Interior Design Business

What if the budget your client gives you isn't actually the budget they need to create the space they want? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explain why one of the biggest challenges interior designers face is getting a realistic budget from potential clients. When clients say they don't know their budget, they're often being honest. They simply don't...

Are you letting fear, self-doubt, and imagined worst-case scenarios hold you back in your interior design business? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I'm joined by Mindset Coach Valerie Priester to discuss how the stories we tell ourselves can influence our confidence, decisions, and business success. We explore the common fears designers experience, from worrying that...

What does it really take to become a high-end interior designer and attract luxury clients? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explain why creating beautiful spaces is only one part of building a successful luxury design business. To serve high-end clients, you need to develop a luxury mindset that goes beyond design and focuses on the entire client experience. I break down...

What happens when an opportunity shows up that's bigger, stranger, or completely different from anything you've done before? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I talk about the power of saying “Yes, and...” instead of letting fear, uncertainty, or hesitation make the decision for you. Sometimes saying yes is challenging. Maybe you've never handled a project tha...

What practical changes do you need to make to move your interior design business up market? In Part 1, I talked about the mindset shift required to become a high-end designer. In Part 2, I'm getting into the practical side of making that shift happen. I explain why you need to become intentional about the clients you want to serve, the problems you solve, and the projects you accept. Hoping f...

Are you trying to move your interior design business up market by simply working harder? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explain why moving into the high-end design market isn't about working longer hours, taking every project that comes through the door, or hustling harder. That approach may help you get your business started, but it won't necessarily take you...

Are rising freight costs eating into the profit on your interior design projects? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down how to handle freight, delivery, receiving, and unexpected surcharges without losing profit, or surprising your clients with additional costs they weren't prepared for. Freight is an unavoidable part of selling furniture and products, and risi...

Is staying comfortable keeping your interior design business from growing? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, Terri Taylor sits down with IDBA Mindset Coach Valerie Priester to explore what it really means to step outside your comfort zone, and why doing so is essential for personal and business growth. Your comfort zone isn't necessarily a good place. It's simply a...

How much money are you giving away every year simply because you aren't charging for work outside your original scope? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I tackle one of the biggest profit leaks in a design business: scope creep. It happens when a client asks you to take on additional work after the project begins, and instead of charging for it, you tell yourself, “It w...

What small changes could make a big difference in the profitability of your interior design business? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I share five profit boosters that can help you increase revenue, strengthen your margins, and get paid better for the work you're already doing. We start with choosing the right market and understanding who your ideal client really is....

Are you matching internet prices just to keep clients from questioning your product costs? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explain why matching internet pricing can quietly undermine your profitability, and why the products and services you provide aren't an apples-to-apples comparison with what clients find online. When designers promise to match internet prices, t...

Are you actually getting a paycheck from your interior design business, or are you working hard and hoping there will be money left over? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down why every interior design business needs to do two things consistently: pay its owner for the work they perform and generate profit beyond that paycheck. Many designers tell themselves they&ap...

Do you know what kind of help your interior design business actually needs, or are you simply overwhelmed and ready to hire anyone? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined by Evelyn McDougall and Shanna Rose of 4D Biz to talk about how interior designers can hire virtual assistants strategically and build the right support team as their businesses grow. Shanna shares ho...

Have you ever landed a dream project only to wonder if you're truly qualified for it? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I'm joined by IDBA's Master Mindset Coach, Valerie Priester, to explore one of the most common challenges interior designers face at every stage of their careers: imposter syndrome. Whether you're taking on your very first luxury client...

Are you building both income streams your interior design business needs to thrive? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the most important concepts every designer needs to understand: your business should generate income from two completely separate sources, your design expertise and your product sales. Many designers unknowingly combine these two revenue s...

Are your purchasing policies protecting your business, or creating costly headaches? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I share the purchasing strategies that have helped countless interior designers avoid some of the biggest mistakes in managing client purchases. From retail shopping requests to custom drawings and hybrid purchasing, we'll explore the boundaries every d...

What beliefs about money are quietly shaping your interior design business? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined once again by IDBA's Head Mindset Coach, Valerie Priester, to explore one of the most powerful mindset topics every designer faces: their money story. The way we think about money often begins long before we start a business. Childhood experiences, fa...

Are the stories you're telling yourself holding your interior design business back? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined by IDBA’s Head Mindset Coach, Valerie Priester, to explore how the stories we create in our minds shape our decisions, confidence, and business success. Many designers hesitate to pursue bigger opportunities, raise their fees, or change the wa...

Is the real reason you're underpaid your pricing model, or something much deeper? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I wrap up our series on hourly billing versus design fees by exploring the real issue behind getting paid what you're worth: your relationship with money. Many designers believe switching from hourly billing to design fees will solve their profitabili...

Are you the biggest obstacle standing between your business and the success you want? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explore one of the most important, and often overlooked, factors in building a successful design business: mindset. Many designers work harder, put in longer hours, and constantly search for new strategies, yet still struggle with inconsistent cash flow,...

Are design fees really the best way for interior designers to get paid? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I continue the conversation around pricing and billing by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of fee-based design. Many designers assume design fees automatically solve the problems created by hourly billing. But the truth is that design fees only work when they a...

Should interior designers charge hourly, or is there a better way? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the longest-running debates in the design industry: hourly billing versus fee-based design. While hourly billing can work in certain situations, it also creates significant challenges for both designers and clients when it's not managed properly. From...

Are templates helping your interior design business… or hurting it? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explain why templates often create more problems than they solve for interior designers. Many designers rely on template contracts, letters of agreement, proposals, and deliverables because they want a faster, easier way to start projects. But the reality is that every pro...

Do you actually have the right insurance coverage for your interior design business? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m talking about one of the most overlooked but critical parts of running a successful design business: professional liability protection. Many designers assume their homeowner’s insurance covers their business, or they believe they’re “too small” to need e...

Are you constantly wondering if your design fee is really enough? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the biggest mindset and business challenges interior designers face: pricing their services confidently and profitably. Many designers struggle because they blur the line between design services and product purchasing. They rely on future furniture sales to...