Dear Dakota,

What’s the best practice for handling requests from clients about furniture that shows wear and tear or gets damaged after a period of time from regular use after they’ve moved in and the project is finished? Seems our clients expect that everything we source should be durable, and if it’s not, we should address the issues no matter how long it’s been.

On the one hand, I understand the frustration that some pieces aren’t as durable, but on the other hand, the less durable pieces are often the ones that were sourced with budget in mind (per client's request) - so they are not custom pieces, and not manufactured with high-quality finishes. So it is not surprising that these issues come up.

Our contract states we are not responsible for quality defects, but clients still view us as being on the hook since we chose these items for them. However, we want to preserve the relationship so we often submit the claims to our vendors. Some will gladly send replacements, but others won't. I want our clients to have a good experience and love everything we choose for them - so I try to make sure even the budget items last - but there has to be a better way to move forward - I can't be on the hook forever.

I don't know how to tell my clients they can't expect me to be there forever to help replace items without paying me for the time.

I'd love to hear your insights.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

Should I charge clients a different flat fee for projects my junior designer completes versus ones I complete?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Dear Dakota,

Should I post my fees on my website? And how do I do it if every project is different?

Join The DTS Files to see my advice.

Dear Dakota,

Although I have completed several kitchen and bath projects, I don't market myself as a K&B designer because I haven’t found the service to be profitable. Is that an area I should expand my business into? And what advice do you have for how to make these projects more profitable?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

When it comes to interior design projects, transparency in pricing is key to establishing trust and ensuring a successful collaboration between you and your clients. When I say transparency, I don’t mean you should pass along your trade pricing, disclose proprietary to-the-trade vendor information, or explain how you came to your (or your team’s) hourly rate.

Yeah, no. ← and if a potential client requests this information from you … RUN.

Or if a … clears throat … “business coach” puts out a blanket statement that it’s illegal to charge markup … RUN.

What I’m saying is …

ear Dakota,

I do flat fee billing and am a huge advocate of “the fewer invoices the better.”

The question is: how do I invoice? 

I love the invoice capability of my product management software but it lists each item by price. I can’t decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I love the idea of high-low design and sometimes it takes one expensive piece to make the space.  I always panic when I list prices individually in case the client will see the expensive item and give pushback (even though the total is coming in on budget.) They will see the price of an individual item and think it’s too much to pay for whatever item it may be.

I’m curious how others are invoicing. Are they sending a general invoice with only final pricing, or are they itemizing each item listed with an individual price?

What have you seen work the best?

Join The DTS Files for my insights and advice.

Invoicing clients for your interior design projects doesn't have to be a headache. But it is an integral part of running a successful design business and is a topic I get the most questions about.

In this article, I’m sharing the ins and outs of invoicing for your flat fee interior design projects so you can make the process more organized, efficient, and professional.

Whether you're collecting fees for consultations, design services, furniture purchases, or out-of-scope requests, these specific tips will ensure you can spend your time designing, NOT chasing down past-due payments like a debt collector.

And, this goes without saying, but just in case …

… Unlock the rest of this article when you join The DTS Files.