Working · Box 17 · Enhancement Training
Choosing My Client
"You do not just take a job offer." Measure first whether you and the client are a good fit.
Length: 18 minutes
For: Anyone with multiple offers, or struggling with a current client
Updated: 2026-05-15 (v2)
Replaces: 2019 video lesson
"I was onboarded by a client, but after only two weeks I am already miserable. Should I resign?"
Common question from new BFF learners
Friend, many people in BFF have gone through this same situation. The "take any offer" mindset can make sense for the very first client. But after that, you do not just take a job offer. You check first if it fits the stage you are in. Today we will walk through four business types so you know what to say no to.
The wrong question vs the right question
Wrong question: "How much is the pay?"
Better question: "What kind of business is this, what growth stage are they in, what is their communication culture, and can I realistically deliver what they need this quarter?"
The 4 business types you'll encounter
| Type | What they need | Best fit for |
|---|
| 1. Solopreneur / Startup founder | Generalist VA who can wear many hats. Fast pace. Direct comms with founder. | Generalist Admin · Solo Entrepreneur · Polished (jr-tier) |
| 2. Small Business (5-50 emps) | Specialist in 1-2 areas. SOPs exist. Reports to manager, not owner. | Transitioner · Polished · Creative |
| 3. Mid-Market Company (50-500) | Highly specialized roles. Tools-heavy. Bureaucratic. Long onboarding. | Polished Freelancer · Specialized Skill seekers |
| 4. Agency / Outsourcing firm | Manage their end client. White-label work. Strict deliverables. | Creative · Transitioner · Generalist with wedge |
Red flags across all 4 types
No structured onboarding. Pays weeks late. Constantly changes scope. Rude communication. Refuses to give a review timeline. If there are two or more red flags, do not force yourself to deserve that stress. Decline.
Example: a common client-fit progression
Example client journey (typical Filipino freelancer trajectory)
First client (Year 1)
Often a solopreneur founder. Low rate. Took anything. Stayed several months. The grit lesson.
Clients 2-4 (Year 1-2)
Mix of small business + solopreneur. Starts filtering by communication culture.
A red-flag client
Eventually you fire one for constant scope creep. Saves emotional energy.
Mature fit (later years)
Mid-market, structured, stable. Often takes years of iteration to earn.
The honest moment
Saying "I'm not the right fit" to a paying client feels like betrayal the first time. It rarely is. The "good clients are scarce" mindset is the trap. There are more good clients than fear tells you. Clarity about fit opens better matches.
The warning the old video did not teach
The "dream client" syndrome
A Fresh Starter may need to take any reasonable first offer. A Polished Freelancer can go too far in the opposite direction and reject anything that is not a dream client. The balance is standards yes, perfectionism no. If no client fits your filter for three months, lower the bar by 20%.
Practice. Build your client filter. 18 minutes.
- Open Google Sheets. Title: "My Client Filter."
- List 5 client must-haves. (Examples: structured onboarding, weekly check-in, paid within 7 days, scope written, async OK.)
- List 5 client must-avoid. (Examples: ghosting, weekend emergencies, scope creep, hourly negotiation drama, 1-star LinkedIn reviews.)
- Audit current client (or last) against the list. Score 0-10. Below 5 = exit plan.
- Audit each new offer using the filter. Below 6 = decline. Above 8 = priority.
Action items, based on your archetype
🌟 The Polished Freelancer~25%
Past the "take anything" stage. Build deliberate roster.
Do this week
- Audit current 3-5 clients. Score each. Drop the lowest 1 in Q3.
- Define ideal client profile (ICP). Industry + size + comms style + budget tier.
- Apply only to roles matching ICP. Quality over volume.
💼 The Corporate Transitioner~30%
Default to small business / mid-market with structured operations.
Do this week
- Target US-based small business with night-shift overlap. Familiar BPO rhythm.
- Filter out solopreneur with no SOPs. Chaos doesn't fit your discipline.
- Ask about onboarding structure in interview. No structure = pass.
🎨 The Creative Specialist~15%
Small business + agency are best. Solopreneur risky if no taste.
Do this week
- Ask for sample of client's existing brand work. If the client has no taste or direction, you may end up doing heavy work with endless revisions.
- Require revision cap in contract. Maximum 3 rounds. Not unlimited.
- Prefer agency clients. They know how to brief creative work.
🛒 The Solo Entrepreneur~15%
Best fit with e-commerce small business + agency.
Do this week
- Target Shopify / Amazon FBA small businesses. Familiar territory.
- Filter out clients with no inventory system. The "I will figure it out as we go" client is a red flag.
- Position as "VA who's been on the operator side." Higher fit, higher rate.
📋 The Generalist Admin~10%
Best with small business that needs your wedge + adjacent skills.
Do this week
- Match wedge to business type. Bookkeeping → SMB w/ revenue. Calendar EA → exec at mid-market.
- Avoid jobs labeled "I need help with everything." That is scope creep waiting to happen.
- Negotiate retainer hours upfront. Do not leave it at "see how it goes."
🌱 The Fresh Starter~5%
First client = take whatever's reasonable. But screen out abusive.
Do this week
- For first client, focus on learning + getting paid. Do not optimize too early.
- 3 minimum standards: pays on time, clear scope, respectful comms.
- Below 3 = walk away. Even if it's your first offer.
Hold steady, BFF Team. We keep going together.
– Lala