Many years ago, in Fabienne Fredrickson’s Client Attraction Business School, she shared the book “Boundaries” with our coaching cohort of 6-figure+ businesses.
As per usual, I highlighted, dogeared, and noted in the margins as I read and ideas clicked or struck other ideas.
I remember thinking, “I’m pretty good with boundaries” and patting myself on my back.
Except for one area: with my family.
In this space, my boundaries were terrible.
The authors, Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend, define boundaries as “What is me and what is not me.” I love this definition for its simplicity.
Boundaries themselves are neutral. We don’t think much about the boundaries in our daily lives like lane markers and sidewalks, property lines and doors. They exist, we honor them, and moving in a world with this structure is easier to navigate. We can clearly see where one space ends and another begins.
But boundaries with time, tasks, responsibilities, feelings and other intangible things can be trickier to define and honor. And these seem to be wrapped up with a lot more emotion.
I have been on many coaching calls where defining boundaries is perceived as a slight against the other person, being mean, being rude.
The way I see it, boundaries are clear communication and should be ‘neutral’.
When we are unclear about our own boundaries, it is hard (if not impossible) for others to understand them, too.
When Poor Boundaries Cost Real Money
Early on in my professional organizing business, when a new potential customer would call, we would schedule a complimentary in-person, on-site initial consultation. At the time, I was operating my business with babies at home, so going to see a potential customer meant hiring a babysitter for the time it took to drive to the client, hold the meeting, and drive home. This was typically time well spent because I would meet the person and most of the time, secure a new client.
One day, as I followed this routine and was en route to a potential client a solid 30 minutes away, the potential customer called to cancel as something had come up. My first response was frustration at the person on the other end of the phone. How could she cancel on me? What a waste of time and money! She wanted to reschedule, and if I agreed, it meant that we would repeat this process again without payment until she signed on as a client.
That day on the drive home I set a new boundary: No Free Initial Consultations. After this, my company offered a paid upfront Initial Consultation, and you could credit a portion of this if you purchased organizing services. In addition, we required 24 hours for cancellation.
What I established was a clear boundary. It expressed, “This is how you do business with me,” and this new boundary honored the cost I had to invest just to go to work, so I never felt frustrated again at a canceled appointment.
This single boundary change increased my annual revenue by over $30,000 that year. But more importantly, it taught me something crucial: setting boundaries for women business owners isn’t just about protecting your time—it’s about protecting your business.
Why Boundaries and Burnout Are Connected
Here’s what I wish someone had told me earlier: burnout isn’t caused by working too hard—it’s caused by working without clear boundaries.
When you don’t have boundaries, every request feels urgent. Every “quick question” becomes an interruption. Every family demand competes directly with business priorities. You end up in a constant state of reactive decision-making, which is exhausting.
Employees spent on average just 11 minutes on any given project before they would be interrupted, and it took people around 25 minutes to focus back on the original task. Halopsychology
(Halo Psychology) For women business owners juggling client needs, family responsibilities, and business growth, this constant switching creates what researchers call “mental quicksand”—where each interruption makes it harder to perform well, leading to more stress and even more interruptions.
The research shows that blurred work-life boundaries predict negative changes in happiness through enhanced emotional exhaustion. PubMed Central
(PMC Study) But here’s the part that hits women business owners hardest: employees who experienced increases in blurring of work-life boundaries reported a deterioration in healthy lifestyle behaviors, which in turn was related to reduced happiness. PubMed Central
It’s a cycle. Poor boundaries lead to stress eating, skipped workouts, and poor sleep. These unhealthy behaviors reduce your capacity to maintain boundaries, leading to even more boundary violations.
Setting Boundaries for Women Business Owners: The Unique Challenges
Women have a double-edged sword. So many women business owners that I coach feel a need to say ‘yes’ and be helpful to everyone, even at the cost of their own financial and physical well-being. AND, the cost of no boundaries often falls more heavily on women who bear the majority of family/caregiver responsibilities and mental load.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Research reveals that women experience burnout symptoms at higher rates than men, and the burnout gap between women and men is almost double what it was the previous year. McKinsey
(McKinsey) For women running businesses, this isn’t just a wellness issue—it’s a profit problem.
71% of employees have cited work stress as the catalyst for a relationship to end. Headspace
(Headspace) When you’re a business owner, relationship stress doesn’t stay at home—it affects your decision-making, creativity, and ability to serve clients effectively.
The Technology Problem
Constant connectivity and blurred boundaries disproportionately impact women and younger workers, increasing their fatigue and stress levels. WorldatWork
(WorldatWork) That client texting you at 9 PM or family member calling during your focused work time isn’t just an interruption—it’s systematically training everyone that you’re always available.
One study found that receiving work alerts on cell phones after hours caused employees significant weekly strain. TestGorilla
(TestGorilla) For business owners, where the line between “work” and “personal” devices is often nonexistent, this strain is constant.
The Real Cost of Poor Boundaries in Your Business
Lost Productivity = Lost Revenue
Disengaged workers cost organizations an average of 34% of their annual salary. Insightful
(Insightful) As a business owner, you ARE your organization. When you’re burned out from poor boundaries, you’re operating at 66% capacity—at best.
Health Costs Compound Quickly
Burned-out employees are 23% more likely to visit the emergency room, Insightful
and burned-out employees are 63% more likely to take a sick day. Gallup
(Gallup) When you’re the business owner, there’s no paid sick leave. Every health issue caused by poor boundaries directly impacts your bottom line.
