6 red flags that tell you it's time to fire that client - now

The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.

The customer is always right, right? When dealing with any of the toxic clients pictured below, I'm not so sure. While misbehaving patrons sound like a success problem, it's one of the unexpected intrusions that can send the otherwise confident, capable, and rocker off their game. Sometimes your best bet is to cut them and take the "L". Here are six to let you know it's time to do it.

1. Insatiable

One of the keys to a successful and well-functioning business is to maintain clear, well-defined, and directly communicated boundaries around what you offer. In other words, your product or service should not be vague or subject to interpretation. Mine wasn't, but a few hungry customers still tried to take advantage of my company's kindness.

We gave them what they paid for, but they wanted more. Wants turned into demands, which turned into expectations that we strove to meet, and it still wasn't enough. If a client seems insatiable, showing their incredibly demanding colors from the get-go, you better set clear expectations instead of disappointing them rather than complying with their every request. Insatiable customers, by definition, can't be satisfied, and it's probably not worth your team spending time on an uphill and losing battle.

Related: 5 Reasons to Fire a Client – ​​Plus 5 Steps to Take Before You Do

2. Reputation risk

Believe it or not, some customers declare themselves unsafe before making their first purchase. These are the people who tell you that they have never been satisfied with a service provider in your industry. They brag about badmouthing other companies that "have wronged them" and leaving scathing one-star reviews online. Simply put, these customers are proving that they could – and can – be retaliated against, volatile, and a reputational risk if you don't meet their exorbitant expectations. Don't fall into a sabotage trap if a potential customer displays every precautionary warning. You have the right to refuse service; use it.

3. Pollute the pond

I recently encountered a strange and surprising situation where a client started polluting the pond, disturbing and disrespecting the rest of our clientele. While it wasn't necessarily my company's fault, it was on our territory and therefore felt like our responsibility to fix it. Imagine you're in a store and a shopper begins to harm, offend, or otherwise interfere with other shopper's experience. Will you tiptoe around the bad guys so you don't risk losing their sale, or protect the rest of the crowd at the cost of making an enemy and incurring a potential conflict or chargeback? In this case, it's a numbers game, and if one rotten apple ruins your company's offerings for the entire group, the rotten fruit must go.

4. Seesaw

Have you ever seen that customer buy a product or service, then turn around and ask for something completely different? Or worse, have you ever had a customer try to redirect your team's progress on an order by adding ten different customizations they never paid for? If a customer changes their mind, request or requirements after purchasing your product or service, they must be prepared to pay the increased price or accept the delays that their about-face might cause. If they refuse to reframe their expectations and show some appreciation for your flexibility (despite the inconvenience they've created), it's likely a sign that reasonable and achievable expectations aren't in their wheelhouse. Be direct, stand your ground, and don't let them bully you into a wild goose chase you can't win.

Related: Use These 10 Red Flags To Spot A Difficult Customer From A Mile Away

5. Infect the team

When you deal with enough different people, you start to realize that some customers are just plain mean or inconsiderate. You don't have to be every person's best friend who buys your company's product, but if a customer's treatment or attitude ruins your or your