We’ve heard that old saying that “good fences make good neighbors” but can the same be said for business practices. I think so. Just because the guy down the street runs his business one way doesn’t mean its ideal for how you run your business. And, because I discount a certain percent to my customers doesn’t mean the next business will do the same. Or lastly, just because one form of payment is accepted at XYZ Business doesn’t mean that I accept that payment at my business.
As an entrepreneur you need to determine how you want to structure your business to function, the products and services you will be providing, and how you will handle your customer service.
Recently a client inquired about my services for a small project and after discussing the scope of the work we talked about methods of payment. I prefer utilizing the services of Paypal who will process payments from those having an existing account and those that do not – utilizing a credit card/debit card payment instead. It’s a quick and efficient way to handle payments and easily recognized by most.
The client preferred to use another online method to which I don’t currently provide an alternative. I offered to provide information to contact another virtual assistant that may accept alternate payments. The client declined and decided to instead simply make payment via Paypal and secure my services.
So, do you set boundaries or bend the rules to accommodate the unusual requests? If you bend the rules for ‘this’, does it also mean you need to bend the rules for ‘that?’
I believe that businesses do need boundaries. Boundaries keep the lines clear and the office running smoothly. Everyone knows what is expected and how the pieces fix together to collectively produce the end result. It’s impossible to please everyone and any business that tries will surely flounder, if not fail. Not every request is profitable for the health of the business. That is why businesses often choose a niche service or product line that is more specialized rather than try to be the “be-all” to everyone.
If you’ve been hesitant to strengthen those fences or need to make any repairs to the holes between the pickets I encourage to just jump in and do it. You’ll be glad these fences are strong and when the time comes to test the strength of the “push” against your boundary line you will take comfort in knowing that it can withstand.