How small interior design jobs can benefit your business.

Just last week, I told you that you can’t make money on small interior design projects. But like most things with running an interior design business it’s not always black and white. So while you may not be able to make money on projects with small budgets, there may be other benefits that you may want to consider.

You have to decide what is right for you and your business, but consistently not making money on projects is never going to be profitable or successful. The benefits I’ll discuss below will never sustain your business alone.

In general, I think it is critical to business success to have project minimums and not take low-budget design projects. Below are some general assumptions why small budgets clients are bad for your business.

Why small budget projects are bad for business.

• Like attracts like. Typically, the type of clients you attract now are the clients you will continue to attract in the future. So low budgets will attract more low budgets.

• Small budgets = small design fees. Clients who don’t have a lot to invest in their interior design won’t have a lot to invest in an interior designer.

• Small budgets = no portfolio photos. A great portfolio is one of the best ways to attract new clients and show your work.

Have criteria for accepting projects.

I like to have criteria for accepting new clients. Being purposeful about your clients will build your business better and faster. You can read more about identifying your criteria in this article. But criteria for accepting new clients allows you to examine if you should take a project more objectively to determine if it’ll benefit your business. Because why take a project that isn’t going to benefit your business?

But some of those criteria points could be why you want to take a small budget project, even if you won’t make money on it - there could still be some benefit. However, since you likely won’t make much (if any) on a small budget project you do need to be certain that these other criteria are guaranteed so you have something to show at the end of the project.

The possible benefits of taking a small interior design job.

• Future Work. Is there a strong possibility that doing this small job now may translate into a larger job for your clients in the future?

• Experience. Will this job give you a lot more experience or expertise if you accept?

• Great portfolio images. Can you get great portfolio images from this project?

• Testimonial. Will your client provide an outstanding testimonial?

• Test/improve your efficiency. Do you need to work on your time management skills and will having no budget and a small design fee help test or improve your efficiency? Read more about why lack of time of time management is hurting your design business.

• Referrals. Is this client connected to people who I want to work with and have the budgets to do so?

• Joy. Will this project be so much fun for me that the money doesn’t matter? Will it fill me up creatively and provide inspiration?

• Great client. If you are not going to make money, the client better be a freaking dream. A demanding, unreasonable client is not worth the money you're not getting paid.

• Pro-bono/charity.

• Publicity. When finished will this project be a contender for publication?

• Marketing. Will you be able to use this project for marketing your business and gaining new clients?

If you’re not making money because of a small design budget, the other benefits must outweigh that.

What are your thoughts about the benefits of small interior design projects? Share in the comments.

About The Author

Hi! I’m Capella and I’m an interior designer who helps fellow designers build their businesses. Forget secrecy and competition, I believe designers should support and uplift each other. By helping and boosting one another, we can elevate the business of interior design together! Hang around a bit and I’ll share all the business “secrets” no one else wants to talk about.