How to Set Boundaries With Freelance Clients

My name is Ryan, and I have a tendency to overserve. It's driven by a real love for my clients, a deep passion for what I do, and a clear calling from God to transform lives. While it's a manifestation of my commitment, it sometimes leads to overextension, affecting my ability to serve more clients and potentially harming my business. I have been working with some people close to me to figure out how to grow in this area. While I never want to stop serving, my business needs me to be better about balancing it. Here are a few things I am learning: 1. Set Clear Boundaries: The first step is setting and communicating clear boundaries. It's essential to delineate the scope of your offerings. Generosity should have its limits to prevent burnout and maintain quality. Clients will respect your professionalism more when they understand and see you adhering to these boundaries. 2. Value Your Own Time and Expertise: Recognize the worth of your time and skills. It's a common pitfall to undervalue what we bring to the table. Charging appropriately and respecting your own professional limits is crucial. This not only ensures fair compensation but also encourages clients to value your services more. 3. Schedule 'Giving Back' Time: Allocate specific time slots in your schedule dedicated to going the extra mile for clients. This could be additional consultations or support sessions. By scheduling these in advance, you prevent ad-hoc overextensions and keep your work-life harmony in check. 4. Communicate Openly: Transparency with clients about the value and scope of your services is critical. Clear communication can foster a mutual understanding and appreciation of the professional relationship. It also sets realistic expectations, preventing misunderstandings and over-demands. 5. Prioritize Self-Care: Lastly, always remember the importance of self-care. A well-rested, healthy professional can serve clients more effectively. Regularly investing in your own well-being ensures you have the energy and enthusiasm necessary for high-quality service. As I said, I am learning as I go. If I am honest, I will always lean towards overserving (which I am ok with). But I want to get better so my business gets better!

Client: "You're firing me?" Me: Yes. It might sound bizarre, but sometimes, letting go of a client is the best decision you can make for your business. A couple of years ago I had to make the tough call to fire a coaching client. Usually I’m able to vet clients before I agree to work with them. But it didn’t work this time. This client, let's call them Client X, had a habit of crossing boundaries. Our agreement was clear: - regular calls, - defined deliverables, and - respectful communication. However, Client X started demanding more - calls outside business hours, - expecting instant responses, and - generally asking for far beyond what we agreed upon in the contract. This was not only draining but also unsustainable. The lesson? Your business, your rules. As entrepreneurs, especially in the online space, we often fear losing clients. But at what cost? Your time? Peace of mind? The quality of your work for other clients? Firing Client X was a decision to prioritize my business health and the value I provide to all my clients. It was about setting boundaries and respecting my own process. Growth isn't just about gaining more clients but also about nurturing the right relationships. For all my fellow business owners out there, it's crucial to recognize when a client relationship is more harmful than beneficial. It's not just about the revenue. It’s about building a respectful, and productive working environment. Key Takeaways: ↪️ Set clear boundaries from the start. ↪️ Don't be afraid to reassess client relationships. ↪️ Your business's health and your peace of mind are invaluable. ↪️ Growth is also about quality, not just quantity. Have you ever faced a similar situation? How did you handle it?

I’ve been a freelance writer for 3.5 years, but hands down, the first year was the hardest (writing for minimum wage, burning out [twice], chasing invoices). This is the business advice I wish someone could’ve told me sooner: ⤵ 1. Clauses Are Key 🔑. Create a project proposal that includes clauses to protect your time and set boundaries. For example: • 1.1 Schedule. Proposal serves as a partnership agreement, which begins on the date of deposit receipt. Why It's Important ➜ You don’t start the project until the client pays your deposit. This protects you from doing unpaid labor. 1.2 Consultation. Retainer includes up to (insert hours) of video conferencing for the duration of the retainer. If additional calls are required, they are billed as a line-item cost of ($X) per hour. • Why It's Important ➜ This protects you from the dreaded “Can you hop on a call really quickly?” If clients want your time, they can pay for it. (I cover more must-have clauses in my newsletter – link below!) 2. Zero People-Pleasing Allowed 🚫. You can’t run a successful business if you are a people-pleaser. What are you going to say when your client wants to include something that’s not in the scope? When they want you to lower your price? When they keep delaying the start date? “It’s fine, don’t worry!” is not going to build a profitable business. Be firm. You’re not being rude: You’re just running a business. 3. Stay Put. 🏠 A lot of people become freelancers so they can work from anywhere (like me!). But your first year is *not* the time to be traveling around the world. To get your business off the ground, you'll need to be focused – which means staying put in one location. The last thing I'll say: That first year is the hardest, but if you can get past it, you *will* succeed for the long run. You got this. 🤞 Is there any freelancing business advice you wish you knew sooner? ------------------ #freelancewriting #freelanceadvice #remotework

