes quite indecisive and like to make a lot of changes at last moments which drags the projects timeline ( and the pay is low although its because of my inexperience ). I politely declined the project and he asked how much I would do it for. You have done an amazing job and have secured a referral which is one of the greatest compliments in business. Say NO when its needed! How to Decline a Letter of Request. Can I refer two great digital artists who might be perfect for your request? My services are aimed at smaller businesses so Ive rarely been in the position of having to turn down a big project, it certainly doesnt appeal to me being stuck in one, big, constipated project over a number of weeks or months. Knowing why you want to decline will help you plan out a strategic, amicable reply that will make your response clear without offending the requesters. Write an appropriate greeting, such as. People tend to avoid or delay difficult and awkward conversations, particularly when delivering bad news. No, I need something different. You're allowed to say. Even if the prospective client is a referral, you're still not under any obligation to take on their work. Youre welcome to leave the door open to respectful clients to approach you in the future about additional work, if you feel positive about working with them. I guess we all have to .Trust our gut! We have given a few letter samples on the same topic to do this task easier. We feel that we won't be able to complete the project by XX. Keep it simple. Decline Project Offer Letters: 5 Templates There is some situation when you have to write a letter to your old friend to inform him/her that you cannot accept his/her new project offer for some personal reason. That is because it contains the finer details of the bid rejection. Year three, they offer me Year One money again, with a shorter schedule, and actually hire another designer first,( because she was cheaper), but within 48 hours, realize they would prefer to work with me. For nearly three years, she was an editor at The Muse, and she's regularly contributed career advice to Mashable. 10 tips on how to decline business proposals politely. Assess your lead generation tactics and content, as well as the way initial communications are conducted, to see if you can better qualify potential clients. If youre a CPA in Australia or an accountant or other professional in the United States, there could be unintended consequences for providing referrals. The ideal way to get through the situation of declining a new client by phone, email, or text is by doing so politely, with kindness, and professionally. I know this runs counter to my survival as a service business. Some industries and hobbies have a cult following (think extreme sports, music, environmental issues, etc.) Visit my Contact Page to send me an email. Unfortunately, we are unable to fulfill your request at this time [provide any relevant information as to why you cannot fulfill this request]. Its hard to turn down work when youre a freelancer, but its such a must in so many situations. Observe professional tone and structure. Justifications and excuses can make it look as though you're not telling the whole truth. thank you for presenting your design to the board. Show gratitude for their bid. He emailed me a bunch of logos he liked (nothing consistent). And the way to do that is by having a bigger yes burning inside. Stephen Covey. Thank you for your (email/opportunity to meet with you/speaking with me) regarding your (home remodel). Well i am in favour of saying no to a project which can just not worth the time and efforts , but sometimes clients do not take it as something they hoped for , A few days ago i received a job offer on a job board , i said no as the budget was just peanuts , bu that client kept sending me messeges and asked me to talk to him on skype , we had a discussion and i clearly told him that i do not want to work with him because of his low budget , he just keep telling me tha he wants to work with me and i kept telling him that i just can not do it for him and than he turned nuts .. he became offensive and started sending harsh email He said i do not provide good customer service lol You are too busy script. Step 2: Decide on the Method of Communication. Sending an Email Rejection Message. "I'd love to help out with that, but my concentration needs to be on [insert task] right now." 2. We appreciate your consideration and wish you all the best in your business endeavors. This is polite and ends the conversation on a good note. If this is happening before the project has even begun, chances are, it will continue to happen throughout its duration as well. I knew that if I took this job at the lower rate, I would never, ( read : ever) get back to a realistic rate. Include the name of the person rejecting the business proposal; This is standard practice when writing an email to decline a business proposal (or any email for that matter). I once took a under budget project which I regret the most. Life is busy already, and being a freelancer tends to make it significantly busier! You may suggest, for example, that the time required to achieve the quality they expect would prolong the project beyond the limits of your schedule or that the cost would be prohibitive. Since they came to you, they value your opinion. Don't leave anything open to interpretation that can raise the client's hopes. Draw up a quick game plan. If any of your clients respond aggressively when you exercise your professional boundaries, youll immediately know that you made the right decision. Over 10,000 of us are having daily conversations over in our free Facebook group and we'd love to see you there. 1. After consultation I was so excited to get another client after I just wrapped up this huge project. This is the exact advice I needed for my current situation. Occasionally a low-paying client will expect all the bells and whistles. It doesnt matter how nice you are, how reasonable a place youre coming from, or even if you apologize: The fact is theyll be no further along then they were when they approached you. Just yesterday I turned down my first project. We parted ways in a civil manner. Comments are closed. Angie Hicks compiles the best advice from the most highly rated service pros on Angies List to answer your questions. Please contact Jane Smith, purchasing officer, at (123) 456-7890 with any questions. I had a very similar experience. I did not refer another designer to them in this case because it would be unfair for me to recommend a client who had been a no-show to three meetings. Especially if the clients that offer them expect more of you than you can realistically deliver. Your IP: After careful review, we feel that we cannot fully commit our resources and attention to your project. Will completing this project advance you towards your greater professional goals? Most of the time, they will accept your answer and continue to look for a company they can work with. Keep your responses professional. Regardless of your reasoning why you want to turn down work, it's often a good idea to communicate something back for several reasons ranging from professionalism to preventing email miscommunication. Before you turn down work definitively, make sure that you're not saying no to a project that could be interesting or engaging. If the letter is being sent via email the subject line should have your full name followed by vendor proposal. Lower-paying jobs could still be a great fit for you if they support worthy causes, provide you with important experience, or advance you towards larger long-term goals. Sometimes, the most respectful thing for you, for your company and even for the colleague who is asking you to take on more is to say, "No." Here are some tips for how to decline a request graciously: