How to Protect Your Time & Energy in Your Business
Welcome back to The Spa Business Building Podcast. I'm Tiffany, your host. Today, I want to talk about something very important in our businesses.
And oftentimes, I see a lot of new and seasoned business owners not doing this in their business. And I can completely understand how difficult it can be, but I assure you, it is essential. So today, we're gonna talk about setting boundaries in our business.
And when I am working with a lot of new business owners or even scrolling through Facebook groups and they're asking, what are your cancellation policies or what should I do in this situation, it is very clear that they haven't set boundaries in their business. And in my opinion, I just think that having those clear boundaries is so important because, you know, we're dealing with clients, we're dealing with their personal needs and requests. And when you set those clear boundaries, you're setting those lines drawn for your own personal and business needs.
So here's why setting clear boundaries is so important. Number one, it protects your time and energy. Being in the beauty and wellness industry can be very fulfilling, but it's also so demanding.
And clear boundaries can help you avoid burnout by preventing clients from exceeding appointment times, from contacting you outside of your working hours, or asking for unreasonable favors. And this allows you to recharge and show up for your clients feeling your best. Number two, I think it helps you to maintain professionalism, because clear boundaries establish a professional working relationship with your clients.
And this includes things like having a cancellation policy, outlining what services are included in your appointment, and having set pricing. It also prevents misunderstanding and keeps things clear for everyone. Number three, it reduces stress and protects your well-being.
Ambiguous boundaries can lead to clients feeling they can take advantage of your time or flexibility. And I know that we have all had this happen, clients showing up late, clients rescheduling, or they're coming in asking for extra time. So by setting clear expectations from the start, you can reduce stress and create a work environment that protects your well-being.
Number four, it sets realistic expectations for clients. Clients come to you for expertise and knowledge, and having clear boundaries helps them understand what to expect from you and your services. And this includes things like the scope of your services, what results are achievable, and your availability.
And number five, it protects your business from liability. Clear boundaries can help protect you from liability issues. For example, having a clear cancellation policy ensures you're compensated for missed appointments.
But overall, setting clear boundaries in your beauty or wellness business benefits both you and your clients because it fosters a respectful and professional working relationship. It protects your time and well-being, and it allows you to run a successful and sustainable business. So here are some boundaries that you can consider setting in your beauty or wellness business.
So you wanna consider setting time boundaries, like your schedule. So clearly define your work hours and stick to them. This includes when you start and finish appointments, your lunch break, and any set days you are closed.
You will want to think about your appointment length. So set standard appointment times for different services and communicate them clearly to clients. This helps avoid appointments running over and impacting your schedule.
You'll want to set a cancellation policy. This is so important. Have a clear cancellation policy that outlines the timeframe required to cancel without a fee.
You'll also want to consider setting communication boundaries. This is a big one. I see this so much, and I still struggle with this myself.
So you'll want to set that preferred contact method, specifically your preferred method of communication, whether it's email, phone calls, text messages, and during what hours you'll typically respond. You'll want to set an after hours communication. So to decide on a policy for after hours communication, you might choose not to respond to work messages outside of business hours.
I highly recommend that you don't for your sanity. You'll also want to consider setting client services boundaries. So your scope of services clearly outline the services you offer and what's included in each one.
This avoids misunderstandings about what clients can expect for the price. I see this a lot in permanent makeup and lash services, especially when it comes to like fills or removals, or when it comes to permanent makeup, any sort of touch ups. I see there seems to be a disconnect or misunderstanding in what's expected in those particular services or what's included in the initial service.
You'll also want to set realistic expectations. So set those expectations about the results you can achieve with your services. Be honest about what treatments can and can't be done.
You'll also want to set those personal requests. Decide what personal requests you're willing to accommodate, such as running late or squeezing in extra services during an appointment. Sometimes I'll have clients come in who want to add on an extra service, and I will allow it as long as there's time, but I do not allow it if I'm going to run into someone else's time.
Don't do it for the sake of money, because then you're affecting someone else's service if you are running over. As far as running late, if someone shows up late, then I will let them know that they are late, and if I have time, I will squeeze them in that allotted time. Otherwise, they are paying for the service that they scheduled, and they are getting the time that is remaining.
You'll also want to consider setting physical boundaries. So physical contact. Depending on your service, you may want to set boundaries around physical contact beyond what's necessary for the treatment.
And remember, it's also important to communicate these boundaries clearly to your clients. You can include them on your website, your booking information, and have a client information sheet outlining your policies. By being upfront and clear, you can create a professional and respectful work environment for everyone.
Definitely have them on your website. Definitely have those policies in your booking confirmations, or when they are booking, to initial that they understand your cancellation policies, return policies, no show, late fees. One thing I do not recommend is sending out or posting those on social media.
Now, you can have a highlight tab that has your policies, but I see so many people posting their policies on their feed, and I think it just looks professional and tacky. You are attacking the wrong people. You can set those boundaries if someone is crossing the lines, you can set those boundaries with those clients by sending emails and letting them know the policies.
And if they have signed or initialed any sort of policies, but stop posting them to your social media feeds. You can send out a mass email reminding clients what your policies are, but definitely have them in your booking confirmation and have them when they are scheduling the services, when you are taking a credit card. Don't forget to take the credit card information so you can charge for no show appointments.
So that is it for today. We are talking about setting boundaries. If you found this information to be helpful, please leave a review and share it with your fellow Beauty and Wellness Besties.
That is all. Stay inspired, stay fabulous, and happy business building.
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