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The Cash Flow ContractorAuthor: Benali
If youre like most contractors we know, then you started your business because youre passionate about and great at your craft. You also wanted to be your own boss. Owning a business has a lot of advantages, but also a lot of challenges. We started this podcast to talk about things that matter to you as an owner, like business fundamentals, sales processes, marketing, leadership, and much more. Armed with knowledge, youll be able to reach your goals, whether thats growth, getting your shop to run without you, or anything in between. Language: en-us Genres: Business, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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291 - What to Do When a Client Is Draining Your Time, Team, and Margin
Episode 291
Thursday, 29 January, 2026
Is that demanding client worth the headache? In this episode, Martin and Khalil dive into the real costs of toxic clients, beyond just profit margins. They share practical strategies for identifying red flags before signing contracts and provide a clear framework for deciding when to walk away. If you're tired of problematic clients draining your business energy, this episode offers the actionable solutions you need.What You’ll LearnHow to identify the true cost of toxic clients beyond just moneyRed flags to spot during the sales process before signing a contractStrategies for handling difficult clients already in your pipelineA practical framework for deciding when to walk away from a projectHow letting go of bad clients opens up capacity for better opportunitiesTime Stamps00:39 - The Demanding Client02:05 - Identifying and Managing Toxic Clients09:01 - Spotting Red Flags Before Signing a Contract20:18 - Handling Difficult Clients: Strategies and Solutions24:13 - Evaluating the Impact of a Problematic Client24:51 - Strategies to Finish a Challenging Job27:46 - Qualifying and Scoring Clients36:19 - The Importance of Respect and CommunicationSnippets from the Episode"The real costs aren't just the money that you don't make, but the dysfunction in your company that comes from people being irritated." - Martin Holland"Bad clients show up and you can follow your process to a T and they can still slip through. Sometimes you do need the job. This is something to strive for." - Khalil Benalioulhaj"80% of your problems come from 20% of the people. There comes a point where you have to stand there and say, 'I don't want to do that, and therefore I am not going to do that.'" - Martin Holland"You thought that job was going to bring in all this money, but it'd be so much better if you just worked with these ideal clients, these ideal projects, and did way more of them." - Khalil BenalioulhajKey TakeawaysIdentify both tangible and intangible costsDocument your red flags checklistEvaluate clients on multiple factorsMaintain professionalism when ending relationshipsCreate systems to pre-qualify future clientsFocus on leads to increase confidenceShare expectations upfront with clientsResources24 Things Construction Business Owners Need to Successfully Hire & Train an Executive AssistantSchedule a 15-Minute Roadblock CallBuild a Business that Runs without you. Explore our GrowthKits Need Marketing Help? We Recommend BenaliNeed Help with podcast production? We recommend DemandcastCheckout Quo More from Martin Hollandtheprofitproblem.comannealbc.com Email MartinMeet With MartinLinkedInFacebookInstagramMore from Khalilbenali.com Email KhalilMeet With KhalilLinkedInFacebookInstagramMore from The Cash Flow ContractorSubscribe to our YouTube channelSubscribe to our NewsletterFollow On Social: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X(formerly Twitter)Visit our websiteEmail The Cashflow Contractor
