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Most client inquiries are pretty straightforward. Someone needs a logo, a website, or a brand refresh. We hop on a call, talk about goals, and see if we're a good fit. But every once in a while, an inquiry comes along that makes you stop and say, "Wait... what?" This is the story of the wildest client inquiry I've ever received—and the four red flags it taught me to never ignore. At the time, I was in my second year as a full-time independent designer, my first year as a single mom, and fresh off a cross-country move. It was one of those seasons where every inquiry felt important and every project felt like it might change everything. I had just wrapped up a project for a big-name tech client who shared my work on her Instagram stories. Suddenly, my inbox was getting a lot more attention than usual, and one of those inquiries came from a foundation that taught some sort of “sensual meditation.” Was it my typical client? Not even close. But I also try to stay open-minded and not assume something is weird just because it's unfamiliar to me. Their website looked professional, they cited research, and the project itself sounded straightforward. And, if I'm being completely honest, I was still in that phase of business where I wasn't asking nearly as many questions as I do now. So I moved forward.  The first red flag The first red flag appeared during one of our conversations. The person I was working with casually mentioned that the organization had dealt with some controversy and false accusations in the past. At the time, I remember thinking that was an odd thing to bring up. Most clients start by talking about goals, timelines, or deliverables. This was the first time someone led with controversy. Still, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I did a quick search online and couldn't find much. Looking back, that was probably the moment I should have slowed down and done a little more digging. Instead, I kept moving forward. The moment everything clicked A few weeks later, they sent over access to their website. As I was getting logged in, I noticed another name associated with the organization. It wasn't the name they had been using with me. It was a completely different one. So I Googled it. What came up wasn't a few negative reviews or some internet drama. The FBI had shut them down. Not "someone is upset in the comments section" shut down. Actually shut down. 😳 And that's when everything they had mentioned on our call about controversy and false accusations suddenly clicked. Up until that point, I had assumed they were talking about the normal kind of controversy that sometimes happens when organizations have strong opinions or do things differently. What I found was something entirely different. Once I started connecting the dots, I knew it was time to make a graceful exit. Truthfully, I was running away from that project so fast I probably left cartoon dust clouds behind me. 💨 Six months later About six months later, Netflix released a documentary about them. I nearly fell out of my chair! There they were: the same organization, the same people, and the same story I had gotten a glimpse of during my research—except this time it was much deeper, much more intense, and accompanied by dramatic music, interviews, and an entire production team. As I watched, all I could think was, Thank goodness I ran away from that project. More than anything, I felt relieved. Relieved that I had paid attention when something felt off and taken the time to dig a little deeper before getting any further involved. What this experience taught me Looking back, the biggest lesson this experience taught me was to trust my gut. At the time, I couldn't have told you exactly what felt off. Nothing had happened that was obviously wrong, and I was genuinely trying to stay open-minded. But there were little things that kept nagging at me. Instead of brushing those feelings aside, I got curious and started playing detective. What I've learned since then is that red flags rarely travel alone. If a client is showing you one red flag, there's a good chance they have an entire arsenal of them waiting in their back pocket. The challenge is that you don't always see them all at once. In my case, paying attention made all the difference. Today, I ask more questions. I do more research. And I've learned that walking away from the wrong client can be just as important as landing the right one. Looking back, I'm grateful for the experience because it reinforced something I still believe today: when something feels off, don't ignore it. Common client red flags to watch for Now, most client red flags don't end with an FBI investigation or a Netflix documentary. Usually, they're much less dramatic. Some of the biggest red flags I've learned to watch for are: 🚩 They immediately try to negotiate your pricing There's nothing wrong with having a budget, but if someone's first instinct is to tell you why your work should cost less, it can be a sign that they don't value what you do. 🚩 They talk badly about every previous designer, coach, consultant, or service provider they've worked with Sometimes people have genuinely bad experiences. But when everyone else is supposedly the problem, I start paying attention. 🚩 They ignore boundaries before you've even started working together Late-night texts, expecting immediate responses, wanting to skip your process, or pushing for exceptions can be clues about what the relationship will look like later. 🚩 Their story doesn't quite add up You don't always know why something feels off. Sometimes it's inconsistencies. Sometimes it's missing information. Sometimes it's just a feeling that there's more to the story. And here's the biggest one of all: 🚩 Something just feels off Sometimes you can't explain it right away. It's not one giant warning sign flashing in front of your face. It's usually a handful of little things that create a feeling you can't quite shake. If this experience taught me anything, it's that when something feels off, it's worth paying attention. Ask another question. Do a little more digging. Get curious. You'll be very glad you trusted your gut because you just never know where ignoring that feeling might lead. Sometimes, it leads to working with a client who ends up being the subject of a Netflix documentary. 🍿
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