Setting Boundaries in Your Business (Without Feeling Guilty)
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Running a business is tough. For like eight thousand reasons (on a good day).
You want to do your best work and make your clients happy. But sometimes, it feels like you're always on call, always saying yes, and always putting others first. Soon, you’re working late, over-delivering, and feeling super drained.
Sound familiar?
If so, you're not alone.
A lot of entrepreneurs and business owners struggle with setting boundaries. They worry that saying no or setting limits will make them look bad or maybe even lose them clients. 😬
But here's the thing: Boundaries aren't bad. They're actually really important for your business and your well-being (and for your clients as well!).
Boundaries help you manage your time, energy, and work better. They let you do your best work without burning out. And they help you build better relationships with your clients.
This post will show you how to set boundaries in your business—without feeling bad about it.
We'll talk about why boundaries matter, how to figure out what boundaries you need, and how to tell others about them. I'll also give you tips & examples on how to say no (graciously), and what to do when someone ignores your boundaries.
Why Boundaries Matter
Let me share first what I think about boundaries:
Boundaries aren't about telling other people what to do. They're about expressing your own comfort level and where you're willing to meet people.
For example, a boundary isn't saying, "You can't call me after 5 PM." Instead, it's, "I don't answer work calls after 5 PM."
See the difference? You're not controlling others' actions; you're deciding how you'll respond and communicating that in a clear way.
Here's why boundaries matter:
Mental Health: Good boundaries keep stress in check and prevent burnout. It's okay to say "no" sometimes—your brain will thank you.
Relationships: Clear boundaries lead to better connections. When you're upfront about what works for you, people respect that.
Personal Growth: Setting boundaries gives you room to breathe. Use that space to learn new things or just figure out who you are outside of work.
Work Quality: When you're not stretched thin, you do better work. Boundaries help you focus on what you're good at.
Time Management: Boundaries help you sort out what's important. It's about working smarter, not harder.
In your business, good boundaries mean you can serve your clients better without sacrificing your well-being. But the benefits go far beyond work. They touch every aspect of your life, helping you create a sustainable balance between your professional goals and personal needs.
Figuring Out Your Limits
To set good boundaries, you need to know what's OK, and what's not OK for you.
For example, think about your work and what makes you feel stressed or upset.
Ask yourself questions like:
When do I feel most stressed at work?
What requests from clients make me feel uncomfortable?
How much personal time do I need to feel good?
What parts of my work do I enjoy most?
I heard somewhere that when you're feeling resentful, a lot of times it's because you have unspoken or unrealized boundaries. I love that! Take a moment to think about that. If something's bugging you, there mightttt just be a boundary you need to set.
Common areas where you might need boundaries:
Work hours (when you start and stop working)
What services you offer
How quickly you respond to messages
When and how you get paid
Contracts and scope creep
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Telling Others About Your Boundaries
Once you know what your boundaries are, it’s time to clearly communicate them.
Be clear and confident when you do this. And remember, it's not about what they do, it's about your response.
Good ways to share your work boundaries:
Put them in your contracts!
Talk about them when you first meet with a client
Share how your boundaries help lead to a mutually beneficial result
Use friendly and firm language
Example: "During our project time together, please use the client portal for all communication. Messages have a tendency to get lost in back-and-forth emails, so communicating in the portal makes the process smoother and easier for all of us. Thank you!"
Learning to Say No
Saying no can be hard, but it gets easier with practice. And saying no to some things means you can say yes to what's really important.
Try ONE OF these phrases:
"That's outside our original scope, but I'm happy to either extend the scope now, or circle back after we wrap this part up. What works better for you?"
"We didn't plan for that initially, but no worries. We can either add it to our current project or tackle it as a separate piece later. Totally up to you!"
"That's a new addition to what we discussed(/was in the SOW). I'm open to expanding our work if you'd like, or we can finish this first and then dive into that. Which do you prefer?"
When Someone Ignores Your Boundaries
Sometimes people might ignore or forget about your boundaries. When this happens, speak up right away. A lot of times, it's just because they're busy, or have a different operating system. Always assume the best case scenario, and be gracious. Be polite, professional, and firm.
What to do:
Remind them of your boundary
Share why it's important to both of you
Suggest a solution that works for both of you (I always try to do a "Yes, and" rather than just a flat "No")
Write down what happened, just in case
Thinking About Boundaries Differently
Instead of feeling bad about not knowing how to set boundaries or be consistent with them, try to see them as a good thing. Boundaries help you run a better business and serve your clients better in the long run. If everyone was clear with how to work with them best, think how easily and smoothly everything could be!
Boundaries are:
A way to take care of yourself and your business
A tool for doing your best work
A way to be clear with clients
An example of good business practices
Start Small and Keep Going
You don't have to set every single boundary under the sun all at once. Start with one or two things that feel most important.
Don't know where to start? Think about scenarios when you've felt resentful in the past. Chances are that's a boundary you have but haven't communicated.
Setting boundaries isn't about being rigid, inflexible, or needing to be 'in control.' It's about knowing your comfort levels, how you work best, and communicating that in a clear, firm, and gracious way.
