The Hidden Cost of Over-Giving in Your Business

Jul 8

If you're the kind of entrepreneur who gives 110% to your clients…

…who adds bonuses on bonuses, stays up late reworking deliverables, responds to emails within minutes, and “throws in” extras just to be helpful - this is for you.

Because while your generosity is admirable, there’s something it may be quietly costing you:
→ Your revenue.
→ Your time.
→ Your actual take-home dollars.

Let’s break it down:

When you're constantly over-delivering, a few things tend to happen:

You set a precedent that your time and energy are endlessly available.
Your clients expect more… and pay the same.
You squeeze your profit margin thinner and thinner - without even realizing it.

And over time, this creates resentment, burnout, and a business that doesn’t feel like it’s actually working for you.

→ Not because you’re not talented.
→ Not because you’re not capable.
→ But because you’re over-giving yourself out of your own income.

What Over-Giving Looks Like in Practice:

Spending 5 hours on a task you billed 1 hour for
Letting scope creep slide… again
Discounting your prices “just this once”
Answering DMs at all hours because you “want to be accessible”
Avoiding hard conversations around money or boundaries
Never truly feeling like you’ve earned rest

Sound familiar?

This isn’t just about boundaries (although that’s a huge part of it).

It’s about financial sustainability.

Every time you give more than you’re compensated for, you dilute the value of your work - and chip away at your profit. And eventually, you hit a tipping point where your income doesn’t reflect your effort.

And here's the truth no one talks about enough:

→ Over-giving is one of the biggest hidden leaks in your cash flow.
→ It’s why you’re working so hard but not seeing it in your bank account.
→ It’s not a strategy. It’s a drain.

So how do you shift it?

It starts with permission.

→ Permission to set boundaries that honor your time.
→ Permission to be generous in ways that don’t cost you your wellbeing.
→ Permission to trust that your clients value you more when you value yourself.

And yes - sometimes - permission to rewrite the entire way you think about pricing, contracts, and client communication.

The good news?

This shift doesn’t require a massive overhaul.

It starts with small, clear conversations that protect your time and energy - while still feeling kind, human, and grounded.

That’s why I created 15 Boundary Scripts for Over-Givers: A free resource with 15 gentle-but-firm plug & play scripts to help you:

Reset client expectations
Say no (without guilt)
Draw clean boundaries around your time and energy
Protect your pricing and income

→ Download the free guide here

Because it’s time to stop over-giving your way out of a thriving business.

You can be kind, heart-centered, and financially grounded - all at the same time.

You deserve that.

Liz

Liz Lajoie