You’ve done it. You finally have multiple clients with competing interests to juggle. You’ve been working toward this. Maybe it’s the first time you’ve ever had to do this. So you’re next question is: What do I do now?

I’ve been there. I know my first time doing this on my own was rough, but I got through it. And luckily, I’m willing to share what I’ve learned.

Don’t start more than one client at once

Learning a new client is hard on your brain. You’re learning a new vocabulary, a new way of doing things and new favorites of fans. It will tax both you and your time.

That means if you do more than one new client at once, it’s going to overwhelm you fast. My ideal cadence is to have at least three months between new clients. The first month of a client is learning and research. The second is testing out your theories to see how they work, and then the third is getting comfortable with the system. I could potentially take a new client after two months, but I prefer to have that extra month to recover and come to my next new client fresh.

I know that you have to take advantage of the opportunities put into your lap and you sometimes need the cash, but try to avoid taking on clients too close together if you can help it.

Make plans

For me, I make monthly, weekly and daily goals. I then make the plans to get there. I start each day with a look at where I am with client goals and then I schedule my day with ten minute tasks to finish all of my goals and plans for that day. Continually taking these little bites off of my day usually gets me to where my clients need to be. And having them all scheduled into my day holds me accountable to make sure I get them all done.

Sometimes I’m told I’m making plans for my plans, but getting as organized as possible will make it easier to get through those impossible task lists. And then looking at my goals daily keeps my head in the game so I’m constantly doing what’s best for my client.

Prioritize your tasks

Know what’s most important. Know what will make the biggest differences for your client numbers and what will make them the happiest. Always make sure those stay at the top of your task list.

What that means for me is to make sure that the most important tasks are scheduled earliest in my day. That way they are always prioritized, and if my day goes sideways, I can still get them done. The tasks that end up being scheduled for later in the day are more of my it-would-be-nice-to-do tasks. I’d love to get them done, but the world wouldn’t end if they fall off my list.

Check in every day

Maybe every day is a lot for some consultants, but it’s what works for me. It keeps me connected to each client, and I can make sure that I’m doing everything I can to hit their particular goals.

What does that look like? It depends on the day. Sometimes it’s just a quick hi. Other days I get to show them something that makes me pump my fist in the air. And it could also just be fan questions that I need answers to. It’s whatever that day calls for.

These regular check-ins remind them that I exist and that I care about them and their goals. That is just as important as the work we are getting done.

Keep boundaries

Whatever is important to allow you to live your life and to be able to juggle multiple clients, make sure those boundaries stay firm. Your ability to have a life makes you better at your job, so never let your clients tell you otherwise. And if they really feel that way, then it may be time for them to no longer be your clients. When you only have one client, it’s easy to let some toxic behavior exist. Once you have multiple clients, it’s time to get rid of that toxic behavior.

You also need to stay true to the boundaries you set up in your contracts to prevent scope creep. Scope creep could end your business by not allowing you to do everything all of your clients need you to do. Keeping to what is actually in your contract will make you more flexible and better able to deal with your clients. And if you’ve already let scope creep happen, carefully and slowly walk it back. If your client mentions how you are doing less work, be sure to point to the current contract and ask if they would like a quote for the increased workload. It’s not fun. It won’t make either you or the client happy. But it will keep your business healthy.

Managing multiple clients at once is a bit of a juggling act. But with some practice, over time you will become an expert at it. Just keep going and find your rhythm.

How are you managing multiple clients at once?