Why I have an Iron Clad 24 Hour Cancellation Policy...and why you should too...

Do you have a 24 hour cancellation policy with your private clients?You should. {Yep, it’s that simple.}

You should have an Iron Clad, No Questions, No Emergencies, No Just-This-One Time We’ll Let It Slip 24 Hour Cancellation Policy.

I do. I always have. I think it is really important in creating the boundaries that allow meaningful work to be done in the sessions. It is also important in supporting the health of your business.If my clients need to change or cancel an appointment, they know they must do it before the 24 hour mark, or they will be charged for the full cost of the session.It doesn’t matter if they are canceling for reasons beyond their control {sick kid, meeting running long, etc}. They are not being charged as punishment. I love them, and love teaching them, and would much rather be teaching them then killing time at Starbucks {which in NYC is what I usually get stuck doing when a client late cancels....}They are being charged because when they book a session with me, they are taking responsibility for that hour of my time. It is not their fault if their meeting runs long, but it is not my fault either, and they know they are the ones responsible for the time and cost of the session, even if they can’t make it.

The only exceptions I have made for late cancels are birth and death in the immediate family.

Here is why I am so clear about this::I have identified several different kinds of boundaries that exist between teacher and student in a private lesson situation. The first two I consider to be the “root chakra” boundaries. These are the boundaries of time and money. If these first two are not clear, there is no hope for the rest of the boundaries to be clear.Clarity in relationship boundaries allows for meaningful work to be done in a private session. Having wishy-washy boundaries will limit how deeply you are able to work with a student. {Click to tweet!}{Also, since I have a wait list at every time slot, if students cancel at the last minute and I can’t slot someone else in there, I would really be losing a lot of money if I didn’t charge them.}Having this clarity around money boundaries is one of the many reasons I do not accept payment at each session. I invoice my clients at the end of each month for the sessions they had {including any late cancels...} and then can avoid the awkward late cancel conversation...”oh you actually owe twice the amount of cash you are handing me right now since you late canceled last week...”What do you think y’all? Can we do it?? Can you clearly and confidently implement a late cancel policy?