Can we talk about taking on big clients versus sticking with small ones?

I was chatting with an agency owner in Denver last month who said he regrets going after a $50k monthly retainer client because it took over everything and killed his team's energy. He told me 'I should have kept the 10 small clients who actually appreciated us.' Makes me wonder if bigger accounts are really worth the squeeze or if we're all just chasing numbers.

2 comments

2 Comments

nancy38d ago

Stopped me cold when I read that $50k number. That's a lot of cash but also a lot of headache I guess.

evan517d ago

Oh man, that Denver story really hits home for me. I remember back when I used to dog-sit for a neighbor's golden retriever, and that dog was a handful but the neighbor always paid on time and was super grateful. But then I took on a job watching three hyperactive huskies for someone who was always traveling and it just turned into chaos, similar to what @nancy3 is getting at. That big husky gig paid triple but I spent all my time cleaning up messes and chasing them around the park instead of actually enjoying the work. It's like the big clients promise a lot but they can suck the life out of you because you're always on edge trying to keep them happy. Small clients appreciate you more, they send you a Christmas card or a thank you note, and that matters more than a fat paycheck in the long run. The agency owner was right to regret that $50k monster because sometimes the headaches just aren't worth the cash.

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