What if you could attract better clients, increase your fees, and reduce your overwhelm—just by making a few simple tweaks to how you run your business?

The truth is, inefficiencies in your scheduling, communication, and client experience could be costing you time, money, and credibility. And your potential clients? They notice.

In this post, I’ll walk you through:

• The #1 mistake slowing down your business (that most designers don’t even realize they’re making)

• How a $10/month software can immediately elevate your client experience (and let you charge MORE)

• Why efficiency = luxury (and how to position it in your pricing and marketing)

If you’re tired of juggling manual scheduling, endless back-and-forth emails, and clunky client communication, it's time to make a change.

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©️ Dakota Design Company 2017-2025 | All rights reserved. This content may not be reproduced, distributed, or used without permission.

Now, this may be old hat for many of you, but if you have a newly established business or have been hesitant to sell trade because of the fear of sales tax, this article is for you!

If part of your revenue comes from the resale of goods (whether it be furniture, fabric, accessories, or cabinets and countertops), and you purchase those items from a to-the-trade vendor at net pricing, then everything in this post is critically important to you. 

Sales tax (that we all pay every time we go shopping) is paid by the end-user of goods or merchandise. When you—as a designer—purchase goods and sell them to your clients, those clients are the end-user (not you) and therefore must pay sales tax to the state and sometimes also to a local jurisdiction (county or city) tax collecting agency. You collect the sales tax from the client and remit it to the state. 

Let’s talk about three parts of this process:

1. Purchasing from a to-the-trade vendor.

2. Selling goods to the client (the end-user) and collecting sales tax.

3. Paying that sales tax to the state and local tax collecting agencies. 

And, if this is new to you, be sure to check out Design Business Foundations, where my team and I walk you through setting up your interior design business on solid footing from day one and provide six weeks of expert 1:1 support.

01 | Purchasing Products from a To-the-Trade Vendor

When you purchase from a to-the-trade vendor, you do not pay sales tax at the time of purchase, as you are not the end-user of those goods. You typically purchase at a price that is lower than the MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price), therefore, you have the opportunity to collect revenue when you sell those goods to your client at a mark-up from that lower (sometimes called net) price that you paid the vendor for the goods.  

You can sell those goods to the client at any price you wish: either the MSRP, or some percentage of mark-up that you determine. To see my thoughts on the topic of how to determine your mark-up, and whether to disclose it to your client, read this post about why you SHOULD NOT call it a discount. 

But, in order to qualify to make purchases from your vendors without paying sales tax, and at net pricing, you must obtain a sales tax permit for your business entity. In different states, this might alternately be called a resales license, sales tax license, seller’s permit, resale tax certificate, certificate of resale, tax identification number, sales tax exemption number, exemption certificate, or another similar-sounding term. 

Fun, right?

In short, this sales tax exemption certificate/license/number gives you permission—as a representative of your business entity—to make purchases without paying sales tax to the seller (the to-the-trade vendor) at the time of purchase. It also allows you in turn to be a reseller of those goods – selling them to the end-user, your client, and collecting sales tax when you make that sale. 

The way you obtain a sales tax exemption certificate/license/number is simply to go to the Department of Revenue website for the state in which you will be purchasing and selling goods, and find the location (usually in an Information for Businesses section) where you can apply. The application process can typically be completed online or may involve sending some paperwork through the mail. 

Beware that having this sales tax exemption certificate/license/number comes with some responsibility. The state now knows that your business re-sells goods and collects sales tax, so you now need to report tax collected to the state on a regular basis. Just as a state or federal revenue service will be none-too-happy if you don’t file your personal income tax each April 15th, they also will track you down if you fail to report your sales tax activity! 

Once you have this sales tax exemption certificate/license/number, you will keep it until you either close or modify your business (such as converting from a sole proprietorship to an LLC or S-Corp), and you will use the corresponding number for any non-sales tax purchasing from vendors, and all sales tax reporting of tax collected from end-users. Even though it may be called a license or certificate, these days, there is often no actual piece of paper issued by the state, typically just a corresponding number.

