Soulmate Clients Don't Guilt You

You know that feeling when you leave work completely drained, not because the dogs were tough, but because the clients were? Let’s talk about that. When clients truly value you, they don’t make you feel guilty for setting boundaries - they respect your time, your prices, and your energy. Red flags aren’t just annoying…they’re expensive. “You’ve worked your tail off — and you’re done saying sorry for wanting more. If that makes you a greedy bitch, good. This is Greedy Bitch, where groomers trade burnout for boundaries — and learn to love their business again.” We’re diving into the difference between guilt-based clients and soulmate clients - the ones who make you love grooming again. The Discount Dilemma Remember the clients who always asked for a discount or complained about price increases? You thought you were being kind by giving them a “deal”, but it never made them loyal. They expected more every time, and the moment you enforced boundaries or raised prices, they left anyway. You realized that soulmate clients never asked for discounts - they booked regularly and even tipped more when you adjusted prices. Some even said that you should charge more and that you deserve it! Real Life Example: There was a student who used to have a client named Barbara who completely guilted her into keeping her groom at $45. Barbara told the student she couldn’t justify paying more for her dog than she did for her own hair. The student felt bad and agreed to keep Barbara at that price — as long as she was the one grooming her dog. Later, when that student hired an employee, she told Barbara she had to raise the price to our standard rate of $85 per hour. She said, ‘Well, why can’t you just keep grooming Sasha?’ When the student stuck to her boundary, Barbara left. The funny thing? The student found out later Barbara started going to another groomer — and paying them $85 per groom. That’s when it hit the student: Barbara was never a soulmate client. Just because someone is a regular doesn’t mean they truly value you. The Late Pickup or No-Show Stress Think of the clients who were chronically late or ghosted on appointments. You tried to “be nice” the first few times, but it disrupted your schedule and cost you income. Compare that to your soulmate clients who apologized, respected your time, and even brought coffee as a thank-you. “It’s not about being mean - it’s about protecting your peace and professionalism.” Real Life Example: I had a student who had a client who ghosted her for two appointments. SHe tried to be understanding — the client made it sound like there were things going on in her life, and the student wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt. When the client finally came back with her two husky–malamute mixes, they were in terrible shape. The student was too nice again and didn’t charge what the job really required. One of the dogs was so matted she had to refer her to a vet for part of the groom. Instead of being grateful, the owner got upset and wanted her to force her elderly dog into uncomfortable positions just to get the job done. That was the moment the student realized — she was never a soulmate client. The student thought she should’ve stood her ground and protected her time, her energy, and that poor dog’s well-being The Emotional Guilt Tripper The client who said, “But my dog loves you! Can’t you just squeeze us in?” At first it feels flattering - but it’s manipulation in disguise. It’s not your job to solve their poor planning or last-minute emergencies. Soulmate clients plan ahead and understand that respect goes both ways. Real Life Example: I had a student who had a client who always told her how much she loved her and how much her dog loved her. It sounded sweet, but she’d constantly wait until the last minute to book and expected the student to bend over backwards for her. One time, she even asked the student to reschedule other clients just so she could get in sooner. That’s when the student realized — being nice and being respected aren’t the same thing. She seemed kind on the surface, but she wasn’t a soulmate client. The student thought she would’ve saved herself so much emotional stress if she’d just let her go sooner or created those boundaries. The Unrealistic Expectation Client Maybe a matted doodle owner who insisted their dog “wasn’t that bad”. You felt pressure to please them and worried they’d be upset when you had to shave down. You learned that your soulmate clients trust your expertise - they don’t question your judgement. A soulmate client says, “Do what’s best for my dog,” while a red-flag client says, “Can’t you just make them fluffy?” Real Life Example: We’ve had so many clients — and yes, unfortunately most of them were doodles — who insisted their dog ‘wasn’t that matted’ and that we are just being lazy for wanting to shave them down. They wanted their dog to stay fluffy no matter what, even if it wasn’t in the dog’s best interest. But there’s a huge difference with soulmate clients. They always choose humanity over vanity. They trust your judgment, they want what’s best for their dog, and they’re genuinely appreciative. Those are the grooms that leave you feeling good at the end of the day — not drained. The “Energy Drain” Client Someone whose dog you loved but whose parents' energy exhausted you - complaining, gossiping, or creating drama. Even when the money was good, you left those appointments emotionally drained. When you switched focus to soulmate clients, grooming days felt lighter and more rewarding - even if your schedule was smaller. Real Life Example: My student had a client named Marci who left her completely emotionally drained every single time. She complained about something at every appointment, yet she always came back — and honestly, it never made sense to my student. Marci was incredibly particular and neurotic about her dog, even though Panda herself was an absolute sweetheart. It can really open your eyes to how much energy those kinds of clients take. When your day is filled with soulmate clients instead, it’s a totally different experience. You finish the day feeling fulfilled, calm, and genuinely excited to do it all again tomorrow. Soulmate clients don’t guilt you - they get you. They respect your boundaries, your time, and your talent. They make this career sustainable and joyful. And once you stop tolerating red-flag clients, you create space for the ones who truly value you. Protect your peace, charge what services are worth, and stop mistaking guilt for gratitude. Alright, that’s it for this week’s episode of Greedy Bitch. If this hit home, share it with a fellow groomer who needs permission to say “no” without guilt. And don’t forget to grab your Free Holiday Boundaries Script at SavvyGroomer.com/HolidayBoundaries Until next time — stay grateful and as always… stay greedy, bitch.