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FOR DESIGNERS JUST STARTING OR LAUNCHING THEIR BUSINESS

6 Weeks of Step-By-Step Guidance, Expert Support, and Insider Industry Knowledge to Help You Start Your Interior Design Business with Confidence.

Tired of endless Google searches and building your business on the fly?

I TOTALLY GET IT.

You want to run a successful design business, but you either have no idea where to start or feel like you’re in react mode, building the plane as you fly it. NOT GOOD!

You have a natural talent for design, but the business side of things feels like a foreign language. Heck, you may even be wondering if you’re cut out for this.

Spoiler Alert: It Doesn’t Have To Be This Hard.

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A tall, rustic clay vase with a handle containing a large, leafy green plant. Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

I BET YOU’RE READY TO STOP….

Relying on the internet for answers. 

You’re frantically searching the internet for solutions that may or may not work, making your head spin with information overload. Just once, you’d love to know exactly what to do and how to do it, and you need it in one easy-to-access place. 

Second-guessing your every decision.

As much as you want to build your business, you’re stuck second-guessing every little thing. You have an eye for design, but that no longer feels like enough, and the confidence you’re craving feels so out of reach.

Feeling like a fraud in the interior design business game.

You’re already struggling to keep up with all the industry lingo, and now you’re trying to stay on top of a business too. You’re piecemealing it together as you go, praying your vendors and clients won’t see through the cracks.

Drowning in a sea of information overload.

You’re trying to figure out all of the things, leaving you feeling exhausted and spread waaaay too thin. The goal is to build your dream business—but the more you learn, the more you realize you don’t know.

Racing against the clock to “get it right.”

You may be getting by—for now—but aren’t sure how much longer you can keep holding it all together. Your pipeline is starting to fill up, and you know you need to get things in place before you’re in way over your head.

You’re done waiting for the other shoe to drop.

A cluttered wooden desk with a white computer monitor, a laptop, a white lamp with a beige base, a cup of coffee, several printed papers, books with the title 'Mocafico Numero,' a large textured vase with rolled-up papers, and some color samples or design swatches.
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Person sitting on a beige sofa, holding an architecture.  Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

✓ Stop guessing and get the answers you need.

✓ Save the time it takes to do this on your own.

✓ Steer clear of common (and costly) mistakes.

✓ Step into a legitimate interior design business.

✓ Show up like you’ve been in the biz for years.

✓ Feel confident taking on new clients and projects.

✓ Have someone IN the industry put their eyes on your business!

If I know you like I think I do, I bet you’re ready to:

It’s Time to Let You in On a Little Secret…

YOU DON’T HAVE TO FAKE IT ‘TIL YOU MAKE IT!

You can have the interior design business you’ve been dreaming of — without all of the stress and second-guessing. Imagine knowing you’re building a strong business foundation rooted in best practices while getting expert advice, insider industry tips, AND support from me and my team every step of the way!

Consider this your *official* invitation to join us in Design Business Foundations, our exclusive one-stop shop for brand-new designers just starting out on their business journey. 

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“The old saying is true: you don’t know what you don’t know. Katie and her team provided me step by step, manageable instructions for setting up my interior design business the right way. Without a doubt, this was an incredible investment in my business.”

-ASHLEY, INTERIOR DESIGNER

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If you’re eager to turn your passion for design into a REAL, thriving business but need help with:

  • Navigating the legalities of starting your own business 

  • Establishing a strong financial foundation for long-term profitability 

  • Understanding the industry lingo so you can have conversations with confidence 

  • Negotiating contracts with clients and vendors without stress*

  • Choosing the right software and systems to stay organized 

  • Setting up your website and marketing your services like an established designer

  • Gaining visibility online and expanding your professional network 

  • Building your vendor list and establishing local partnerships 

  • Avoiding common mistakes now that could cost you in the long run

*A design contract is not included in the Foundations Program. 
A cozy kitchen corner with large windows showing a snowy outdoor landscape, a wooden countertop, and cushioned seating area with pillows. Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

Then Design Business Foundations was made for you.

So you don’t have to do it on your own.

A wooden desk with a silver laptop.  Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

You don’t want to waste time (or thousands of dollars) reversing “bad habits” down the road. You want to get it right from the start.

WITH DESIGN BUSINESS FOUNDATIONS, YOU CAN!

Not a course. Not an e-book. Not 1,457,348 Google searches that leave you second-guessing and even more confused.

It’s a step-by-step curriculum to guide you through laying the vital pillars of your business’s foundation. Access easy-to-use templates and tools, actionable advice, industry how-to’s, AND six weeks of expert support from me and our in-house design professor (who is also a trained interior designer.)