However, there is one more step after obtaining this sales tax exemption certificate/license/number from your state. You must also fill out a simple form, indicating that sales tax number, the first time you do business with any new vendor (the seller, in this case). That vendor (seller) will keep this completed form on file, and know that—because you have a sales tax exemption certificate/license/number, you will not pay sales tax when you make purchases. This form is called a Certificate of Exemption, or perhaps a Sales Tax Resale Certificate, or something similar depending on your state.

I know what you’re thinking!  Doesn’t the name of the thing that allows me to make tax-exempt purchases and the form I use to report my tax-exempt number to new vendors sound an awful lot alike?!?!? Yes, the names of these two things can seem repetitive or redundant, depending on how your state chooses to name them.  So confusing!

When you do business with a new vendor for the very first time, they likely may have blank copies of your state’s Certificate of Exemption for you to fill out. Or, you can go to your state’s Department of Revenue website and download and print a copy of the certificate, and fill it out in advance, or, you can use a form that is intended to be used in any state. You fill out the form, and the vendor keeps it on file.

Uniform Sales Tax Certificate

This form varies just a bit from state to state, but the information you need to provide on it is fairly simple: 

• the name and address of the seller (the vendor whom you are purchasing from on a tax-exempt basis)

• your business name and address (you will be the re-seller)

• the reason you are purchasing as tax-exempt, which is that you are to be a seller (or reseller) of goods to your client

• description of the items to be purchased for resale (typically you can say furniture and home goods)

• and, the number from your state’s sales tax exemption certificate/license/number

Now that you know how to get set up with a sales tax exemption and work with trade vendors, the next step is making sure you handle it correctly once you’re selling to clients.

Inside The DTS Files, you’ll get my detailed breakdown of:

• Which goods, services, and fees may be taxable in your state

• How to determine the correct tax rate for each client

• How to invoice so you’re compliant (and don’t leave money on the table)

• How and when to file and pay sales tax so you avoid penalties

Get instant access here →

Is It Time to Raise Your Rates? Here’s How to Know

Most interior designers are undercharging for their expertise, and chances are, you might be too.

If you haven’t raised your rates in the last year, are constantly booked out, or find yourself working nonstop yet barely profitable, it’s time to take a serious look at your pricing structure.

In this exclusive post, I’m breaking down the 11 signs that you’re overdue for a rate increase, plus:

• The mindset shifts you need to confidently charge more

• How to position your pricing to attract higher-end clients

• Why most designers struggle with pricing (and how to stop leaving money on the table)

• The key mistakes designers make when raising their rates—and how to avoid them

Your pricing directly impacts your workload, client quality, and overall business sustainability. If you're feeling burned out, frustrated, or constantly negotiating your fees, this post will show you exactly how to raise your rates the right way—without fear or second-guessing yourself.

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

Receiving fees, storage, white glove delivery, assembly, inspection, EEK! What does this all mean?

For some of our interior designer clients, the thought of finding and using a receiver is enough to make them not want to deal with buying and selling goods. But once you have a good receiver, it can make all the difference in your ability to source custom items, generate revenue from product sales, and have the ability to control the end result for those magazine worthy images. 

But how does a receiver even work? Who pays for it? Can you ship stuff direct?

Join The DTS Files for my advice and insights.

If you’re newer to the field, you may have NO clue how to manage a new build or renovation project. Or maybe you’ve been collaborating with contractors for a while, and things are feeling more out of control than ever. And if you have a difficult GC, lots of delays, and subs moving on to other jobs because they couldn’t wait for all your plumbing finishes to arrive, your profitability tanks, your overwhelm skyrockets, and your client is now somehow mad at YOU. The nerve!

If this sounds all too familiar, keep reading for seven ways to create boundaries around project management (there are certainly a million more). Throughout this post, I will refer to construction and renovation management as project management, and I’m making the assumption you are NOT a licensed general contractor.

01 | Clearly define the services you offer during the construction phase

If you are comfortable collaborating with contractors, doing site visits, processing change orders, and being the point person during the construction phase, this should be spelled out clearly in the contract and scope and should be reflected in your pricing. Or, if you will only collaborate and coordinate with your own painter/wallpaper hanger/carpenter/carpet guy/etc. that should be detailed as well.

