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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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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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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 Katie McFarlan CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan

The Most Common Questions for your Interior Design Website’s FAQ Page

Ever feel like you’re answering the same client questions over and over again? Or worse—losing potential clients because they don’t understand your process? If you want to attract dream clients, set clear expectations, and eliminate unnecessary back-and-forth emails, a well-crafted FAQ page is a game-changer.

A strong FAQ page doesn’t just answer questions—it prevents client confusion, screens out bad-fit leads, and positions you as the expert before they even inquire. Done right, it will set you apart from the competition and create a smoother, more seamless experience for both you and your clients.

But which FAQs should you include? And how do you make sure you’re answering them in a way that builds trust and credibility instead of raising more questions? In this post, I’m breaking down the most important FAQs every interior designer and wedding planner should include—plus the small but powerful tweaks that will instantly make your client experience feel more polished and professional.

Ready to streamline your client communication and free up hours in your week? Read the full post when you join The DTS Files.

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CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan

How to Design a Client Experience Strategy for Your Interior Design Firm

A great client experience isn’t just about keeping things organized—it’s about making every step of your process clear, professional, and seamless. When done right, it helps set expectations, reduces endless client questions, and ensures projects run smoothly from inquiry to completion.

In this article, I’m breaking down what makes a strategic client experience and how small refinements can have a huge impact—helping you attract the right clients, set boundaries, and create a process that works for you (not the other way around).

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly answering the same questions or recreating the wheel with every new client, this is for you. Join The DTS Files to read the full post and learn how to streamline your client experience and make your business run more efficiently.

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CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan

How Interior Designers Can Get Out of Their Inbox and Back to Their Design Work

Your Interior Design Business Feels Overwhelming—Here’s Why (And How to Fix It)

If you’re drowning in emails, fielding constant client questions, and feeling like projects are running you instead of the other way around, you’re not alone. The problem isn’t that you need new software, a bigger team, or more hours in the day—it’s that your client experience process is running on fumes (or doesn’t exist at all).

  • “I feel like I’m just answering emails all day.”

  • “Clients keep taking control of the projects, and I’m exhausted.”

  • “I need a repeatable process instead of reinventing the wheel every time.”

Sound familiar? If so, your lack of a formalized client experience is keeping you stuck. But here’s the good news: this can be fixed.

In this post, I’m sharing:

  • The one shift that can instantly help you manage clients with ease

  • How a step-by-step process frees you from your inbox and puts you back in control

  • Why setting boundaries + clear expectations makes clients love working with you

If you’re ready to stop feeling buried and start running your design business with confidence, join The DTS Files to unlock my advice.

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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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CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan CLIENT EXPERIENCE Katie McFarlan

Set Boundaries Your Interior Design Clients Will Love

Feeling Overwhelmed? These 6 Boundaries Will Transform Your Interior Design Business.

Struggling with clients who text at all hours, expect instant responses, or push for endless revisions? You’re not alone. One of the biggest reasons interior designers feel overworked and stretched too thin isn’t because they have too many clients—it’s because they haven’t set clear, enforceable boundaries.

When done correctly, boundaries create a smoother client experience, increase efficiency, and actually make clients respect you more.

In this post, I’m sharing:

  • The 6 key boundaries interior designers should set ASAP

  • Why enforcing boundaries actually improves your client relationships

  • How to transition existing clients to your new policies (without the awkwardness)

Ready to streamline your client experience and create a business that runs smoothly? Join The DTS Files to unlock the full article.

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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 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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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.