Setting healthy boundaries with your clients
If you’ve ever felt squeezed by last-minute requests, impossible color matches, or delivery windows that wreck your schedule, you're in the right place. In episode 49 of The Bright Balloon Podcast I sat down with Joette (The Balloon Coach) to talk about setting client boundaries with confidence, so you can serve them well and protect your sanity.
The big idea: educate and reframe. When a bride sends a hyper-specific inspo photo during a global supply crunch, you can say: “We’ll design something beautiful that coordinates with your palette. Exact shades aren’t guaranteed, but you’ll love the result.” It’s honest, professional, and sets the right expectation up front.
We also got tactical about fees. Rush sourcing, tight delivery windows and off-hours installs cost you more... so you've got to price accordingly. If a client needs a precise 5–6 a.m. drop, that’s premium. And when a massive helium job comes in at a number that would leave you unpaid after labor and logistics, you've got to walk. Knowing your costs turns “no” into an easy, confident decision.
On pricing in general: remember that the right clients value reliability and results more than a few dollars' difference.
If you’re tired of over-promising and rescuing every request, try these this week:
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Replace “exact match” with “beautifully coordinated.”
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Add rush, off-hours and narrow-window fees to your quotes.
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Audit one product and raise the price you’ve outgrown.
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Block non-negotiable personal time on your calendar.
More money, less chaos, happier clients... that’s the goal.
Listen to the full conversation here.
