There are easy ones that anyone who has worked for a while has encountered… Client has a history of not paying, they don’t want to pay what you know it will cost your company, the team has screwed you over in the past, etc. We probably turn down more than most… and here’s why.
1 – We’re just not great at that type of work. There are firms and engineers who specialize in distinct areas of work/development. We have been approached with opportunities to do roadway work, traffic work, large scale subdivision work. We generally turn it down. If we can’t get it done efficiently and with high quality, there’s no reason to force it.
2 – Location. Don’t get me wrong, I have worked on projects in probably 40 states and hundreds of municipalities and I think the understanding of the Client can provide a HUGE benefit even when I may not have a lot of experience in one municipality. That said, there are some places that simply do not run their approval processes in a normal fashion and can be a very difficult process. Could be political, could be the utilities, could be requirements to be in person and on-site that just puts the budget out of reach. Need an example? I’ve got ‘em… Albany, NY… Round Rock, TX… Greenville, SC…
3 – Misalignment. We have specific Core Values that we have established as a firm for a reason. If a Client is going against those values, it doesn’t much matter how much the project will pay. While there are nuances to design and interpretations of regulations, when a Client asks us to fudge a floodplain line or not inquire when we see a potential environmental issue, the answer will always be “no thank you”. Even if it is something that my license isn’t on the line for, approaching a project with that kind of thought process is a red flag.
4 – Unresponsiveness. Most engineers doing private work have had a Client that kicks you off and then proceeds to not answer the phone, fill out required paperwork, or give a thumbs up on a schematic layout. When that same Client then throws you under the bus for not meeting a deadline, it’s time to move on. In a respectful healthy business relationship, we respect each other’s time and expertise – period.
5 – We are too busy. I would much rather let a Client know that we cannot meet their deadline before we get under contract. One of three things happen when you do that… MOST of the time the deadlines they gave were somewhat flexible and they can shift some things around to work within a slower timeline. SOMETIMES – they go to a different firm (who is likely just as busy) who promises more than they can deliver and the Client comes back for the next project. ALMOST NEVER – the Client moves to a different firm and they are able to perform. Even in this case, we usually get another shot. In all of these cases, the final outcome is a positive one for my firm and for the Client.