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ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES
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MEMBERS-ONLY ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY
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PRIVATE LIBRARY OF EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS
| ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES I MEMBERS-ONLY ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY | PRIVATE LIBRARY OF EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS
What To Do If Potential Interior Design Clients Can’t Afford Your Services
As an interior designer, have you ever had someone say to you, “I would just loooooooooove to work with you! Your style is exactly what I’m going for! But I just can’t afford you!”
When this happens, the people pleaser deep down inside of you may say, “Oh, I should really help this person” or “They NEED me!” or “I could give this person a good price, because it IS still revenue, right??”
WRONG!
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Pricing Tip: You Can’t Just Increase Your Rates
I'm anti "charge what you're worth" and "just double your price". LOL.
And if you follow anyone who is teaching how to run a business using bumper sticker mantras like these, I encourage you to find a professional who has experience running a business based on economics and data.
You can't just increase your pricing or charge $XXX because every other designer you know charges $XXX. Sure, that can give you some confidence around your pricing to know you're aligned with industry standards, but here's what's really key when it comes to pricing:
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Holding a Proposal Meeting to Present Your Scope of Work, Interior Design Contract, and Design Fee
After working with over 100 interior design businesses across the US and Canada, I’ve seen it all—luxurious and streamlined client experiences, and others that quietly sabotage a sale.
One practice I’m asked about often is whether designers should personally present the scope, contract, and design fee to potential clients. Is it helpful? Or does it add unnecessary steps?
This question sparked a real debate, so I asked my audience of interior designers to weigh in. In this post, I’m sharing what they said, what’s actually working (and what isn’t), and my own take on exactly when this tactic is smart—and when it backfires.
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Dear Dakota | How To Get Rid Of Tough Interior Design Clients
Dear Dakota,
How do you deal with difficult clients and know when it's worth it to keep going or get rid of them when things feel really tough?
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Why Client Onboarding Can Make or Break Your Interior Design Business
Why is Client Onboarding so Important for Interior Designers?
In my seven+ years of working with interior designers to help them price their services and streamline their business processes, I have repeatedly seen ineffective client onboarding (or lack thereof) cause issues, mismatched expectations, lack of trust, and frustration throughout an entire project.
Client onboarding is a crucial step in working with clients that applies to all business owners - and one that is severely overlooked and underdeveloped, leaving much to be desired. When done right, it has so many benefits: …
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7 Reasons to Streamline Your Design Contract Process and Send Contracts Quickly
If it takes you weeks to send a detailed scope of work, design fee, and contract to a potential client, your number one goal should be to cut that time way down. Your goal should be ONE to TWO days. YUP!
Seven Reasons Why You Must Get Contracts to New Clients Quickly:
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Dear Dakota | How To Make Interior Design Discovery Calls More Productive?
Dear Dakota,
I’m needing some major help lately.
My weeks are completely bogged down with constant repetitive phone calls and emails regarding our process.
This has never happened to me before, and in the last several months, it is all I am dealing with.
HELP!
Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.
ACCESS A PRIVATE LIBRARY OF EXPERT ADVICE for INTERIOR DESIGNERS
My strategies have shaped the way thousands of interior designers and luxury service providers do business.
Inside The DTS Files, you’re getting the original insights straight from the source—tested, refined, and backed by my experience working with 100+ design firms.
And because this is a members-only space, I can go deeper than ever before—sharing the real strategies that help designers build profitable, sustainable businesses with confidence.
HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR MEMBERS:
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PRICING PLAYBOOK for INTERIOR DESIGNERS
The Complete Guide to Pricing Your Design Services
Grab my pricing playbook, The Complete Guide to Pricing your Interior Design Services, to learn:
the six most common pricing models for designers
who each one is best for, and
how to know if your pricing model is broken
NEED BUSINESS SUPPORT ASAP?
SHOP TEMPLATES
Plug-and-play templates, questionnaires, processes, and guides for interior designers who want to stop reinventing the wheel with every new project.
The Design Library helps you streamline client communication, set clear expectations, and protect your time—so you can spend less time in your inbox and more time designing. Inside, you’ll find:
✔ Professionally written client emails and marketing guides for every step of the process.
✔ SOPs to standardize service delivery and create a seamless, high-end experience.
✔ Contract templates with sample scopes to protect you, your team, and your clients.
What took me years to refine can be in your inbox in minutes.
*for interior designers only, not interior design business coaches, consultants, mentors, strategists.
SHOP WORKSHOPS & TRAININGS
Learn from my team (comprised of industry experts and educators) and me all the things they don’t teach in design school. And we know because two of the women on my team went to interior design school!
After consulting with and doing hands-on implementation for over 100 interior design business owners, I’ve seen what works (and doesn’t) across every business model imaginable. We are familiar with various software types, team structures of 1 to 20, and the challenges that are coming, whether you’re on your way to your first $100,000 or already making multiple millions.
On-demand trainings for your busy schedule.
*for interior designers only, not interior design business coaches, consultants, mentors, or strategists.
JOIN 16,000 DESIGNERS EVERY FRIDAY
Proven strategies and tools to streamline and elevate your interior design business.
COMPLIMENTARY QUIZ FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS
Feeling stretched thin in your design business?
You’re busy—but is your business actually working for you? If you’re constantly putting out fires and second-guessing what to focus on next, this 2-minute quiz will show you exactly where to start.