Here’s a hot take that might ruffle some feathers: customizing your services too much is one of the biggest reasons you’re nowhere near $10K months while working part-time. I recently shared this thought on social media, and wow – it sparked quite the reaction! Some praised it, others criticized it, and many had questions. So let’s dig deeper into why over-customization might be the hidden obstacle keeping you from the business freedom you crave.
The Freedom vs. Customization Trap
If you value closing your laptop at 3 PM, picking up your kids from school, taking spontaneous days off, AND making great money – listen up. When every client gets something different, your systems become messy. It becomes difficult to hire and train team members. You’re constantly in the weeds, experiencing stress because you’re not duplicating processes. You’re reinventing the wheel with each client, requiring extra learning and training to accommodate these customizations. Overall, this approach doesn’t create a simple business that allows you to make good money while maintaining freedom.
Quality ≠ Endless Customization
Some critics suggested I’m advocating for “cookie-cutter” services without quality customer care. That’s completely missing the point! Not offering endless customizations doesn’t mean you’re not providing quality work. It means you’re strategic and focused.
The Chaos of Unlimited Options
For service providers offering done-for-you services, trying to be everything to everyone creates chaos quickly. When you’re offering multiple things to different types of clients in various ways, your business becomes unnecessarily complex.
Take social media management as an example. It might be tempting to say yes when a client asks you to manage YouTube, edit videos, handle Instagram, do engagement and lead generation, create special Reels, post on Threads and LinkedIn… Even if they’re offering you $4K monthly, saying yes means spending hours daily on that one client, leaving no room for other clients or marketing. With just two such clients, you might approach $10K monthly, but where’s your freedom? Where are your systems? What’s duplicatable there?
The Power of Streamlined Services
Ideally, you’re niching down – perhaps as an Instagram specialist or someone who offers support on two specific platforms with clearly defined services. This doesn’t mean copy-pasting from one client to the next. There’s still customization in the work, but you’re not reinventing the wheel constantly.
One of my clients gets excited about bringing on new clients in the same industry because she can duplicate processes that are already working well. She did the heavy lifting once and now can make smaller tweaks. She knows exactly what team members to hire for support, and although she offers done-for-you services, her business is streamlined and straightforward.
Release the Fear of “No”
When you create clear, defined offerings without endless add-ons and customizations, you give yourself permission to release clients who aren’t a good fit. And that’s okay! You’re allowed to offer services in ways that benefit your life and set you up for success on your terms.
Some prospects will say, “That’s not a good fit for what I need.” No problem! There are so many clients out there. Unless you’re offering something incredibly obscure to a tiny audience, there are plenty of ideal clients waiting for exactly what you provide.
You’re allowed to set limits: “I’m a branding specialist, but I don’t create websites.” “I’m a branding specialist, but I don’t do products.” These boundaries aren’t limitations – they’re clarifications that strengthen your business.
The Ripple Effects of Simplicity
When you simplify your offerings, everything else gets simpler too:
Clearer Messaging
Your messaging becomes crystal clear. What you do, how you do it, and the transformation you provide becomes much more defined. This clarity makes selling significantly easier.
Streamlined Systems
This might be the most beneficial aspect of streamlining your offers. Your systems become simpler, creating a better atmosphere in your business. Your clients are happier. You’re happier. And importantly, you can hire team members and train them efficiently without worrying they’ll miss something because there are too many variables.
Stronger Expertise
You’re not meant to be good at everything! Lean into your strengths and become known for them. Become the go-to expert in your specific area. Nobody is the go-to for everything – people want specialists who solve specific problems exceptionally well.
The Freedom Formula
Creating simple offers and getting clear on your audience creates a ripple effect through your business that gives you back your time while helping you make more money. Your messaging becomes clearer, your selling becomes more effective, and you have more time to sell, make connections, and build your audience.
Not offering endless customizations isn’t anything to be ashamed of. You’re allowed to have a service with a focused scope that serves a specific purpose and provides a clear transformation. You certainly don’t need to feel bad about creating a business that fits your vision.
Everything I’ve discussed today is what I teach inside Grow Business and Marketing Academy. Everything in the Growth curriculum is designed through the lens of simplicity, sustainability, and scalability.
I want you to have a simple business that creates sustainability – you’ll never have to wonder where your next client is coming from. And when you create a simple, sustainable business, it opens opportunities to scale without returning to chaos. You can continue building revenue without sacrificing your time.
If something’s got to give – if you want more time and more money but feel stuck or stagnant – come see me. Especially if you’ve been in business for 2-4 years and feel the frustration of working too much while not making enough.
There are multiple ways to work with me inside Grow Business and Marketing Academy. Have questions? Shoot them my way! I want you to feel 100% confident this is the right place for you.
