Setting Boundaries That Work
Your "no" is a complete sentence. Discover how to protect your time, energy, and sanity without losing clients.
TL;DR
Boundaries aren't about being difficult—they're about creating sustainable working relationships. The best clients respect clear expectations. Set boundaries around time, communication, scope, and payment upfront. Communicate them clearly and enforce them consistently.
Essential Boundary Types
Time Boundaries
- • Working hours: "I work Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST"
- • Response time: "I respond to emails within 24 business hours"
- • Meeting availability: "I take calls on Tuesdays and Thursdays only"
- • Vacation: "I take 4 weeks off per year, scheduled in advance"
Communication Boundaries
- • Preferred channels: "Please use email for project communication"
- • No personal phone: "I don't give out my personal phone number"
- • After-hours: "I don't check messages after 6pm or on weekends"
- • Emergency definition: "An emergency is X, not Y or Z"
Scope Boundaries
- • Revision limits: "This project includes 2 rounds of revisions"
- • Scope changes: "Changes beyond original scope require a change order"
- • What's included: Clear deliverables list in every contract
- • What's not included: Explicitly state exclusions
Payment Boundaries
- • Deposits: "I require 50% upfront before work begins"
- • Payment terms: "Net 15, with late fees after 30 days"
- • Rush fees: "Projects under 1-week turnaround incur 50% rush fee"
- • Work stoppage: "Work pauses if payment is more than 30 days late"
Boundary Scripts That Work
When asked to work weekends:
"I appreciate the urgency, but I don't work weekends as it's important for my productivity during the week. I can prioritize this first thing Monday morning."
When scope creeps:
"That's a great addition. It's outside our current scope, but I'd be happy to provide a quote for that as a separate project."
When payment is late:
"I noticed the invoice from [date] is still outstanding. Per our agreement, I'll need to pause work until this is resolved. Happy to resume once payment clears."
When declining a project:
"Thank you for thinking of me. Unfortunately, I'm not able to take on new projects right now. I'd recommend reaching out to [alternative] who does great work in this area."
Key Principles
- Set boundaries early: It's easier to maintain boundaries than establish them later
- Be consistent: Enforce boundaries every time, or they become meaningless
- No is complete: You don't always need to justify or explain your boundaries
- Good clients respect them: If a client pushes back repeatedly, they're not your ideal client
Note: These are general guidelines, not legal or business advice. Every client relationship is unique. Consult with a business advisor for your specific situation.
Know Your Worth
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