With Design Business Foundations, my team is your team. And together, we’ll get your business up and running — the right way. 

A person sitting at a table, holding a glass of coffee or espresso.  Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

It’s true what they say—

You don’t know what you don’t know.

THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE TO SHOW YOU EXACTLY HOW TO START YOUR BUSINESS.

By the end of our six weeks together, you’ll have…

✓ A solid legal foundation for your design business, including the critical elements within contracts* and sales agreements.

✓ A secure financial foundation for your business, including understanding the vital basics of client billing.

✓ All the software recommendations you need to avoid the common mistakes most beginning designers make.

✓ A legit and totally professional business website—and we’ll tell you exactly what to include on each page.


You’ll also have the know-how to… 


✓ Recognize the signs it’s time to change your business structure so you can continue toward sustainable growth.

✓ Market your business like a professional, learning everything from website basics to referral networking tips.

✓ Navigate working with vendors, showrooms, retailers, buying groups, and local partners to elevate your designs and biz. 

✓ Do field measures with confidence (and know how to keep clients busy so they don’t follow you around the house and distract you!)

✓ Speak the language and use industry-specific lingo so you can sound like the professional you are.


And the bonus? You’ll be able to do all of the above with confidence!

*Design contract is not included in the Foundations program. Foundations students save 15% on all templates and trainings.

client experience

“Starting your own firm in the Interior Design world is exciting and daunting. It isn't a 'one size fits all' field and that is part of what makes it so great, but can be overwhelming when trying to navigate how to structure your business, charge clients, keep processes clear, etc. I was feeling like I was doggy paddling in a few areas and needed someone to help me get back to swimming along and Katie did just that! She helped answer questions and give suggestions that I could follow instead of drowning in general business advice!”

DANNI, INTERIOR DESIGNER

MEET YOUR MENTORS

Hey there! I’m Katie

A woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a beige dress, sitting on a transparent chair, smiling and resting her chin on her hand. Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

Real talk. Being your own boss sounds fun and all, but it can be really hard—especially if everyone thinks your business is just a cute hobby....

And if you’re anything like me, you want to show up like a professional from day one. 

I remember the immense dread I felt when meeting with clients and vendors when I was just starting my first business. I worked hard to appear calm, cool, and collected, but on the inside, I was worried they would stump me with a question and expose me as a newbie. Maybe you can relate. Or perhaps this is exactly what you’re trying to avoid. 

Either way, know this: it doesn’t have to be that way. You can skip the stress of figuring it out as you go by building a solid business foundation now, allowing for sustainable growth for all the years ahead. I created this program because I believe every designer deserves to start their dream business with confidence, even if they’re just starting out. Even if they haven’t gone to design school. Even if they haven’t worked in a design studio. I don’t want the business side of things to hold passionate and talented designers, like you, back from their dreams. And I definitely don’t want the world to miss out on your incredible talents.

Say hello to Gloria!

A woman with short, wavy brown hair, wearing a light denim shirt, smiling at the camera with a neutral gray background. Gloria Stafford. Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

When it comes to design business foundations, Gloria is my right-hand lady! As a former interior designer and current professor of interior design at a Midwest university, Gloria brings years of in-the-field expertise and a teacher’s eye to the program. She has experience in both residential and commercial design, so there’s literally nothing she hasn’t seen. 

Oh–and did I mention that she also has her Master’s Degree in interior design from SCAD (aka Ivy League in the design world) and a Ph.D.? In other words—She. Knows. Her. Stuff.

And if you’ve found any of our free resources and blogs helpful in the past, you can thank Gloria. She contributes to all of the educational resources we create for our designers.


And with Design Business Foundations, she gets to be directly involved in your success. While this program is structured to teach business foundations, not design foundations, Gloria is certainly an invaluable asset. Having access to her industry expertise puts you on the fast track to success, just like if you had spent years working in a bustling interior design office or attending design school. Ummm… yes, please!

Consider this program your fast track to knowing how the inside of a design business works so you can feel like you’ve been “in” the biz for years.

Wooden desk with a silver laptop. Katie McFarlan Dakota Design Company best client process templates for interior designers

I get it—establishing the foundation isn’t as fun or sexy as doing the design itself. 

But unwavering confidence and a successful business?

Now THAT is sexy as hell. 

Cover image of a design business foundations program. It features a spiral-bound workbook, a white booklet, a laptop showing an email, and a smartphone, all related to a six-week curriculum for interior designers.
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A Glimpse Inside the Foundations Program:

Consider this your sneak peek into the 6-week curriculum. Move through it at your own pace or follow along as a new lesson drops each week — the choice is yours.

