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I have made commitments to my clients that will be difficult

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:16 pm
by mguise
I have a freelance web/graphic design business that I have been building for a while. I recently accepted a full time job at a company working in web development. My problem is that the job starts in a couple of weeks. I have made commitments to my clients that will be difficult for me to fill while I have the full time job, i.e. due dates, etc.

As I am the only person in the company (it's an LLC) it's really too small to sell. Here is my dilemma. About a year ago I moved from a large city to a small town in south east Iowa. Two clients that I recently picked up is the city I live in. Only a population of about three hundred people. And the transport company that is located about a block from my house. I live next to these people so I don't want to make anyone mad. I need someone to take over these projects (websites) if I can. These clients have already signed contracts and paid me half up front to begin work. We are in the early stages of the design process.

So what do I do. I don't want to get into any legal problems as there is a contract. I also don't want to upset anyone because I am neighbors with them. I just don't have the time any more to commit to what I told them I would do.

Any business advice would be much appreciated.

Re: I have made commitments to my clients that will be diffi

Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:29 am
by josh
Why are you sacrificing an existing commitment to make a new one. I'd rather go out partying every day instead of working, its called responsibility...

Do you think someone is going to take the job for half pay? I think you should give them the money back, or turn down the job offer

Re: I have made commitments to my clients that will be diffi

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:53 am
by social_experiment
mguise wrote: I don't want to get into any legal problems as there is a contract. I also don't want to upset anyone because I am neighbors with them. I just don't have the time any more to commit to what I told them I would do.
That's the problem when doing business with friends or people that you know; In some sense you are using the trust built-up by the 'friendship' as basis for getting the job.

Either way you are going to disappoint someone; you need to figure out which party it's going to be. If you are legally bound then you risk more than a ruined friendship, have a look at the contract and see if there is a way to get out of it (legally). What josh mentions about giving the money back could be an option in this case.

Turning down a fixed income job is risky; freelancing is good if the money / work is constant; remove either of those from the equation and it's tough to stay afloat. I would take the job, the neighbors should be able to understand (once you give their money back) your dilemma.