How to Part With Your Clients
Saying goodbye should not be a shouting match, especially when it comes to your clients. There are amicable ways with which to part with them. Good begets good; when the time comes that you’ll have to do business with them again, your ex-clients will know that you’re as professional as you had been, at the time you had said goodbye. Don’t burn your bridges, if you can help it.
Look at the paperwork. There would likely have been a contract between you. At this point, be sure that you’ve kept your part of the bargain. Anything that you haven’t fulfilled can be a point of argument. Finish up on your work; to part with people amicably, you have to be willing to pay the price.
If possible, speak to your client personally. Try not to send an email. If you cannot go to him/her in person and your client is an ocean away, speak to them over the phone.
Give notice. If your departure directly influences their business, be gracious enough to allow them some time to adjust. You can also inquire on what they did and did not like about your business.
Hand over the necessary documentation. If you’ve set up something for them, say a blog or a website, then you may want to give them the means to update and improve upon it.
Be direct and polite. State the reasons why are you are parting with them. Try to focus on the positive when the time to discuss these issues comes about. Tell them how they’ve helped with your endeavor. Remember, the point here is to be truthful but not rude.
Say ‘thank you’. Express your gratitude for the opportunity to work with your client.
Your reputation will follow you around. Parting with your clients amicably will put out a good word for you and attract business. So don’t take things personally; remain professional and try to stay in touch. With all these in mind, your value as a businessman will trail happily behind you.
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