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Welcome to The DTS Files for Interior Designers

The DTS Files is a premium content hub for interior designers who want to grow their businesses with expert-backed strategies, real-world consulting insights, and proven frameworks.

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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

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DEAR DAKOTA, MARKETING Katie McFarlan DEAR DAKOTA, MARKETING Katie McFarlan

Dear Dakota | Why You Have No Leads Coming In To Your Interior Design Business

Dear Dakota, I have no leads coming and haven't booked a new client in a while. Do you think I should invest in having my website rewritten, or should I have it redesigned?

This question was submitted by a designer via The Weekly Install®, and here’s the thing: if you don't have leads coming in, it's …

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

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CLIENT EXPERIENCE, DEAR DAKOTA, PRICING Katie McFarlan CLIENT EXPERIENCE, DEAR DAKOTA, PRICING Katie McFarlan

Dear Dakota | What to Do When an Interior Design Client Won’t Pay

Dear Dakota,

What should I do when an interior design client won’t pay?

When a Client Won’t Pay: How to Handle Non-Payment & Protect Your Business

There’s nothing worse than chasing a client for payment after you’ve poured hours into their project. Suddenly, you’re not just an interior designer—you’re a collections agency, too.

But before you assume the worst, it’s important to understand why a client may not be paying—and more importantly, how to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Inside this post, I’m breaking down:

  • The most common reasons clients delay or refuse payment

  • Proactive strategies to avoid non-payment before a project even starts

  • How to structure contracts, invoices, and payment schedules so you never have to chase a client down again

  • What to do when a client refuses to pay, including the steps to take before resorting to legal action

This is a must-read for any designer who wants to protect their revenue, set firm payment policies, and confidently discuss money with clients—without the awkwardness or stress.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

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CLIENT EXPERIENCE, DEAR DAKOTA, PRICING Katie McFarlan CLIENT EXPERIENCE, DEAR DAKOTA, PRICING Katie McFarlan

Dear Dakota | How to Handle Scope Creep as an Hourly Designer?

Dear Dakota,

How do I handle hourly clients who keep adding to their projects? The additional requests are hard to keep track of and I feel like I’m never able to complete a project because there are so many little things that are always open. HELP!

If you’ve ever had a client start with one room, then slowly add "just a few more things"—a light fixture here, a paint color there—until you feel like you're stuck in an endless cycle of selections, this post is for you.

Scope creep can derail your process, push your workload over capacity, and train clients to expect on-demand access to your expertise. So how do you manage additional requests while maintaining a clear process, ensuring profitability, and keeping your projects on track?

Inside this post, I’m sharing:

  • How to set scope boundaries from the start—even as an hourly designer

  • The red flag moment when a new request should become a new project

  • Why "just saying yes" leads to burnout and client dissatisfaction

  • How top designers structure their process to keep projects moving

If managing client expectations feels like a constant struggle, don’t miss this one.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

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CLIENT EXPERIENCE, DEAR DAKOTA Katie McFarlan CLIENT EXPERIENCE, DEAR DAKOTA Katie McFarlan

Dear Dakota | How to Educate Clients on When They Should Hire a Designer?

When Should Clients Hire an Interior Designer? Here’s How to Set Expectations

If you’re getting inquiries from potential clients who expect their project to be completed within weeks of reaching out, you’re not alone. Most people don’t realize how long the interior design process actually takes—and it’s your job as the expert to educate them.

This post walks you through simple ways to set clear expectations around project timelines so clients reach out before they’re in a rush (and before you have to turn them away!).

Inside The DTS Files, you’ll find:

  • Done-for-you language for your website, contact form, and marketing to clearly communicate availability.

  • The best FAQ questions to include on your site so clients come in informed.

  • A client waitlist strategy to stop losing leads when your schedule is full (and get them to happily book for a later date).

  • How to position your process as high-touch and premium, so clients see the value in planning ahead.

If you’re tired of last-minute inquiries and want clients to reach out earlier, join The DTS Files to unlock this post and get the scripts and strategies to set expectations with ease.

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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.

Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company Premium Client Process templates for Interior Designers

*for interior designers only, not interior design business coaches, consultants, mentors, strategists.

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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.

Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company Premium Client Process templates for Interior Designers

*for interior designers only, not interior design business coaches, consultants, mentors, or strategists.

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JOIN 16,000 DESIGNERS EVERY FRIDAY

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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.