As a small business owner, I have learned many lessons in business management, customer relationships, and client retention. Here’s one of them I’ll share with you today. While one of the benefits of a business is making money (note, that’s NOT the goal) , there’s some money that’s better off not made. Here’s why.

First, as I noted in the lead paragraph, making money is not the goal of operating a business. If it is, your business will fail. The primary goal of owning/operating a business is providing your clients with a product or service they need or desire. If you do this well, you won’t have to worry about the money, it will show up on its own.

Now, about the money best not made. As a business owner, there are some clients you may gain that you will not be able to please. This isn’t necessarily your fault, or theirs. When operating a business, you will encounter all different manner of personalities in your clients. Sometimes, those personalities will clash with yours, or those of your employees. Occasionally, this clash of personalities causes a problem for you, your business, and/or your client. This isn’t good for anyone involved.

After thoroughly inspecting the situation, and talking with the client (very important), it may be best that the business and client go their separate ways. This may go against everything you’ve heard about “the customer is always right”, etc.. but it doesn’t. Most likely, the customer is right, but either your business can’t provide the needed product or solution, or the customer isn’t able to communicate the need correctly.

It’s very important to recognize situations that lead to this impasse early on so that you might be able to prevent it. If it turns to a situtation where it can’t be avoided, the earlier the mutual decision can be made, the better. You and your small business may not have the resources to be everything to everyone. By overextending, neither you nor your client will win, but you will both lose. Agreeing to go your separate ways will allow your client to get the products or services they need and allow you and your small business to focus on what you do best.

As emphasized above, it’s important to talk to your client. Don’t accept the word of your employees, although truthful, they may just be missing part of the equation. You may be able to resolve the issues by getting involved personally. The client needs to understand your position just as well as you understand theirs. In the end, though, there is some money better off not made.