Why ‘Charge Your Worth’ Is the Worst Pricing Advice Ever

If you’ve ever been told to “charge what you’re worth,” I need you to throw that advice straight into the trash.

Here’s why: Your worth is priceless—but pricing your services? That requires actual strategy.

In this article, I’ll share:

• The biggest pricing mistakes designers make (and how they’re costing you thousands).

• The real factors that determine pricing (hint: it’s both art and science).

• The simple yet powerful shift that makes it easy to confidently present high-end proposals.

• What to track to ensure your pricing is backed by data, not emotions.

If you want to stop second-guessing your prices and start charging rates that reflect the real value of your work, join The DTS Files to unlock the full post.

Receiving fees, storage, white glove delivery, assembly, inspection, EEK! What does this all mean?

For some of our interior designer clients, the thought of finding and using a receiver is enough to make them not want to deal with buying and selling goods. But once you have a good receiver, it can make all the difference in your ability to source custom items, generate revenue from product sales, and have the ability to control the end result for those magazine worthy images. 

But how does a receiver even work? Who pays for it? Can you ship stuff direct?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

What do you do when someone tries to negotiate your fees? Do you run away from the client? What’s the best way to explain the cost and your worth?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Pricing your services as an interior designer can be one of the hardest parts of running a business—especially when creative work, project management, vendors, and unpredictable timelines are all in the mix. But here’s the thing: pricing shouldn’t feel like a guessing game.

In The DTS Files, I’m breaking down:

• The biggest mistake designers make when pricing their services (and how to fix it).

• How to price based on data (not fear), so you can confidently present fees to clients.

• What you should track to uncover hidden profit opportunities in your business.

• Why “charge what you’re worth” is the worst advice—and what to do instead.

Your business can be wildly profitable when you know how to price your services correctly. If you want to set fees that reflect your expertise without overworking yourself into the ground, join The DTS Files to unlock this article and my advice.

Dear Dakota,

How to respond when a potential client or existing client asks, “Will you share your discount?”

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights AND learn how to stop this from happening.

If your discovery calls are not productive or it takes WEEKS to get someone to even book a call, your contact form is likely the problem. A poorly structured form can scare away potential clients, waste your time, and attract the wrong inquiries. But with a few strategic tweaks, you can streamline your process before you even hop on a call.

Inside The DTS Files, I’m sharing:

• Why people might not even be filling out your form at all

• What NOT to ask in your contact form—these questions are scaring off potential clients.

• The formatting mistake that makes your form frustrating to fill out.

• The step 98% of luxury service providers completely miss.

Your contact form should qualify leads, not drive them away. Want the exact steps to fix yours? Join The DTS Files today to unlock the full post.

Dear Dakota,

How do you handle clients who refuse to give you a budget, despite explanations and an initial design presentation?

This week’s Dear Dakota question comes from an interior designer who’s struggling to get a budget from clients—even after the initial design presentation. Talk about frustrating!!!!!!!

If you’ve ever felt stuck in this situation, you’re not alone. Budget conversations can be tricky for a lot of the interior designers I talk to.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.