When you’re a freelancer, it can be difficult to say no to clients. You don’t want to lose business, and you’re afraid of coming off as unprofessional. But if you’re not careful, you can easily find yourself working excessive hours or being contacted at night and on weekends with an expectation that emails and calls will be returned outside of regular business hours. This can quickly lead to a loss of work-life balance, and no one wants that.
So how can a freelancer say no without losing clients? It’s not always easy, but it is possible. Read on for tips for setting boundaries with clients and managing their expectations as well as recommendations on what to do if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t say no.
The Importance of Setting Boundaries with Clients
You may be a freelancer who’s always willing to go the extra mile for your clients, and that’s great. But there comes a time when you need to set boundaries and say no.
Why is it so important to set boundaries? For one, you need to protect your own time and ensure that you’re taking care of yourself. If you don’t set boundaries, you’ll quickly find yourself working excessive hours or being contacted at night and on weekends with the expectation that emails and calls will be returned outside of regular business hours. And that’s not healthy for you or your business.
Another reason to set boundaries is so you can focus on the work that you really want to do. When you’re constantly putting out fires because you’ve said yes to too many projects, it’s tough to focus on the tasks that are most important to you and your business.
So how can a freelancer say no without losing clients? It’s not always easy, but there are a few things you can do. Start by trying to explain why you need to set boundaries (e.g., you need time for your own projects, you need time for networking or family, etc.) and see if they’re willing to work with you. If all else fails, you can simply tell them no and hope they understand.
How to Set Boundaries with Clients without Offending Them
It can be difficult to say no to clients, especially when you’re just starting out and you’re afraid of losing them. But if you don’t set boundaries, you’ll quickly find yourself working all the time and not having any time for yourself.
Fortunately, you can set boundaries without offending your clients. The key is to be clear and honest about what you can and can’t do. Let them know your hours of operation, and be firm about not being available outside of those times. If they email or call outside of those hours, let them know that you’ll get back to them as soon as possible during your regular business hours.
By setting clear boundaries, you’re letting your clients know that you won’t be available 24/7 up front and setting clear expectations for the relationship from the very beginning.
What to Do if a Client Oversteps Your Boundaries
If a client is pushing your boundaries, it’s important to be assertive and remind them about the boundaries you set when you started working with them. Explain to the client that you’re not available at night and on weekends (or whenever your nonworking hours are).
If the client doesn’t seem to be taking your concerns seriously, it might be time to end the relationship. Remember, it’s important to protect your own well-being. Also, you don’t want to end up resenting your clients.
The Benefits of Setting Work Boundaries
When you set boundaries with your clients, you’re actually doing yourself and them a favor. Here’s why:
Create a Professional Reputation
You’re establishing yourself as a professional. When you say no to weekend work or answering emails at night, you’re letting your clients know that you have a set schedule when you focus 100% on work but you also value your time. You’re a professional who has a regular work schedule and you expect to be treated professionally.
Preventing Burnout
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed when you’re always working and never taking a break. When you set boundaries, you’re making sure that you don’t overwork yourself and that you still have time for other things in life, like family, friends, and hobbies.
Establish Trust
By setting expectations and boundaries, you’re proving to your clients that you’re reliable and trustworthy. You won’t let them down, and they can count on you to be there for them when they need you – during working hours.
How to Say No to a Client Without Losing Them
When it comes to saying “no” to clients, you should do it in a way that doesn’t make them feel like you’re rejecting them or their business. You want them to feel like you’re still available and open to working with them, but that there are just some things you can’t do or won’t do.
Here are a few tips on how to say no without losing clients:
1. Be Clear
When you say no, be clear about why you’re saying no. This way, the client knows exactly what’s happening and there won’t be any misunderstandings.
2. Don’t Over-Explain
You don’t need to give a long explanation as to why you can’t do something or why you don’t want to do something. Keep it short and sweet, and answer questions succinctly.
3. Say No Nicely
You don’t want to sound harsh or abrupt when you say no, so be polite. Thank them for considering you, and let them know that you’re still open to working with them in the future. If you can refer them to someone else whom you think could help them, make the referral. This is a great way to end the conversation on a positive note.
FAQs About Setting Work Boundaries as a Freelancer
Freelancers are often asked to work overtime, during weekends, and outside of normal business hours. It can be difficult to say no, especially if you’re afraid of losing clients. But it’s important to set boundaries so you can maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Here are some common questions freelancers have about setting boundaries:
Question: How can I say no without losing clients?
Answer: You don’t need to be blunt or rude when refusing to work overtime or on weekends. Simply explain that you need to stick to your regular hours in order to maintain your work-life balance. You could also offer an alternative solution. For example, if you work for the client onsite, you could offer to come in for an extra hour during the workday or to work on the project remotely to add some extra hours.
Question: What if my client contacts me outside of regular business hours?
Answer: If a client contacts you outside of regular business hours, remind them that you’re not available at that time and ask them to contact you during normal business hours. You could also set up an automated email or voicemail reply with your response that you can turn on during non-work hours.
Key Takeaways for Freelancers about Setting Boundaries and Saying No
It’s hard for all freelancers to say no to clients, especially when your income is dependent on them and you don’t want to lose them. However, if you don’t set boundaries, you’ll quickly find yourself working all the time and having no time for yourself.
Remember these tips for setting boundaries with clients:
- Establish what hours you’re available to work, and let your clients know before you start working with them.
- Don’t be afraid to turn down a project that’s too time-consuming or outside your scope of work.
- Let clients know when you’ll be available to answer emails and return calls, which could be different from your regular working hours – it’s up to you to set the schedules that work best for you.
- If a client contacts you outside of your normal working hours, let them know that you can’t respond until the next day.
It can be hard to say no to clients, but sometimes you have to. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to keep your clients happy and still maintain your sanity.
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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