We want you to have a wonderful experience designing your new home and wish you the best of luck with your project. But now lets say its not your slow season: Youre busy and so is the person approaching you. Im afraid I dont have the passion to share your product like you need. [1] 2. Of course, there is always the chance that theyll take you at your word and wait until the end of the month (or whenever you said) and ask again. Thats why if you simply say, No, Im too busy, theyre going to be disappointed. This article is spot on, and Im in a very similar situation at the moment. Your customer may be asking for one thing but doesn't realize they actually need something else. Should you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch. 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. Your time is valuable, and your set rates reflect your level of expertise, skill, and respect for the quality of your work. Great article-Im definitely absorbing this key information! Be clear and firm in your decision. But, as we all know, saying "Um, I don't want to do that" can be tricky. Occasionally a low-paying client will expect all the bells and whistles. Im thinking yeah right Im going to spend hours working for peanuts when I could be working on my own site which sucks and needs updating badly. Realize that a client might take it personally that you are turning down his project; as such, you want to be as gracious, nice, polite and gentle about it as possible. Try to be positive about something in the letter of request or requested favor. So hard to turn down a client but this is a bullet I have to bite almost every month. When I complete a project for less money, I dont provide a lesser service but it does have to be on my own terms. You might consider suggesting another company or professional who could be a better fit for the project. (Quick note: If your manager is asking and these are projects she isnt aware of, give her some context. 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. Make sure you want to decline the offer. Here are five templates you can use to say no to a project or offer politely and firmly. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Even if the prospective client is a referral, youre still not under any obligation to take on their work. Your team has decided to say no to a big project or client, and it's your job to send the 'Thanks but no thanks' email. Every professional working in the graphic design, website design, marketing, development, and writing industries needs to know how to turn down a client politely and respectfully when they cant take on a project for any number of reasons. However, if you can navigate this situation and let them down gently and politely, it can help safeguard your reputation, and may provide an opportunity to reinvigorate the relationship at some point in the future. I had spent 8 hours of my time by now and only received $100. Most freelancers have set hourly, per-page, or per-task rates for their work, and most of these rates align with local industry standards. Eventually, you will probably want to pass some projects down to junior-level freelancers and take more advanced tasks for yourself. I worked on a huge fund-raising project for a well known cancer organization for two years in a row. 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. : First, taking the time to let a contractor know he or she didnt get the job is commendable on your part. Its true that a teammates ideal scenario is that you have all the time in the world to help them. You want to keep your comments constructive and professional and not make them personal. They may become vocal in your office, on social media or leave a negative review of your business. 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. Written words do matter and in my opinion, polite, professionally-written words set you up for success. How to Turn Down a Job Offer Declining a job offer will look a little different depending on your situation, but some advice holds true across the board: Be certain. Keep it simple. Nina Sharpe is a content champion for various outlets, covering various business topics from finance for startups to small business accounting tips. Thanks! Glad to hear you have no regrets turning down the work thats the attitude to have when making a difficult decision like that. But be cautious with this approach. This is especially so if their actions are making you uncomfortable. "I'd love to help out with that, but my concentration needs to be on [insert task] right now." 2. Show gratitude for their bid. The design momentum was there. The tendency to turn down projects is to say something generic like, "I'm booked working on other projects." For example, you might tell your boss, "If you're looking for a group leader, Jim has been talking about how he'd like to take on more leadership roles, and I know he's enthusiastic about this particular project. Lucky you! Please contact Jane Smith, purchasing officer, at (123) 456-7890 with any questions. I wouldn't be comfortable taking your project knowing that you won't be getting our best work. Turning down projects when youre too busy will allow you to give your full attention to those that you have agreed to complete. Im behind you 100% on that decision! Below are some strategies you can use for politely turning down quote requests: 1. Don't leave anything open to interpretation that can raise the client's hopes. Salary isn't Up to Standard. 