📌 IMPORTANT: Be sure to check with your attorney on what is allowed in your state related to managing your own subcontractors and billing for their services. This often falls into the General Contractor category, and if you’re not a licensed GC, you could be opening yourself up to a lot of liability. So again → check with a licensed attorney in your state on the legal way to handle this and then define it in your contract.

But, even without taking on the role of GC, there is ample opportunity for you to be an asset to your client during the construction and installation phase.

For instance:

• Being present for deliveries of items ordered through your company

• Providing on-site design-specific instructions and specification books to installers and fabricators

• Confirming that installation meets your design intent

• Troubleshooting and answering questions from any of the tradespeople on site

• and much more.  

An interior designer being on-site at critical points during construction can ensure the design is being implemented properly. If the project warrants and you are making regular site visits during the process, make sure both your client and the GC understand your role.

02 | Know who you will and won’t work with.

If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve likely worked with a builder or two you’d prefer to avoid in the future. During the inquiry phase, find out if the client has already contracted with a builder or GC. Based on past experience, there may be times when it’s best to decline a project early or steer a client away from a problematic contractor.

Ensure your prospects are working with LICENSED professionals, not their brother and his college buddies who are “really good at carpentry.” (Yes, this has happened to one of my clients.)

If they aren’t using licensed contractors and are planning to DIY any construction, you’re likely better off moving them to a Design Only service. More on that here. 

Clients will likely ask for your recommendation when they haven’t hired a builder or GC yet, so develop a list of contractors you trust. Some states may require you to provide multiple recommendations to avoid liability, so consult with an attorney to determine what’s allowable and how to protect yourself.

📌 In any event, SAVE your “little black book of vetted contractors and vendors” for once a prospect becomes a client. Don’t give that premium info away to anyone who asks.

03 | Be upfront with prospects about who hires contractors. You or them.

This ties back to point #1—knowing what’s allowable in your state.

A general contractor is responsible for applying for building permits, ordering build materials, managing the project timeline, carrying GC insurance, and hiring, scheduling, overseeing, and paying all subcontractors.

Depending on your state’s laws, you may take on certain parts of the process but always check with a licensed attorney.

For instance, if your state allows you to hire subcontractors without a GC license or without special insurance, you may hire, schedule, and pay the installers whose work involves products or decorative finishes while the GC manages all the construction-related elements, such as the sheetrock install, carpentry, plumbing, and cabinet subcontractors. There may be instances where the installation of decorative finishes (wallcovering, drapery install, mirror, and art installation) happens after the completion of the GC’s management of the project, so these may be areas that you oversee. 

Ensure the client understands who is responsible for what and that they will have a separate contract (separate from the contract with you) with the GC and any other third party hired by them (architect, structural engineer, landscape designer, etc.). 

When we work with interior designers, we define multiple touchpoints throughout their process to explain who will be responsible for what, how services will be paid for, and who will be overseeing various aspects of construction.

If construction projects have been a source of stress, it’s time to take back control. The DTS Files gives you access to this full post, plus expert insights to help you structure your CA services, set better boundaries, and confidently stay in your lane during construction.

🔑 Read the rest inside The DTS Files — my members-only collection of advanced strategies, industry insights, and behind-the-scenes advice for running a profitable, elevated design firm.

💌 Not quite ready to become a member? Join The Weekly Install® and get my best insights and strategies for free delivered straight to your inbox every Friday. Sign up here.

As business owners, we spend so much time figuring out what to do that we rarely stop to think about what we should stop doing. Over the years, I’ve refined my process, grown my team, and built a successful business that serves both my clients and my life. And a huge part of that? Letting go of things that don’t serve me, my business, or my time.

In this post, I’m sharing the 12 things I don’t do in my business—things that have helped me scale efficiently, maintain strong boundaries, and create a client experience that’s both profitable and sustainable.

• Why I never let a prospect book a call before screening them (and why you shouldn’t either).

• The one thing I do not subscribe to, follow, or consume—and how it’s helped me grow faster.

• How I structure my availability to avoid burnout and keep my brain fresh for deep, strategic work.

If you’re feeling stretched too thin, overcommitted, or like your business is running you instead of the other way around, this post will show you the small (but powerful) shifts you can make to take back control.

Join The DTS Files to read the full article now.