Set Boundaries with Clients in Your Small Business
What even are boundaries when it comes to running a small business?
Are they achievable?
Are they realistic?
Do they exist?
Could you dump them on a woman?
Well, those questions you might be asking are neither here nor there. Because yes, yes it is possible to set healthy boundaries with clients while running a small business, without losing money in the process.
It just takes a bit of strategy and forward thinking. And you’re very good at both of those things, even if you don’t think you are.
So, follow these 3 steps to set healthy boundaries with your clients!
Set them (for yourself) long before that client exists.
I realize that you might be in years 2 or 3 of your business, realizing now that you need to set boundaries. That’s okay. The good news is that it’s never too early, or too late, to set healthy boundaries with clients.
While it would be ideal to set these boundaries early on in your business’ journey, that isn’t always possible. So if you’re here, brand new, hoping to book your first client - well done, you.
And if you’re a bit further along, that’s okay. Just think of this first step as, “set boundaries right now, right away, before even booking a discovery call with another client.”
Fair enough?
In this first step, I want you to sit down with yourself and write down what your boundaries even are. Make a list of your boundaries for:
Communication preferences
Office hours
Non-office hours
Project timelines
Additional requests
And so on and so forth. The actual task of setting boundaries is not difficult. What makes the process *feel* difficult is when we try to set boundaries and rules, without even knowing what those rules really are.
Take some time - write those boundaries out. Then take some more time and solidify them. Make them concrete, both in your mind, in your heart, and somewhere on your computer so you can refer to them when you forget.
2. Include and communicate those boundaries throughout every step of your creative process.
Once you’ve taken the time to figure out what your boundaries are, it’s time to put them into action.
In every step of your booking and creative process, ask yourself, “is there a place for me to include a reminder about my hours, communication preferences and timing?”
First, you can place those office hours and communication preferences of yours in your email signature. (Do it now, it feels great)
Next, you can make sure to verbally mention those office hours and communication preferences in your discovery calls with prospective clients. Work it in naturally: at the end of your call, say something like, “and because I always want to be communicative and transparent, I just wanted to share my typical availability and turnaround times.” And then list those out.
Lastly, include every single one of those boundaries you set for yourself in your contract, and proposal. That’s right - your office hours, methods of communication, turnaround timelines AND project requirements should all be listed in your proposals, and in your contracts.
Trust me, once you’ve applied these rules and regulations across those three places, you won’t have to think about them again. Do the work now, and you’ll reap the rewards in no time!
3. Have a good set of email templates on hand in case of emergency.
Regardless of how thoroughly we vet our prospective clients, or how well we communicate our boundaries, people will slip through the cracks.
Sometimes, our favorite clients get a bit too comfy and forget that they, too, need to respect our boundaries. Other times, our least favorite clients continue to disrespect our boundaries, and we want to scream.
(There is no in between)
No matter what, you’ll want to have a good set of email templates on hand so that you can:
Gently remind your clients about your boundaries, without making them upset
Firmly remind your clients about your boundaries, still without making them upset
Potentially fire the clients that aren’t respecting those follow up emails, without making a complete and utter mess
A good email template will go a loooooong way, my friend. And I happen to have a book of boundary-building email templates for you, if you want them. Go on now. Go ahead and click the cute little button below and read the sales page - you know you’re curious.