The Relationship Ripple Effect
When boundaries are unclear, every relationship becomes a negotiation. Clients push deadlines because you’ve trained them that you’ll always accommodate. Family members interrupt work time because you’ve never clearly communicated when you’re unavailable. Team members (if you have them) don’t know when they can reach you, leading to delayed decisions and missed opportunities.
The Business Case for Establishing Clear Boundaries
Here’s what leaders need to understand: setting boundaries for women business owners isn’t selfish—boundaries are strategic business tools.
Boundaries in the workplace help to increase overall efficiency. There are fewer mistakes, project derailments and missed deadlines because expectations are clear and employees are encouraged to communicate openly and honestly. Chron.com
When workplace leaders set, respect, and model clear boundaries between time on and off the job, workers report a greater sense of well-being. WebMD Health Services
(WebMD Health Services) As a business owner, you ARE the workplace leader—for yourself, your family, and your clients.
The evidence is clear: employees who have clear boundaries between their work and personal lives were less likely to think about work outside of work. Halopsychology
This isn’t about working less—it’s about working more effectively when you are working.
Your Boundary Action Plan: 5 Steps for Women Business Owners
Step 1: Audit Your Current Boundary Violations
Family Boundary Assessment:
- When do family members typically interrupt your work?
- What work activities regularly spill into family time?
- Which family commitments consistently create work stress?
Client Boundary Assessment:
- Which clients contact you outside business hours?
- What types of requests do you always say yes to, even when inconvenient?
- Which client behaviors leave you feeling frustrated or taken advantage of?
Write down your three biggest boundary violations and calculate what they’re costing you in time, money, and energy.
Step 2: Define Your Business Operating System
Just like my “No Free Initial Consultations” rule, create clear policies that protect your business:
Communication Boundaries:
- Business hours: When you’re available for calls/emails
- Response times: How quickly you respond to different types of communication
- Emergency protocols: What constitutes a true emergency and how to reach you
Project Boundaries:
- Scope creep policies: How you handle additional requests
- Revision limits: How many changes are included in your fee
- Payment terms: When and how you expect to be paid
Meeting Boundaries:
- Meeting times: When you take meetings
- Preparation requirements: What you need from clients before meetings
- Cancellation policies: How much notice you require
Step 3: Create Communication Templates
Most boundary violations happen because expectations aren’t clear. Create simple templates:
For Clients:
- “I check email twice daily at [specific times] and respond within 24 business hours”
- “My business hours are [X to Y], and I’m not available for non-emergency communication outside these times”
- “I require [24/48 hours] notice for meeting changes”
For Family:
- “I’m in focused work mode from [time] to [time]. Unless it’s an emergency, please wait until [time] to discuss non-urgent matters”
- “Sunday afternoons are family time—no work calls or emails”
Step 4: Implement the 24-Hour Rule
Before saying yes to any new commitment, implement a 24-hour waiting period. This simple boundary prevents reactive yes-saying and gives you time to consider whether the request aligns with your priorities and capacity.
Script: “That sounds interesting. Let me check my calendar and get back to you tomorrow.”
Step 5: Create Buffer Zones
The body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol when we’re repeatedly interrupted at work. Halopsychology
Protect yourself by building in transition time:
- Schedule 15-minute buffers between client calls
- Block calendar time for focused work (and treat it like a client appointment)
- Create a 30-minute “shutdown ritual” at the end of your workday
Building Your Sustainable Success Systems
Remember, boundaries aren’t walls—they’re guidelines that help everyone navigate relationships and work more effectively. When you set clear boundaries, you’re not just protecting yourself; you’re creating the structure that allows your business to thrive.
The research is overwhelming: job-related stress costs American companies as much as $300 billion annually in healthcare costs, absenteeism, employee turnover, and productivity. Psychology Today
(Psychology Today) As a woman business owner, you can’t afford to contribute to these statistics.
Setting boundaries for women business owners is a business strategy. They protect your time, energy, and profit margins. They ensure you can show up as your best self for the clients and family members who matter most.
The cost of poor boundaries is too high for women leaders to ignore. But with intentional boundary-setting, you can reclaim your business, your time, and your life.
Start with one boundary this week. Define it clearly, communicate it respectfully, and honor it consistently. Your future self—and your business—will thank you.
Explore how to create success systems that honor your unique journey and expertise
Setting boundaries for women business owners is just one piece of building a sustainable, profitable business that doesn’t consume your life.
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Sources:
- Headspace for Work. “The value of setting boundaries at work.”
- Psychology Today. “Five Essential Boundaries in the Workplace.” November 14, 2023.
- Halo Psychology. “How to set boundaries at work – with examples.” November 12, 2024.
- PMC. “Not Able to Lead a Healthy Life When You Need It the Most: Dual Role of Lifestyle Behaviors in the Association of Blurred Work-Life Boundaries With Well-Being.”
- Psychology Today. “How Better Boundaries Can Prevent Burnout.” September 16, 2022.
- WebMD Health Services. “How to Support Employees with Setting Boundaries in the Workplace.” September 12, 2024.
- WorldatWork. “The High Cost of Burnout for Employees and Employers.”
- Insightful. “Avoid the Astronomical Cost of Burnout With These Tips.”
- Gallup. “Employee Burnout, Part 1: The 5 Main Causes.” May 13, 2025.
- McKinsey. “What is burnout?” August 14, 2023.
- Small Business Chron. “What Are the Benefits of Boundaries in the Workplace?” July 28, 2020.
- TestGorilla. “Setting boundaries at work: The ultimate guide.” January 9, 2024.
