Interior Design Business Resources

Finding Quality Vendors

I've been getting this question a lot lately, how to find good vendors - contractors and subs specifically. And it's not an easy answer. I'm going to give you some pointers here today, but know that when a contractor doesn't return your call or email, is late to a meeting, or doesn't show when he promises - you are not alone, this happens to everyone.

As a designer, organizer, and a planner I find dealing with contractors one of the most frustrating parts of project management. (Contractors are you listening?) I don't know why, but it seems to be the norm that contractors: take forever to send quote/invoice, don't show up on time, don't show up with the

FundamentalsCapella KincheloeFebruary 21, 2018vendors, contractors, hiring contractors, finding trades peopleComment

Organizing Digital Files

I love organization, but not everyone does or thinks in that methodized way. As part of my recent reader survey, one reader said her digital organization had become quite cluttered. So I thought I would share with you the digital folders that I have on my computer for my design business and design clients. My method is not perfect, there is definitely room for improvement, but it rarely takes me any time to find what I am looking for.

I try to delete as much stuff from my computer and cloud as possible, to keep it

10 Steps for Starting A Successful Interior Design Business

Don't Ever Treat Your Business Like a Hobby - This means that you set it up properly from the get-go with proper business licenses, insurance, and legal structure. It also means setting up a website, a branded email (no gmail.com or yahoo.com), and a separate phone line. Businesses have separate bank accounts and credit cards, hobbies don't.
Get Yourself a Contract - Always do work with a proper, legal interior design agreement. This is to protect both you and your clients. You're opening yourself to a world of trouble

Finding a Great Accountant

Years ago when I moved to Arizona, I contacted the only local resource that worked with Studio Designer. I was restarting my business in Arizona and wanted someone to help setting up Studio and do my monthly bookkeeping. Luckily, that resource was my business accountant and bookkeeper Denise Maxwell. What is great about Denise is that she works almost exclusively with interior designers, she understands our business, she works in the program that works best for interior designers, and she is a great bridge between being a designer and accounting. If you aren't as lucky as I am to have found a great accountant on your first try, read on for my interview with Denise about finding a great accountant for your interior design business.

Texting for Business

A few weeks ago I received a question that inspired this post. She wanted to know how I tracked my time when I was texting with clients. She told me sometimes when she received text messages she wasn't in "work mode" and often forgot to write down that time to track. This question originated from the article I wrote: How to Make Money as an Interior Designer. In this article, I lay out how much money you may be leaving on the table by not charging for as little as an hour a week.

If you're spending an hour a week texting clients and not billing them for it, you could be losing $6500 a year (based on $125/hr)! AN HOUR A WEEK. $6500 lost for not tracking your texting.

FundamentalsCapella KincheloeNovember 1, 2017texting, client communications Comments

Interior Design Basics: Setting Up Trade Accounts

One of the most intimidating things to do for a new interior design business can be setting up trade accounts. Unfortunately, despite being in sales, the trade reps aren't always helpful. And the applications have spaces that a new business likely can't fill out.

To apply for a trade account you just need to contact the vendor or sales rep and let them know you need to set up a new account. Look online for your local rep or call corporate or just pick up an application at the showroom. They can send the application straight to your email. Then you fill it out and return it. You'll get an email or letter back letting you know that your application has been approved and your new account number.

Million Dollar Decorating - Interior Design Podcast

Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with James Swan on his Million Dollar Decorating Podcast. They track their most popular episodes by comments so I'd love if you'd comment on the podcast page here: Million Dollar Decorating - Capella Kincheloe.

Organizing Client Projects

When I start a new project there are a few things that I do to organize that new project, this is one of the systems I have created to make my business more efficient. In this post, I've attempted to describe my system for you. It feels a lot more complicated to explain the system in words than it is in actual execution.

I start with a 3" white 3-ring binder and a stack of b inder tabs. Much of my organization is based on using Studio Designer, but if you don't use Studio Designer or a project management software you can still organize your projects this way.

Essential Apps for Interior Designers

The title of this article is a bit of a misnomer because there are very few applications that you need to run an interior design business. Somewhere a few years ago, I stopped adding and started simplifying. This was a conscious effort to stop looking for the best way to run my business from external sources to start developing the best way to run my business by looking inside my business.

Simplicity and focusing on what really matters is what will make your business run smoother. By not cluttering up your process with various applications and subscriptions, you can give your attention to the work that needs to be done, not the app you should use to get it done.

That said here are some of my favorite apps for running an interior design business.

Interior Designer's Toolkit

It's always fun to get a peak inside of someone's bag, right? I little snapshot into their life and the treasures they carry with them. But mainly, I like looking in someone's bag because maybe, just maybe they'll have discovered some great secret I'm not yet privy too. That miracle lip plumper? A genius planner? An adorable key ring? Secrets hidden in someone's bag.

Being an interior designer means schlepping around quite a bit of stuff in your bag (and vehicle). From a job-site meeting with a contractor to meeting a new client to installations, there are many different occasions that interior designers must be prepared for. Below I've rounded up the best items that a well-prepared interior designer should have in her toolkit.

CAD Programs for Interior Designers

When I started in the architecture school at USC, computer aided design (CAD) was just beginning to be introduced into the curriculum. Hand-drawing and drafting was still king and I had one class in drawing plans on the computer (which we saved on giant floppy zip disks). It wasn't until years later while working for Michael Smith that I took an AutoCAD class and really started using it regularly.

