How to set boundaries with clients (without losing them)

Most of you reading this are probably here because you signed up for the free course: Working With Clients, or found me via Instagram or YouTube.

So, chances are you know I am very passionate about helping designers understand the ins and outs of successfully managing client projects. And when I got this question from one of you: “How do I set boundaries with clients without them dropping the project?”…

… I knew I hadn’t completely gotten through to you all just yet.

Which is why we’re tackling this exact question in today’s newsletter.

And let me clarify, I get why this question came up. When you’re starting out, every client feels precious.

You’re terrified that saying “no” means losing money.

So you become a “yes-person” by default:

• Client wants multiple revisions? “Sure, no problem!”

• Client wants to completely change direction halfway through? “Of course!”

• Client wants to add 5 new deliverables to the project scope? “I can make that work!”

But none of this is really “fine”, and most of the time, you can’t “make it work”.

In fact, you end up working twice as hard for half the respect, delivering mediocre work because you’re constantly second-guessing yourself, and attracting the wrong clients who see you as a task-taker rather than an expert they can trust.

If I am being completely honest, the reason you’re struggling with this is deeper than not knowing how to set boundaries.

It’s that you’re operating from a scarcity mindset.

Think about it, would you have this fear of losing clients if you had a pipeline full of potential projects?

I didn’t think so.

When you believe this might be your only client this month, you’ll compromise everything to keep them happy.

So what do you end up doing?

You approach boundaries like damage control.

You wait until a client has already crossed the line, then try to backtrack.

Generic Designer:“Um, actually, we agreed on 3 revisions and this would be the 7th one…”

Client:“But this is just one small change! It’ll take you 5 minutes.”

What you might not realise is that by this point, you’ve already lost.

You’re negotiating from a position of weakness because you never established your expertise and process up front.

The client now sees you as someone who makes arbitrary rules rather than someone who follows a proven process.

And once that dynamic is set, every interaction becomes a negotiation instead of a collaboration.

So, what do Strategic Brand Designers do differently?

To start with, they don’t operate from a place of scarcity.

They know they can bring real value to their clients, and ensure they convey that every chance they get.

Which brings me to: they set boundaries with the very first interaction, not after the client says yes.

Let’s use some examples of how that looks in specific situations.

When they first reach out to a prospect, they’re not saying “I can design whatever you need!”

They’re saying, “I help businesses solve specific positioning challenges through Strategic Brand Identity. Based on what I see on your website, you might be dealing with X problem. Would you like to see how I’d approach this?”

When they send your proposal, they’re not listing “Logo, brand guidelines, whatever else you need.”

They’re presenting “Strategic Brand Identity Package: A 6-phase process that transforms how your audience perceives your business. Here’s exactly what we’ll accomplish together…”

When they present their work, they’re not asking “What do you think?”

They’re explaining “Based on our strategy sessions, here’s exactly how this design solves your differentiation challenge, and why this approach will connect with your ideal customers.”

See what’s happening here?

Boundaries are the natural result of positioning yourself as the expert from the start, and not “rules” you impose on difficult clients.

You establish expertise by leading every interaction with strategy and process.

When clients hire you because they trust your strategic approach (not because you’re the cheapest option), they expect you to lead the project.

How do you stop being a “yes-person” and start being the Strategic Brand Designer your clients actually need?

Use this blueprint to build boundaries that clients respect (and that attract better projects):

Step 1: Build abundance by taking control of your pipeline

You cannot set boundaries from a place of desperation.

So to ensure you genuinely feel comfortable, you need multiple prospects in your pipeline. Not by hoping you get a referral, but by taking ownership.

How? Well, there are basically 3 ways to get new customers: Content, paid ads, and outreach. For designers who don’t have any high-paying clients yet, outreach is the fastest path to abundance.

• Content takes >6 months to build momentum

• Paid ads require a budget and conversion optimization skills

• Outreach gives you direct access to prospects within weeks

Start reaching out to 15-20 new prospects every week. Don’t pitch your services, just start conversations about their business challenges.

The goal is to create so many opportunities that losing one client doesn’t feel catastrophic.

Step 2: Offer a packaged service (not custom everything)

Generic Designers:“I am a really skilled designer! Here’s my portfolio. Let me know if you have any work for me?”

Strategic Brand Designers:“I offer Strategic Brand Identity packages that solve this [specific business problem you’re facing]. Would you like to hear more?”

When you offer “custom design services,” you’re inviting clients to direct your process.

They think: “Great, I can tell this person exactly what to make.”

Instead, package your expertise into a defined service with:

• Clear deliverables

• Defined scope of work

• Established timeline

• Specific outcomes

You tell clients exactly what you do and how it solves their problems. Not the other way around.

Step 3: Be over-prepared for every client interaction

Confidence comes from competence.

You can’t set boundaries if you’re unsure about your own decisions.

So before every client call, presentation, or design review:

• Know exactly why you made each design choice

• Understand how it connects to their business goals

• Prepare responses to common pushback

Clients respect expertise. They push back against uncertainty.

Step 4: Replace “yes” with “I’ll think about it”

No one respects a “yes-person”. But no one likes someone inflexible either.

So, a better approach is to stop giving immediate answers to every request.

Instead of:“Sure, I can add those 3 new color options for you to compare!”

Try:“That’s an interesting idea. Let me think about how that fits with our overall strategy, and I’ll get back to you.”

This does two powerful things:

1. Shows you’re thoughtful, not reactive

2. Gives you time to craft a strategic response

Maybe after thinking it through, you realize their request actually makes sense and aligns with the project goals.

Great! You can come back with “You’re right, adding those colors actually helps us attract our Target Audience and convey the right feeling…”

Or maybe you realize it would compromise the strategic direction.

Perfect! You can explain, “I thought about this, and here’s why it might actually look way too similar to our competition, and it will hurt our positioning…”

Either way, you’re responding as an expert, not a people-pleaser.

That’s it!

That’s all you need to do to set healthy boundaries.

Now you know what it takes to build these dynamics and

• get better projects,

• command higher fees,

• and land clients who actually value what you bring to the table.

The only question is, are you ready to take action?

Chat soon,

Abi 😊

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