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ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES

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ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY

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EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

| ACTIONABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES I ARTICLES PUBLISHED WEEKLY | EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Welcome to The DTS Files for Interior Designers

Business analysis, advice, CLIENT INSIGHTS and field notes for interior designers

The DTS Files is a library of expert insights for interior designers who want to work in a more streamlined, efficient way. Articles are based on real-world consulting experience, strategies I've personally implemented in design businesses across the US and Canada, and a perspective most business educators can't offer: I've been on both sides of the table, as a business consultant and as a luxury design client. Read more below.

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CLIENT EXPERIENCE, PERSONAL, SYSTEMS & OPS, HIRING Katie McFarlan CLIENT EXPERIENCE, PERSONAL, SYSTEMS & OPS, HIRING Katie McFarlan

Mistakes I’ve Made Running My Own Business

Owning a business can feel a bit like an experiment at times. Packaging things up, testing them, refining them, and testing them again. It’s only by going through this process that you can actually know what works and doesn’t for you and your clients. 

With Dakota Design Company being my second business (my first was a wedding and event planning company that I ran from 2007 to 2014 in Arizona and Illinois), I’ve certainly experienced my share of failures, but I’ve always learned from them (even if I needed to grieve and beat myself up for a bit first). 

There are always lessons to be learned in failure. Something that I think resonates with my clients is that I am a done-for-you service provider, just like they are.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

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SYSTEMS & OPS, HIRING Katie McFarlan SYSTEMS & OPS, HIRING Katie McFarlan

Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring for your Interior Design Business

If you’re thinking about hiring but don’t know where to start (or you’ve made a bad hire before and want to avoid repeating the mistake), this post is for you. Growing a team is one of the fastest ways to scale your business—when done right. But hiring the wrong person? That’s expensive, stressful, and a total drain on your time.

Inside The DTS Files, I’m breaking down:

  • The #1 hiring mistake that slows down your business growth

  • Why searching for “another you” is hurting your hiring process

  • The biggest red flags to watch out for when interviewing candidates

  • The simple method to determine exactly who you should hire first

If you want to grow your team without the overwhelm, upgrade to The DTS Files for full access!

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SYSTEMS & OPS, HIRING Katie McFarlan SYSTEMS & OPS, HIRING Katie McFarlan

What If I Don’t Have Time to Train Someone To Help My Interior Design Business

You Need Help—But You Have Zero Time to Hire or Train. Here’s the Solution.

You know you can’t keep running your interior design business alone. The client load, the admin work, the back-and-forth—it’s all too much. But the thought of hiring, onboarding, and training someone? That feels just as overwhelming.

The good news? You don’t have to figure this out alone.

In this article, I’m sharing:

  • The biggest mistake designers make when hiring (and how to avoid it)

  • Real stories of two interior designers who resisted hiring—until they saw the ROI

  • How to bring on the right person without spending hours on training

If you want to get the right help in place without wasting time, join The DTS Files to unlock my advice.

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SYSTEMS & OPS, HIRING Katie McFarlan SYSTEMS & OPS, HIRING Katie McFarlan

Who to Hire First in your Interior Design Business

Feeling Stretched Too Thin in Your Interior Design Business? Here’s How to Hire the Right Help—Without Wasting Time or Money.

You know you need help. Your projects are dragging on, marketing feels overwhelming, and the thought of taking on more clients makes you panic. But hiring? That feels just as impossible.

Who do you hire first? How do you afford them? And how do you find the time to train them when you're already maxed out?

In this post, I’ll show you:

  • How to figure out exactly what tasks to outsource

  • Why most designers waste money hiring the wrong person—and how to avoid it

  • A step-by-step breakdown of roles, responsibilities, and pay rates

If you want to hire with confidence so you can free up your time for the work you love, join The DTS Files to read the full post.

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HEAR FROM SOME OF OUR READERS:

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Looking for help with pricing?

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PRICING PLAYBOOK for INTERIOR DESIGNERS

Start with The Complete Guide to Pricing Your Design Services

Learn the most common pricing models used by interior designers, where each works best, and how to spot the signs that your current pricing structure needs to change.

NEED BUSINESS SUPPORT ASAP?

SHOP TEMPLATES

Need the documents behind a streamlined process?

The Design Library includes the client-facing investment guides, proposal templates, welcome guides, SOPs, questionnaires, contracts, and business tools we use and recommend for interior design firms.

Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company Premium Client Process templates for Interior Designers
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SHOP WORKSHOPS & TRAININGS

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. The Workroom houses our focused trainings for interior designers on pricing, construction, service structure, business operations, and other areas we teach inside design firms

Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company Premium Client Process templates for Interior Designers
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JOIN 19,000+ DESIGNERS EVERY FRIDAY

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Proven strategies and tools to streamline and elevate your interior design business.