One business decision I’m glad we didn’t make was continuing to hold onto a client relationship that was no longer sustainable.
They had supported us in the early days, and we were genuinely grateful for that. But as our business grew, their expectations remained tied to the version of us that personally handled everything in the field at a very low cost.
We almost kept trying to make it work out of loyalty. We gradually raised our prices, tried to transition ourselves out of the hands-on work, and continued taking on projects that we had significantly underbudgeted. We often lost money, fell behind on estimates and site visits, and struggled to focus on growing the business.
Eventually, we had to be honest with ourselves and with them: we were no longer the right fit. Ending the relationship was disappointing on both sides, but for us, it also brought an enormous sense of freedom and relief.
The lesson was that loyalty should not require you to sacrifice the health of your business. You can appreciate someone’s role in your early success while still recognizing when it is time to move on.
This really resonated with me. I'm actually working through something similar right now. I have a long-term client who has been wonderful to work with, but the pricing we agreed on years ago no longer reflects today's costs or the value my business provides.
Reading your story reminded me that there's a difference between valuing a relationship and holding onto pricing that isn't sustainable. My hope is to continue the relationship while having an honest conversation about what it takes to keep serving them well.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's given me a lot to think about.
