Not every prospect should be a client. Here are the red flags. THE RED FLAGS: FLAG 1: "What's your best price?" Before they even understand the value. They're shopping on price, not solution. FLAG 2: "Can you do it for free first?" Doesn't respect your time or expertise. Will not respect your boundaries later. FLAG 3: "We need this yesterday" Unrealistic expectations from day one. Will blame you when reality doesn't match fantasy. FLAG 4: "My last automation person was terrible" Maybe. Or maybe they're difficult clients. Ask: "What went wrong?" Listen carefully. FLAG 5: Budget conversation goes nowhere "What's your budget?" "I don't know." After 3 attempts, they either can't or won't pay. THE WALKAWAY SCRIPT: "Based on what you've described, I don't think I'm the right fit for this project. I can recommend [alternative] that might work better for your situation." THE MATH: Bad client at $1,500: - 20+ hours of work (scope creep) - 10+ hours of support (high maintenance) - Negative testimonial risk - Effective rate: $50/hour Walking away: - 0 hours of frustration - Time to find a good client - Mental energy preserved THE LESSON: Saying no to wrong clients makes room for right clients. Your first priority is learning and building confidence. Difficult clients destroy confidence. Easy clients build momentum. THE QUALIFICATION QUESTIONS: "What's your timeline for this?" (Filters unrealistic) "Do you have budget allocated?" (Filters non-buyers) "What have you tried before?" (Reveals expectations) 📚 More templates in Github What red flag will you watch for in your next prospect call?