An Example of Why A Barber May Fire A Client

Every Client Is a Good Fit and That’s Okay

Recently, a first-time client attempted to book another appointment with me, only to discover that he was unable to do so. He reached out to ask why, and I explained—professionally and directly—that we were not a good fit for continued business.

What followed was revealing.

Instead of receiving that response with maturity or understanding, he chose to take personal jabs, question my professionalism, and even state things about me that were simply untrue. One comment, in particular, stood out. He said he wanted “a haircut in exchange for money.”

That statement alone made something very clear: we were operating from two entirely different philosophies.

Business Is Not an Obligation

There is a common belief that once someone is willing to pay, a business owner is obligated to accept their business. While that may be true for some models, it is not true for mine. I reserve the right to choose who I do business with.

This decision has nothing to do with ethnicity, occupation, social status, or background. As a matter of fact, we were the same ethnicity! However, it has everything to do with how a person presents themselves, how they communicate, and how they respond to structure, guidance, and boundaries.

If someone is consistently unpleasant in their interactions, unreasonable in their expectations, or unreceptive to how we operate, I will decline the opportunity to continue doing business with them. That is not personal, it is professional awareness from years of experience.

My Business Is Not Transactional

This particular client misunderstood something fundamental about my practice: my business is not merely transactional.

Yes, money is exchanged—but that is not the foundation of the relationship. The foundation is trust, communication, and mutual respect. When someone views the relationship as nothing more than “money for service,” it often signals a deeper misalignment. There are thousands of places to receive a haircut. This is not a place anyone is required to come, and I say that respectfully. Clients are free to choose where they feel most comfortable, just as I am free to determine who I am willing to work with.

It would be inappropriate for me to walk into someone else’s workplace, ignore their systems, bend their rules, act unpleasantly, or disrupt their workflow. I hold the same expectation in my place of business.

Protecting Purpose and Environment

Work, at its best, is tied to purpose. I am fortunate that my work aligns with my purpose. Because of that, I am intentional about protecting the environment in which I’ve created from scratch.

When someone hinders that—whether through disrespect, hostility, dishonesty, or entitlement—it becomes clear that accepting their business would be unhealthy. In those moments, the most responsible decision is to decline further business from that individual. I’d expect the same if they felt that way about me. The goal of any client or patron should be to contribute to the environment, not disrupt it.

In this case, the response I received—particularly the choice to lie directly to me and on me—only reinforced that the decision to move on was the right one.

Final Thought

Choosing not to do business with someone is not a reflection of their worth—it is a reflection of fit. And fit matters.