Setting Boundaries: The Key to Successful Client Relationships
As an entrepreneur in the music industry, I have struggled in the past a lot with boundaries with my clients and friends. It can be challenging, especially when your closest friends are your target market. Here are some lessons I have learned about creating strong boundaries.
Make sure to include terms and conditions in your agreements. Include a policy that states all sales are final and no refunds. It is absolutely possible for clients to take advantage of you if you do not.
I had one client that signed up to work with me for 12 months. It was absolutely great until he stopped paying me out of nowhere. Eventually, I got tired of asking him for payment and paused the program. In business it happens. This really affected me because I took it too personally. Being an artist, I have such a passion for helping other people achieve success, especially artists. But at the end of the day I realized if it was meant to be, it would be. One day that client might return and want to work with me but I would have stronger policies in place. It was a learning lesson. I am always grateful for learning lessons and they only make you stronger as a business owner.
If you have been in business long enough it will happen. Clients will ghost you from time to time. You will have people asking for refunds. It is part of the long game. Having a policy in place will increase your chances of not having clients who ask for it. When they sign an agreement they clearly agree to the terms and conditions. So then if they default on payment or you close their account it is totally on them.
Make sure you set time boundaries. Figure out when you want to be available for clients. You could make your schedule open Monday-Friday 9-5pm for questions or only two days a week. I am still actively working on improving this in my business. Like I mentioned when you are too kind to your clients and they want to be your friend or even are your friends it can be easy to throw all your time boundaries out the window. It is crucial that you establish strong boundaries and energetic protection so you are not just giving your time and energy to clients 24/7.
Last but certainly not least, it is important to make sure you get paid for your time. I have had clients who tell me they just help people for fun which is fine. But at the end of the day unless you are running a nonprofit you need to value your time. If a client pays for X for X price please do not just spend hours on the phone with them answering questions 24/7. You can have a time and place to answer questions but if you let them call you all the time, you are teaching them how to treat you. People will not usually come up with their own boundaries around you. It is your responsibility to create these boundaries.
Have you ever struggled with boundaries and had to implement stronger ones with clients? If so what did you do to make a change? Want more of these tips? Look out for my upcoming book.