Carefully consider your answers to each of these questions when deciding whether you should take on a new project. So they offer me the other designers rate, (equal to half my rate), and two months less time to do the work. Thank you so much for thinking of me for your project. Sometimes Im asked to create opening titles and other in-show graphics for TV, usually a whole package of graphics need to be completed within a week. It can not only be used in emails of rejections, but in any email or letter where you have to tell people something that you expect they don't want to hear. Other than turning down the clients, every one of these examples offer to refer someone else for the project. CAPELLA KINCHELOE LLC 2010 - 2023 | TERMS & CONDITIONS | PRIVACY | SITE BY SIMPLE & SOULFUL CREATIVE, Helping interior designers design and build their businesses, pricing interior design, pricing, vendors, getting shopped. Suddenly, youre the person pushing back deadlines and struggling to get everything done. You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the couragepleasantly, smilingly, nonapologeticallyto say no to other things. Having said that, its all well and good to turn down a project when you believe your services are worth more. Its what a team player would say and its a way to demonstrate that youre ready for new and exciting responsibilities. Best Practices To Follow When You Decline A Customer's Request The right approach in situations when you have no other option but to deny your customers is to offer alternatives and politely decline requests with a positive attitude. By Andre Bradley. What I find most frustrating is when I design a logo for a client who is over the moon with it, gives you great feedback, but they go elsewhere, behind your back, for a lesser-quality web design. Here are some example email scripts to provide you with guidance on how to decline a client project in a diplomatic way, based on the scenarios above plus a couple bonus situations. So, to help you find the right words, here are three scripts to help you say "no" (nicely, of course) for three common scenarios at work. The benefits of saying yes to a new project are pretty obvious. . Optional (give referrals):I am enclosing a few names of other designers that may be able to take on a project with your scope right now. There are many reasons why you might decide to turn down a potential client. It almost always pays off whether youre teaming up with someone or just building a relationship. The tendency to turn down projects is to say something generic like, Im booked working on other projects. If you have a blog, online journal, or socially network on MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc. Communicate your decision as soon as possible. Based on my current schedule, I won't be available on [insert date here] at the time you've carved out, but I am free on any of the dates/times below if one of these works on your end. False hope just encourages the other person to waste more of their time, and yours. In the meantime, consider recommending another freelancer who can take on the project that you're declining . (enclose names). 2. Thank you so much! You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The thrill of a new client approaching your company never wears off. 1. It's amazing to know that your skills and reputation are noteworthy and recognised, and youre in demand. Is there any way to retain him as a friend and politely turn down this project thats been in the works for weeks? Theres no reason to force something that you cant give it your all. I specialize in infographics, but Im not an illustrator. When turning down a project, be honest, professional, and respectful. The mix of projects lubricates the creative cogs. It can help them identify a service issue, or lets them know how they measure up against their competition. From the clients point-of-view, they already see you as the ideal match, so theyre not anticipating rejection. Please note that I am more than willing to [share the project on LinkedIn / put you in touch with another freelancer I know who may be interested], if youd like me to. So hard to turn down a client but this is a bullet I have to bite almost every month. Thanks for your article! Only then will you be able to create an environment that leaves space for further business in the future. Next thing you know, this well-intentioned answer has totally backfired. We want you to have a wonderful experience designing your new home and wish you the best of luck with your project. Head of Accounting (AMER) at Ignition and Managing Director No, I need space to think about it. Ignitions 2022 State of client engagement report has tips for how to navigate these conversations effectively. Instead of appearing overwhelmed by your work, this makes it look like you have such a strong command over your schedule that you can predict the exact date itll open up. Decline While Asking to Reschedule. If the client presses for more information, try to keep your answer brief. Today Id like to give you some sample messaging around this topic and point out why its a good idea to come up with a strategy to turn down work. He then told me that he didnt like round letters which most of them were because the word Global was in it. Perhaps she didnt realize how much is on your plate and can actually take some off.). Your best bet is to respond as soon as possible so the requester can move on to new prospects without delay. It is no surprise that they dont choose my service. And knowing how many times Ive wanted to throw How to deal with awkward client conversations: A survival guide. Break the news. Sure, there are ways of dealing with that but remember, work is a lot harder to come by when youre just starting out. The key is to be assertive so that when you do say no, your answer is firm and not left open to negotiation. excluding finance charges, whichever is less. It makes me happy to hear that you believed in your services enough to turn down a project that required spec work. Trust your instincts and recognize that turning down a project thats not a good fit is ultimately best for both you and the client. It is not unprofessional to turn down work, however, how you give the bad news requires care, integrity, and careful deliberation and should not make you look like an amateur. We can put your on our waiting list if you let us know by Friday. Will working with this client lead to other good potential sources of work in the future. At the same time, youll attract projects and clients that align with your values and goals. I don't want to give him any hard feeling, so want to know how you would reply to reject a contractor's bid? Think about it: most clients arent very good at hiring freelancers (how many do you know that have bad designer stories to tell?). Firstly, do not rush to reject the contract. There were more unfriendly exchanges and he tried to make me feel unprofessional and unexperienced. Typically our firm does projects that are in the $X-$X range and you said that you wanted to stay below $X. (Optional: My schedule for a project of your scope will be open in _ weeks / months time. Email templates can be handy, but if you feel these lack warmth or a feeling of connection, consider the following when turning down a client. Template of a Contract Rejection Letter. If you STILL want to say no, thank this person (if you hung out together) for all the good times you had. 3. Your aim should be to politely decline the business proposal and not to humiliate the recipient. When I complete a project for less money, I dont provide a lesser service but it does have to be on my own terms. The longer that you're in business the better you'll get at selecting projects that are the right fit. 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