The Bad Client Playbook cover art

The Bad Client Playbook

Red Flags, Boundaries, and How to Fire Clients Gracefully

Preview
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free
Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.
Prime members: New to Audible? Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Just £0.99/mo for your first 3 months of Audible.
1 bestseller or new release per month—yours to keep.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, podcasts, and Originals.
Auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

The Bad Client Playbook

By: Sam Patterson
Narrated by: Tony J Martin
Get this deal Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly. Offer ends 29 January 2026 at 11:59PM GMT.

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £18.29

Buy Now for £18.29

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

Your time and skills are valuable, and your bad clients are holding you back. It’s time to cut ties! Do you have a nightmare client who’s costing you more time and money than they’re worth? Or perhaps you have a difficult one who you’re not sure won’t become a problem further down the line. Maybe you have neither, but you’ve had them before, and now you’re determined to spot them before you agree to work with them. Nearly every freelancer has a story to tell about a client who made their life hell—and they’ll all tell you that it took its toll on their health, happiness, and job satisfaction. You didn’t start your freelance career to be in this situation. You started it because you have a valuable skill that deserves to be paid for fairly—and because you want the freedom that comes with working for yourself. Your nightmare client is crushing that dream and holding you back from the business you deserve… so it’s time to take action!

Sam Patterson has interviewed over 60 freelancers in depth, and using their stories, he’s created a framework you can use to screen clients before you work with them, recognize when it’s time to cut ties, and fire them professionally without landing yourself in a legal mess.

Firing your nightmare clients is the best decision you’ll ever make, and it will be much easier to replace the money you were getting from them than you think. This essential guide for freelancers will show you how.

It’s normal to feel guilty about terminating a contract with a client, and it’s natural to worry about whether you’ll be able to replace the income. But the reality is that a nightmare client is costing you far more than they’re benefiting you, and you deserve better. It’s time to make a change. The right time to drop a nightmare client is now!

©2025 Sam Patterson (P)2025 Sam Patterson
Business Development & Entrepreneurship Career Success Conflict Resolution & Mediation Entrepreneurship Management & Leadership Marketing & Sales Negotiating Sales & Selling
All stars
Most relevant

Listener received this title free

Running a business taught me the hard way that not every client is worth keeping, and this book put words to everything I’d been feeling. The red flags are spot-on, the boundary advice is realistic, and the guidance on letting clients go feels respectful instead of awkward. I found myself nodding along and thinking of situations I could’ve handled better. It gave me confidence to protect my time and energy moving forward. If you work with clients and feel drained, this is an incredibly useful guide.

Saved Me From So Many Headaches

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

This audiobook delivers candid insight into the hidden costs of tolerating bad clients and the real rewards of setting boundaries. The perspective feels grounded in lived experience, offering freelancers a way to regain confidence and control in their work. It will resonate most with independent professionals ready to refine their client base and protect their time.

Reclaiming freedom

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

I picked this up because even though I’m not face-to-face with clients, I deal with them constantly through comments, messages, and social media expectations. This audiobook helped me see how those interactions still drain time, energy, and focus if boundaries aren’t clear. The real freelancer stories felt relatable, especially around guilt and over-engagement. It gave me solid guidance on recognizing red flags early and responding professionally without overexplaining or spiraling. A valuable listen for anyone navigating client relationships in public-facing spaces.

Boundaries matter

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.