In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, we’re unpacking the different methods for calculating design fees—whether by square footage, hourly rates, or fixed fees—and how to choose the best approach for your business. With insights on the pros and cons of each method, I’ll guide you on using these strategies to communicate clearly with clients, define project scope, and set up profitable billing practices.We’ll also discuss why hourly billing, while not always ideal, can be a v...

In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, I’m discussing why design fees are a smarter choice than hourly billing for designers who want to grow their income and client satisfaction. If you’re still charging by the hour, you may be leaving money on the table and running into unnecessary challenges.I’ll share insights on how hourly billing can hold experienced designers back, lead to cash flow issues, and even create friction with clients. We’ll explore the advantages of design ...

In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, I dive deeper into the challenges designers face when it comes to billing, especially with hourly rates and managing legacy clients. If you’ve ever found yourself taking on small, low-paying jobs that end up consuming more time than you estimated, this episode is for you!I share real-world examples, like the outdoor wall sconces project and a reupholstering job that went off track, to highlight why these types of jobs can become unprofi...

Are you ready to start charging what you’re worth as a designer? In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, we focus on enhancing your billing practices and shifting your mindset toward valuing your design services. Host Terri Taylor shares key strategies to help you improve your billing accuracy, manage your time effectively, and maximize your income by focusing on design fees instead of product sales.Discover how tracking your time and setting clear deliverables can lead to su...

Are you ready to confidently charge what you’re worth as a designer? In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, host Terri Taylor continues the discussion on overcoming pricing challenges and the importance of having transparent money conversations with clients.Terri shares why forming budget agreements can lead to higher fees than you might expect, and how mental barriers like self-worth and imposter syndrome can get in the way of proper pricing. Learn how your environment can ...

Are you struggling to price your interior design services confidently? In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, we tackle one of the biggest hurdles for designers: pricing! Host Terri Taylor dives into the common challenges interior designers face when it comes to charging their worth and having open conversations about money.From understanding your own money mindset to mastering effective client communication, this episode offers practical strategies like the ‘Budget on the F...

Have you ever had a client seem interested, only for them to disappear with nothing but crickets in response? 🦗 In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, we dive into the challenges of client engagement and how to avoid missed opportunities.We’ll explore the Law of Diminishing Intent and why it’s crucial to act quickly when a client shows interest. Learn effective strategies for securing jobs, from soft selling and discussing budgets to making offers at the right moment. Plus, ...

Have you ever been hit with a wave of exhaustion in the middle of a project, feeling like your energy has crashed completely? In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, we’re talking about the energy crash that happens to many designers and how you can fix it.We’ll cover how negative thoughts can drain your energy, even when everything seems to be going well. I’ll share simple, actionable steps to shift your mindset, calm your nerves, and handle stressful situations with clarity...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a money magnet?In this episode of the Interior Design Business Academy podcast, we’re diving into how you can harness the power of vibrational energy and practical money strategies to attract wealth and abundance into your life. From overcoming financial struggles to creating a thriving design business, learn how to change your relationship with money and make it work for you.Tune in to discover the steps to become a true money magnet!Topics cove...

Have you ever said yes to a client when really you wanted to say no?In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, we’re talking about how to say no to a potential client and do it gracefully. Maybe you’re wondering why you’d ever say no to a potential client, and the truth is there are all kinds of reasons. They might not have a big enough budget, you might not have enough time, or maybe their project just doesn’t interest you! All of those are perfectly good reasons to say no...

Do you ever wonder if you're playing it too safe in your interior design career?In this episode, I’m challenging interior designers like you to dream big and tap into your true potential. I'll guide you through the process of applying your design visualization skills to business growth, showing you how to break down your big dreams into actionable steps. By the end of this episode, you'll understand the parallels between designing spaces and designing your ideal career, and you'll learn ...

If a client told you they could pay your discovery fee and your design fee, but they couldn’t exceed a total budget of $50,000, what would you say?This episode of the Interior Design Business podcast shares an example of what can happen when old belief systems alter your present expectations and outcomes. Old beliefs about money are really hard to shake, there’s no shame in that, but when you do shake them, you open yourself up to so much more potential. This episode is going to help you...