PILLAR ONE

Legal Foundations

Learn how to: 

  • Choose a name for your business that will withstand the test of time

  • Protect your company and legal assets 

  • Craft your contracts* and agreements with the right information

  • Apply for a resale license

  • Collect sales tax (and understand when you do and DON’T need to collect)

  • And more!

*Contract is only included in the Black Friday Bundle

PILLAR TWO

Financial Foundations

By the end of this lesson, you’ll: 

  • Know how to set up your financial software to avoid expensive cleanup fees later

  • Learn how to price your services for profit 

  • Understand what you should include in your payment terms

  • Know the best timeline for invoicing your clients

  • Recognize the tell-tale signs it’s time to change your business structure

  • And more!

PILLAR THREE

Software Basics

We’ll cover topics like: 

  • The must-have programs for designers 

  • Choosing the right software for your design business 

  • Managing your product library, creating designs, and getting client approvals

  • And more, PLUS, we’ll give you our specific recommendations based on the type of projects you do, HOW you like to work, and whether you’ll be selling products or not

PILLAR FOUR

Marketing 101

In this lesson, you’ll learn: 

  • How to establish a professional marketing foundation 

  • Exactly what you should include on each page of your website

  • How to avoid common industry-wide marketing mistakes

  • Ways to increase your online visibility and referral network 

  • What’s worth investing in now versus what can wait 

  • And more!

PILLAR FIVE

Working with Vendors

This lesson is all about helping you:

  • Understand the ins and outs of working with vendors, showrooms, retailers, and buying groups

  • Build your vendor list 

  • Source products for your clients like a pro 

  • Know when you will and won’t need a receiving warehouse

  • Explore the various types of trade accounts you can set up

  • Gain insight into how designers typically dip their toes into making markup

  • And more!

PILLAR SIX

Local Partnerships

By the end of this lesson, you’ll: 

  • Know the ins and outs of working with window treatment and upholstery workrooms

  • Understand how to bill for your workrooms and send work orders

  • Have the confidence to build a team of tradespeople to help bring your designs to life 

  • Master the best practices for doing a field measure so you always get the furniture plans right

  • And more!

and that’s just a preview. Access it all when you join the program.

THIS IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO START YOUR BUSINESS…

all in one place.

Bundle of educational materials for a design business foundations program, including a spiral-bound curriculum overview, a booklet, an email screenshot, and a smartphone displaying an email and a web page.

JOINING THE PROGRAM GETS YOU ACCESS TO:

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

Immediate Access to the Curriculum

Get immediate access to the entire curriculum (plus bonus chapters and resources) so you can dive in at your own pace—or wait for the weekly lesson drops.

Weekly Lessons

Receive weekly lessons and relevant resources delivered straight to your inbox as you work through each stage of the curriculum.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Feel supported as you set up the core pillars of your business foundation by learning the what, the why, and, most importantly, the HOW.

Six Weeks of Private Email Support

Submit questions related to each week’s homework to the DDC team and receive personalized private support each week during designated email Office Hours.

A Curated Library of Resources & Templates

Access printable checklists, easy-to-use templates, and a fill-in-the-blank business plan created specifically to expedite your learning and implementation.

Our Glossary of Terms

Search through our exclusive glossary of industry-specific terms commonly used in showrooms, with manufacturers, and with clients.

Lifetime Access & Updates

We update our programs and products regularly, and you’ll receive an email with any new materials or updates when we make them.

  • Exclusive 15% savings on select products in The Design Library and The Workroom while in the program

  • Insider tips to give you years of experience in a matter of weeks 

  • Savings on our signature coaching & consulting program for interior designers, The Designed to Scale® Method, where we’ll help you design your services, establish profitable pricing, and create an elevated client process for each service you offer.

  • And more!

TO HELP YOU FAST-TRACK YOUR SUCCESS, YOU’LL ALSO GET →

Let’s Chat About
the Investment

This program gives you a combined 40+ years of applicable knowledge, professional experience, and insider advice. 

You’ll get guided support from an interior design business consultant and an interior design professor and former interior designer at the same time—and at a fraction of the cost of hiring a 1:1 consultant or signing up for a college course.

But the real cost here is not establishing a solid business foundation early on
, risking expensive mistakes, leading you down a path of stress, and leaving money on the table.

