**Last update: November 15, 2023**
As entrepreneurs, we all know that paid customers are the lifeline of our service-based businesses. But should we just accept every paying customer without question? My answer is a resounding no, even if you’re just starting out.

Why? Because not all paid customers are worth taking on. Some are not created equal in terms of their value, both in the beginning and in the long run. You might encounter cheapskates who are ready to take advantage of you at every turn. Sure, they’re paying, but with conditions that turn into “scope creep.” They’ll ask you to do more than what was agreed upon without paying any extra. Worse yet, they’ll try to charge back and get their money back with lame excuses or even outright lies once they’ve got what they wanted.