You're a freelancer with a client that continually leans on you to get them out of jams, which isn’t necessarily uncommon or bad if properly compensated.     However, this particular client routinely overpromises and underbudgets.     You're tempted to accept the project because you love to help your people, but you also recognize the high burnout potential for not a lot of pay.     You tell yourself that if you “do them a solid,” they will reward you with future work and adequate compensation.     But this is the lie you tell yourself.    When you accept projects on the basis of "doing a favor,” you are setting a precedent for "doing favors.”    You will come to be known as the solution for unrealistic budgets.  Doing a favor may kick off a long-term relationship, but that doesn’t guarantee it will be a healthy one.     If you learn to say no to clients that don't recognize your value, it leaves more room for clients that do.    This is what it means to set boundaries as a freelancer: valuing your worth enough to prioritize sustainable relationships over unhealthy ones. -----------------------------------    ➕ Follow for more like this.   Or ring the 🔔 to be notified.     #freelance #motiondesign #motiongraphics #videoediting #business #value #favor #producer

Remote work isn’t for everyone. And, I know, that’s a tough pill to swallow. But to be a remote worker, and especially a freelancer, you have to have one crucial component: unwavering self-motivation. Yet keeping that motivation going is harder than it looks. To be a remote worker or full-time freelancer, you’ve got to: ✅ Be your own boss ✅ Make your own hours ✅ Drive your own marketing and advertising campaigns Sounds amazing, right? It is…as long as you don’t falter. No, I’m not saying you can never take time off. Just that you have to be diligent in keeping yourself on track, in chasing your goals, and, especially with your time management. Here are some ways I stayed on track with business goals after going full-time freelancing. 1️⃣ I kept my same daily routine. I’ve heard from a lot of people that they would love the flexibility to work whenever they wanted if they worked remotely. But, as it turns out, that’s not as great as it sounds, or not for me. Keeping a more traditional workday allows me to be present when my family (kids and husband) are home, and that is professional freedom. 2️⃣ I set boundaries with my clients and my team members. Many freelancers work outside of everyday business hours. They may be located in a different time zone, or simply prefer to work at night, on weekends, holidays, etc. I had to establish that I would not be available during these times. This has helped me avoid burnout and helped me keep a sense of work-life balance. 3️⃣ I set aside time each day and week to work on my business goals. It’s all too easy to let client work take up all of my hours each day — after all, it pays the bills! But I can’t learn and grow if I don’t make time for: 🟢 Marketing my business 🟢 Goal planning 🟢 Connecting with others in my network 🟢 Reading and research 4️⃣ I made more time than ever before for leisure time. Not having enough work-life balance is one of the biggest reasons I’d chased this freelance dream. Now, I take more time off, and I am diligent about being “off” when I’m not working. ✖️I don’t obsessively check work emails or Slack ✖️I don’t respond to work communications until I return to work ✖️I no longer feel guilty in prioritizing my mental health and need for rest The results of this last one have been far-reaching. I come back to work actually refreshed, restored, and more creatively tuned in than ever. How do you stay on track with motivation as a freelancer or remote worker? #freelancetips #businessgrowthtips #businessowner #remoteworktips _________________________ I work with industry leaders to help drive content strategy, solve production issues, and make impactful on-page changes for helpful content. Get more info at the link in my profile.