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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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PRIVATE LIBRARY OF EXPERT INSIGHTS & ADVICE FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

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

Myth: You Can’t Streamline Your Interior Design Business When Every Project is Different

This is a common struggle I hear from interior designers ALL THE TIME. They wonder how they can create a process when every project and every client is so unique.

I get it!

The work we do with our interior design clients is highly individualized based on their challenges and needs. What works for a solo interior design business owner might not apply to a designer with a team of fifteen. And a team of fifteen has very different needs and challenges than a team of one does. 

So, how do you streamline your interior design process when every project is different?

I break it all down in this article.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

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

How to Make Sales Calls Easier For Interior Designers

Hate Sales Calls? Here’s How to Make Them Easier (and More Effective)

If sales calls make you nervous, drain your energy, or end up being “pick your brain” sessions with tire kickers, you’re not alone. But what if I told you that sales calls don’t have to be hard—and you don’t need to spend hours prepping for them?

With over 14 years of experience doing sales calls in the luxury service industry, I’ve developed a simple, no-fuss approach that eliminates the stress, screens out bad leads before the call even happens, and turns every conversation into an easy, natural way to connect with potential clients.

In this post, I’m breaking down exactly how to simplify your sales process so you can:

  • Cut sales calls down to 15-20 minutes (without missing a thing)

  • Pre-screen prospects so you only talk to ideal clients

  • Send pricing & process details ahead of time so clients come prepared

  • Hand off inquiries to a team member so you’re never stuck in price negotiations

Stop over-preparing, stop dreading the process, and start closing more sales with confidence. Access the full article inside The DTS Files.

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

How to Take Time Off in Your Interior Design Business

Thinking about taking time off from your interior design business but worried about leaving clients hanging—or worse, losing future business? Whether it’s a summer slowdown, a holiday break, or a long-overdue reset, stepping away without disrupting your business takes careful planning.

In this article, I’m sharing how to structure your schedule, set client expectations, and use strategic processes to create a seamless experience before, during, and after your time off. Learn how to manage inquiries, maintain client relationships, and actually enjoy your break—without the stress of coming back to a mess.

Want to make time off feel effortless and profitable? Read the full post inside when you join The DTS Files.

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

The Best Software for a Luxury Interior Design Client Experience

The Best Software for Interior Designers Who Want a Seamless, Luxury Client Experience

Your clients expect white-glove service, seamless communication, and an effortless experience from start to finish.But if your back-end systems are messy, your client experience will feel anything but luxury.

After working with top interior designers to streamline their businesses, I’ve compiled a list of must-have software that will help you automate, organize, and elevate every client touchpoint—so you can provide a polished, high-end experience (without working 24/7).

  • 💻 The best project management tool to keep designs, timelines, and tasks in check

  • 📝 The CRM that makes proposals, contracts, and payments effortless

  • 📹 The simple tool that adds a high-touch, personalized feel to every client interaction (literally WOULD NOT, COULD NOT do business without it)

  • 📅 The scheduling software that eliminates endless email back-and-forth

…and several hidden gems that will free up your time while making your clients feel pampered, informed, and well taken care of.

Join The DTS Files to read the full article.

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SYSTEMS & OPS Katie McFarlan SYSTEMS & OPS Katie McFarlan

What Interior Designers Should Consider Before Buying Online Courses

Is an Online Course Really What You Need? Read This Before You Buy.

Every year, I see interior designers set ambitious goals—finally getting organized, streamlining systems, rolling out a new service, hiring help, or getting consistent with marketing.

And yet, so many designers invest in courses that end up collecting dust in their inbox, untouched and underutilized. Why? Because a course alone won’t solve your biggest challenges if you don’t have time to implement what you’re learning.

Before you invest in another course, let’s talk about:

  • The hidden costs of taking a course that most designers overlook

  • How to determine if a course, group program, or 1:1 support is right for you

  • Why some courses fail (and how to choose one that actually works for you)

If you’re ready to stop wasting time and money on courses you’ll never finish and invest in a solution that actually moves your business forward, join The DTS Files to read my advice.

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SYSTEMS & OPS Katie McFarlan SYSTEMS & OPS 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 Katie McFarlan SYSTEMS & OPS 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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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.

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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 me and my team (comprised of industry experts and educators) 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 and are professors!

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 and live step-by-step 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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COMPLIMENTARY QUIZ FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS

You don’t need to overhaul everything. You just need to fix the right thing.

This 2-minute quiz will help you identify what’s holding you back and how to fix it.

JOIN 16,000 DESIGNERS EVERY FRIDAY

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