How To Set Boundaries With Clients In Your Design Business
Does this sound familiar? You spend days, weeks, or even months working on a design project for a client and before you know it, the work that started out as one thing has turned into something else entirely. Or maybe you have a client that continues asking for tweaks or small edits well after the scope of the project and included support has ended.
We always want to keep clients happy and help where we can but you need to know how to set boundaries with clients in your design business to prevent scope creep and give you peace of mind.
Here are a few tips for effectively setting boundaries with your clients so that their expectations are met and you don’t become burned out:
Define your boundaries
It will be difficult to enforce boundaries with your clients if you don’t have a grasp on what you need them to be! Consider you preferences in these areas:
Office hours: Decide on the days and hours you are available for communication with clients and when you will work on their projects.
Channels of communication: First of all, I recommend your cell phone NOT be included in this list! Decide which platforms you will use to communicate with your clients, whether it’s via Slack, email, Voxer, Asana, etc.
Revisions: You need to have a set number of revisions available for your clients to use so their project doesn’t get out of control!
Scope of work: Define the scope of work or deliverables you are willing to complete so you don’t end up spending time on projects that are not in your niche or specialty!
Set expectations
This may be the most important part of setting boundaries - communicating them to your clients! Make sure that from the moment your client finds you to the signing of the contract, you are communicating your boundaries and processes so they know exactly what to expect.
You can reinforce your boundaries by including them in your welcome packet, onboarding process, and discussing them directly with your client.
Finally, make sure you include an outline of your boundaries in the final contract. That way, when they get challenged, you have prior agreement from the client to adhere to them.
Uphold your boundaries!
Now that you’ve defined and communicated your boundaries, it’s time to uphold them! This is the tricky part, especially for those of us who have a hard time saying no.
This could look like an out-of-office email for inquiries outside of your working hours, or you may need to redirect a conversation to Slack if a client sends you a text or DM. And don’t be afraid to remind your client of their project scope throughout the process! Letting them know that their last revision is coming up could prevent an uncomfortable conversation later.
You should also prepare yourself to say no from time to time. When your boundaries are continually challenged, it may be time to part ways with that client.
Boundaries are so important to ensure your business operates smoothly and efficiently. Enforcing them will keep your client relationship healthy and will allow you to truly enjoy your work without becoming overwhelmed or burned out - which is the ultimate goal, right?
FREE WORKSHOP:
How to Book Big Budget Clients in your Design Business
Discover ways to start charging more for your services and work with clients you are actually excited about. If you have been feeling burnt out and over business lately, these simple changes can make a big impact to get you back to why you started your business in the first place.