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. He insisted on a flat fee and 5 ideas instead of my usual 3. I want to be as transparent as possible but hes pretty important and I really dont want to burn this bridge. Whatever the reason may be, make sure to be professional. I don't believe anything more than that is required. On top of that, everyone appreciates being noticed for good work. Does this project support a company or entity with views that you consider unethical or juxtaposed with your own? Its hard to turn down work when youre a freelancer, but its such a must in so many situations. I can gladly add you to my waiting list if you would kindly let me know by the end of the week.). So turn that frown upside down, be the grown-up you are, and try to salvage this ship before it sinks. Consider your upcoming schedule, your pipeline, and financial situation when deciding whether to accept an offer of work. But that is a whole different conversation. Your aim should be to politely decline the business proposal and not to humiliate the recipient. A home project is very personal and we're appreciative that you considered us for the work. - It will negatively impact your primary work responsibilities. Say NO when its needed! (Optional: My schedule for a project of your scope will be open in _ weeks / months time. However, occasionally, a person will take your refusal the wrong way. I was extremely pumped that I missed all the signs. And the way to do that is by having a bigger yes burning inside. Stephen Covey. Bill Gates once said, Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. Have you worked with this client before and was it a positive experience? What company benefits are most important to you? Your's Sincerely, Mario Capone. I was referred by someone coming highly recommended. I was very reluctant and should have stuck to what I know. 1. 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. The Im-too-busy excuse really makes you look badespecially when the person you turned down reads what youre up to. If there is any part of you that feels that the task or the client offering it are not a good fit, knowing how to turn down a client politely can prevent you from over-committing yourself. Step 3: Be Appreciative. I am hoping the choice will prove to be completely worth it, since it IS hard to say no. Be clear, and leave no room for interpretation. Unfortunately, this project isnt a good fit for our team [insert a brief explanation, if the situation demands]. Optional (give referrals):I am enclosing a few names of other designers that may be a better fit for your project. Remember that turning down a client is a business decision, so treat it as such. 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 regret to inform you: (phrase) This phrase is used to introduce bad news. Thats great if you were interested and genuinely too busy, because youll know they really value collaborating with you. Do i profit or am I inconvenienced for my efforts and do I grow as a freelance business and as a Designer if not then i cannot take it on. Sorry. Optional (waitlist):Our schedule for a project of your size is opening in X months. Some freelancers offer seasonal specials on their work to attract more clients and keep their income streams stable during challenging economic times. Give a reason, but don't go into detail. They bring you interesting projects, they learn and adapt based on your recommendations, How to deal with difficult clients (and avoid them!). This may lead to future work or other opportunities. So whether its a big project paying generously or a smaller project paying little, you always have to stay focused on your goals. On the other end of the scale, when times are quiet I do take on occasional graphic design work which doesnt pay so well. Saying no to a client can be difficult and awkward. 3. I guess we all have to .Trust our gut! By establishing guidelines for yourself and learning how to say No when something doesnt fit within your professional goals, you will avoid a lot of miscommunication, confusion, and heartache for yourself. The client would still expect first quality thought and execution, and still eat up the schedule deciding by committee, so while this job constituted a huge chunk of change, I turned them down. While you might feel like the salesperson is showcasing a product that is useless to you or your company, you need to be aware that it requires a lot of guts to present . I was short of projects at the time but still turn them down or offered a higher rate. Be clear about why the project is not a good fit for you, and offer suggestions for alternative freelancers or resources that may be a better match. I hook them up with a cheaper designer who provides a lower level of service, if only to show the client that a job done cheaply is NOT a job done well. Thanks again for considering us. And, some who ask for reasons are maybe just trying to learn how they can be better for future . I feel really good about declining the project. You'll still be able to engage clients seamlessly with online proposals and automated engagement letters, and run your business on autopilot by connecting apps to Ignition. Changing jobs is a big life event and the decision isn't always an easy one. It was a $200 project. If youd like to interview me or request a guest blog post, please submit your request through theContact Page. I have had to turn down clients many times. Need to hire a contractor for that home improvement project? No two no's are alike: No, the timing isn't right. I cant think of a better reason to decide up front what you will or wont work on based on the strength of your reputation. Normally, to do a (kitchen remodel/bedroom design + install/ install new floors/etc) we would require at least (amount of time). If anything seems amiss, you now know how to turn down a client politely and find a venture thats better suited to your needs. I havent been paid for anything that Ive done so I dont want to lose my time investment but this client is really rubbing a hole in my other work. As far as how to notify a contractor that he or she didnt get the job, a short handwritten letter, brief email or a quick phone call should suffice. Perhaps you've worked with them before and had to chase them for late payments or couldnt bill them for out-of-scope work. Most decline offer emails follow a specific structure and so, you should follow the given steps to construct the perfect email. False hope just encourages the other person to waste more of their time, and yours. 7 Steps to Politely Turn Down a Job Offer. Step 4: Share Your Reason (s) Better Job Offer Found. 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