I have started a new business (but over 20 years of experience in what I do), and the small publication that we agreed to service for bookkeeping wanted too much for nothing, provided poor information, and we were working hours on dealing with her problems, buying additional software so she didn’t have to change hers, and ended up paying another CPA to sort through her records with the same result. She was only being charged MINIMAL fees in the first place, because we are a new business and trying to establish the business.

I finally just told her it was not going to be a lucrative agreement for us after inflammatory email after email from her, and as usual she just got nastier and nastier. I tried to call her from the very beginning and she would not even pick up the phone (and I was extremely apologetic on the recorder), and she just continued to email.

I ended the effort, and I also reminded her that I was HER customer as well and I had PAID her for her effort (I had even designed our own ad!) advertising in her publication, and I asked her to end my contract as well. I did not charge her a dime for anything.

I have learned a valuable lesson from all of this, and since mine is a home-based business, I am more than willing to “boot” a client who cannot be pleased and will take advantage of situations at my expense.

Glad to have found your article!