Now it is commonplace. Your interior design firm can't survive without using CAD for 3D renderings or 2D furniture plans. This doesn't mean that you yourself have to know the programs if you're like me and they were never an integral part of your design education. There are lots of current students and recent graduates that are extremely proficient in CAD. Sometimes it is better to delegate.

AutoCAD

AutoCAD - The premier CAD program used by architects and engineers. This is the most widely used program and a standard in the industry, but it is also very expensive. For that reason,

FundamentalsCapella KincheloeMay 3, 2017software, tools Comments

Avoid Copyright Infringement on Photos

A few years ago, I was talking to another designer and I warned her that some of the photos on her blog could be putting her at risk for copyright infringement. She was immediately defensive and responded that the designers should be happy that the photos were on her site because it was free publicity. I tried to explain that publicity or not, she was opening herself and her business to potential legal action. She reacted like I was going to be the one to file the lawsuit!

So I hope that you'll be a little more open-minded to what I'm going to talk about today. In other words, don't shoot the messenger.

The bottom line is unless you took the photos on your website or have explicit permission from the copyright holder you are infringing on copyright and can have legal action taken against you.

Sales Tax Basics for Interior Designers

The first thing to know about sales tax is that if you're selling product (and sometimes services) to clients you'll have to pay it and the second thing to know is that every jurisdiction has different rules and regulations. In other words, it is unavoidable and it is complicated.

Tax is required to be paid on goods sold, but some businesses can get exemptions to pass on this tax to the end consumer - the client. The designer purchases a taxable item with the purpose of resale and at the time the designer charges the client they also must collect sales tax. The purpose of resale is the exemption. The sales tax is passed on to the client.

Designing Business Systems

It is no secret that I love organization, so when I started organizing my business it came fairly naturally to me. Coupled with my desire to make things as easy and automatic as possible, creating business systems was actually fun. I realize that this is not the case with most anyone else. I enthusiastically recommend creating business systems and processes to every interior design business owner. And not because I think it is fun. Systems can help your business run smoother, more efficiently, and with minimal brain power. You may even have some unofficial systems running already without knowing it.

Tracking Your Business: Monthly Reviews

It took me a couple years to finally be able to take my attention away from the day-to-day of starting and running my business. I realized I needed to be working on the business and not just in it. I was years-in before I started doing monthly reviews, but there isn't a single better tool for tracking your business progress.

And it can be quick!

My to-do list was always a mile long and always included urgent tasks, things that needed to get done right then rather than the important tasks that would help my business grow. It's like spending all your time picking up your house without ever cleaning it.

When I started doing monthly reviews, I created a repeating appointment in my calendar. The last business day of every month I spend an hour reviewing my business in the following areas.

Anatomy of an Interior Design Agreement 2.0

A couple of years ago, I wrote The Anatomy of an Interior Design Agreement. It became one of my most successful posts. Today, I am refreshing and revitalizing that post because my interior design agreement has been updated with all that I have learned over the past few years. Not just what I have learned in my own experiences, but in my fellow designer's experiences as well.

This is the first lesson. You should be continually updating and revising your interior design agreement. Each project will be a new lesson and you want to record those lessons in your design agreement.

This article also has a bit of a different perspective than the first. The first was geared more toward helping clients navigate a design agreement. This article, 2.0, is for designers to help clarify their interior design agreement.

Insurance for Interior Designers

I so adamantly tell interior designers to get insurance (DO NOT WORK WITHOUT IT!!!) that I also get a lot of questions about what insurance to have. I'm not an insurance professional and do not know your specific situation so I can't tell you what insurance is best for you. However, here is a primer of insurance for interior designers so you can talk to your agent about what may be best for your business.

Get as much coverage as you can, the more the better. You may think it's overkill until you need it.

A few reasons you must have insurance: protect yourself and your business, to avoid a lawsuit, computer crashes, server explosions, natural disasters...

Legal & Tax Structure for Interior Designers

Did you know that how you structure your business now could have long-lasting legal & tax benefits or disadvantages?

These are basic and simplified descriptions of the business structures. This article is not a substitute for professional legal & tax advice. If you have not set up/chosen a structure for your interior business yet OR you could benefit from a possible change in structure find a professional to discuss your specific situation. You create an entirely new business (in the eyes of the government) when you change business structures. It's best (so much easier) to start with the business structure that fits your (future) thriving business rather than have to get new bank accounts and start new records later.

How to Get Sued

No matter how great you think your clients are if you are in business you can get sued. Unfortunately, anyone can file suit for almost anything and you'll have to defend yourself. Whether you're at fault or not. This is the scary reality of running a business. But, the good news is the likelihood of facing a client or vendor in court is probably pretty minimal. It is important to have good communications with your vendors and clients and it is important to protect your business and yourself.

Here are 5 ways to get sued:

Interior Design Business Start-up Costs

So you want to start an interior design business? When I first started my business, I was pretty broke. I had just moved to another city and was using savings to live on because I didn't have any clients (aka income). I remember my mom sent me a hundred-dollar bill and I was so relieved that I cried. True story.

If you're starting like I did, don't dismay. You can do it. These things are all very important and I truly wish I would have slammed down my credit card and set this all up before I started my business because it would have been easier than the diy hacking that I did for a while.