How do you get published in a national design magazine? Our guest in this episode of Interior Design Business, Erin Shakoor, is a long-time member of the Interior Design Business Academy who recently scored an eight-page spread in House Beautiful. I asked her if she would come on the podcast and talk to us about what that process was like. Topics covered in this episode include:The method Erin used to attract her dream client What it looks like to put a magazine-worthy design t...

Looking for clients? Try these strategies! In every designer's journey, there are times when you’re crazy busy, and times when you’re wondering where the next client will come from. If you’re currently experiencing the latter, don’t panic. It happens to us all and you will come out the other side of it. To help you speed that process along, I’m sharing five designer marketing strategies that will get you out of a lull. Topics covered in this episode include:How to figure out your ta...

Picture this: You’re the leader of a process-driven design company with a dreamy client experience, predictable and repeatable results, and a balanced schedule. Can you envision it? Then you’re one step closer to achieving it! In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, you’ll learn how to use systems and processes to create the business of your dreams. Topics covered in this episode include:How I turned my business around when it was at breaking pointWhat every bu...

How do you take a lead, turn it into a prospect, and then turn it into a good design job?In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, I’m sharing my process for turning leads into prospects and prospects into paying clients. This is one of those things that you need to have a process for in your business. Without a clear and repeatable process, a lot of leads are going to fall through the cracks when they could have turned into really great design jobs. We’re covering ev...

What do you wish you knew about marketing for designers?By the end of this episode, you might just have your answer. There’s a lot of information out there about SEO, social media, and all things marketing, but it’s hard to sift through and none of it is focused on designers. Our industry is a little different from others. There are things that need to be done in a certain way and in a certain order to create the best platform for you to build your interior design business from. In ...

What does it mean to “keep your shape” as an interior design business owner?“Keep your shape” is a motto we use at the Interior Design Business Academy to talk about standing your ground. This comes into play in every area of your business: pricing, time, systems, offers, boundaries… you name it. We’re diving into it all in this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, and today is our lucky day because IDBA lead coach Valerie Priester is back for another episode to share her expertis...

Do you feel like you never have any free time and yet somehow you still don’t have enough jobs to turn a profit?This problem is more common than you think, and in this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast we’re unpacking why that is. I sat down with our lead coach at IDBA, Valerie Priester, to talk about why designers get stuck with so many little jobs that they don’t have time to take on the big jobs they really want. If that sounds familiar, stick around because this is for...

How do you tell the difference between honest sustainable companies and those that are trying to trick you with greenwashing in their marketing?This is just one of many questions you might have if you’re thinking about going green in your interior design business, so I've recruited the help of expert Megan Thompson to answer some of those questions and point you in the right direction. In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, we’re talking about how interior design impact...

Do you run a business or a hobby? In this episode of Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m diving into how your mindset and approach to money can make all the difference in the success of your business. Join me as I share practical insights into essential financial practices and mindsets that will help you get paid what you're worth.Topics covered in this episode include:The numbers you need to know to determine the health of your business on a daily basisCommon pitfalls of being a hobby...

How many times have you said, “If I just had more time, then I could get it all done”?I think we’ve all been there, but I want to let you in on a secret: It’s not about how much time you have, it’s about how you manage it. In this episode of the Interior Design Business podcast, I’m revealing five tips that will change your relationship with time so that you can improve your time management.Topics covered in this episode include:How I’ve avoided working on Fridays, weekends, or evenings for t...

What if you had a shortcut to identify the profitable and unprofitable practices in your business?Enter this episode of Interior Design Business! I’m here to give you the class on business finances that you never got in design school. Tune in to learn an easy way to understand your financial reports and use them to increase your profits. I’m sharing best practices, communication skills, tips for setting boundaries, and so much more. Topics covered in this episode include:An easy-to-follo...

Do you feel like no matter how much care you put into your design business, you never seem to increase your profits?This episode of the Interior Design Business podcast will teach you how to make your business more profitable without starting from scratch. I’m sharing some of the hidden money leaks lurking in your business, unexpected obstacles that are getting in your way, and five simple strategies to start implementing for better profits. Topics covered in this episode include:How man...