DESIGN BUSINESS
FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM

$600

✓ Instant Access to the Core Curriculum

✓ Weekly Lessons & Step-by-Step Guidance

✓ Six Weeks of Private Email Support

✓ A Curated Library of Resources & Templates, including:

  • - The Interior Designer’s Guide to Field Measuring

  • - A Fill-in-the-blank Business Plan

  • - A Vendor List with 140+ vendors

  • - A Hand-Selected List of U.S Interior Design Attorneys

  • - A Sample Chart of Accounts

  • - Outreach Email Templates

✓ A Glossary of Back Office Interior Design Lingo

✓ Exclusive 15% Savings in the Design Library while in the program

Marketing email showcasing a design business foundations program workbook, a six-week curriculum, and digital devices displaying email content for interior designers.

Please note: structuring your services and processes is not covered in the Foundations program. Email gloria@dakotadesigncompany.com to make sure this program is a good fit for you.

Due to the instant and digital nature of this product, we do not offer refunds. See full terms and conditions here.

“Katie is one of the best in the industry and gives you the foundations to succeed and move forward. I found her services and advice invaluable!”

M.R., INTERIOR DESIGNER

Here’s what past clients have to say:

STILL DECIDING?

If you want to be a profitable interior designer- you have to have a solid foundation in your systems and processes or everything else will crumble
I've seen growth in my interior design business, have become more organized, and can clearly see where I want my business to go

“If you want to be a profitable interior designer- you have to have a solid foundation or everything else will crumble.”

HAYLEY, INTERIOR DESIGNER

“Your tools have set me running this year, and I am overjoyed! I’ve got efficiency, joy, and the freedom of my headspace to focus on my creative side. THANK YOU.”

CATHERINE, INTERIOR DESIGNER

Working with Katie and her team absolutely transformed my client process, providing me with clear strategy, tools, and confidence to effectively communicate with my clients from the very start, keep my process on track

"Thank you so much for this [Foundations] program. It is a huge gift to learn how to set up a smoothly functioning interior design business that will be able to scale."

KELLY, INTERIOR DESIGNER

Thank you so much for this [Foundations] program. It is a huge gift to learn how to set up a smoothly functioning interior design business that will be able to scale

…imagine what you could be saying after 6 weeks?

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Let’s get them answered.

A RECAP OF WHAT YOU GET inside DESIGN BUSINESS FOUNDATIONS

JOINING THE PROGRAM GETS YOU ACCESS TO:

Immediate Access to the Curriculum

Get immediate access to the entire curriculum (plus bonus chapters and resources) so you can dive in at your own pace—or wait for the weekly lesson drops.

Weekly Lessons

Receive weekly lessons and relevant resources delivered straight to your inbox as you work through each stage of the curriculum.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Feel supported as you set up the core pillars of your business foundation by learning the what, the why, and, most importantly, the HOW.

Six Weeks of Private Email Support

Submit questions related to each week’s homework to the DDC team and receive personalized private support each week during designated email Office Hours.

A Curated New Designer Toolkit

Access printable checklists, easy-to-use templates, and a fill-in-the-blank business plan created specifically to expedite your learning and implementation. These include:

  • The Interior Designer’s Guide to Field Measuring

  • A Fill-in-the-Blank Business Plan (and yes, I “lead the witness” with prompts

  • A Vendor List with 140+ vendors

  • A Hand-Selected List of U.S Interior Design Attorneys

  • A Sample Chart of Accounts

  • Outreach Email Templates

15% Savings in The Design Library

Save 15% during the program on our client experience templates, contract templates, business tools, and trainings when you shop The Design Library and The Workroom.

A Back Office Glossary of Interior Design Business Terms

Search through our exclusive glossary of industry-specific terms commonly used in showrooms, back offices, with manufacturers, and with clients.

Lifetime Access & Updates

We update our programs and products regularly, and you’ll receive an email with any new materials or updates when we make them.

So what do you say?

ARE YOU READY TO LAUNCH YOUR DESIGN BUSINESS LIKE AN EXPERT? 

With Design Business Foundations, my all-female team and I are ready to support you as you get your business up and running — the right way. After six weeks together, you’ll have the confidence and know-how to show up and start taking clients. 

Sound good? 

If so, what are you waiting for?

DISCLAIMER: The material and information provided by Dakota Design Company, LLC should not be construed as and is not intended to constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. The Purchaser should seek the advice of licensed professionals in these areas prior to acting upon any information. Dakota Design Company, LLC makes no representations concerning the sufficiency, completeness, or accuracy of any information or documents as they relate to the Purchaser’s specific tax, legal, or accounting needs.

TERMS & CONDITIONS. By purchasing this program, you agree to the Terms & Conditions.

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