Posts tagged building an interior design business
Creating Interior Design Business Policies

When you work for someone else and you are put into an existing system and culture. They’ve created their systems, policies, and procedures and as an employee you’re expected to conform. These policies set up the rules of conduct within an organization and expectations of both the employee and the employer. Working for someone else’s business likely means there is an employee handbook, policies surrounding job performance & duties, and procedures for job performance.

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10 Steps for Starting A Successful Interior Design Business
  1. 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.
  2. 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
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5 Habits of Successful Interior Designers

They Ask for Advice

Interior design has always been a secretive profession: hiding our sources, protecting our trade secrets and creating the illusion that everything is fantastic has been the norm.  Running this sort of business is no longer productive.  The most successful interior designers know they don't know everything and know when to ask for advice.  When interior designers thrive, the interior design industry thrives.  So why would you not want to help out your fellow designers if it'll help you too?

So here is my advice, don't be afraid to reach out to another designer in a professional and reciprocal way.  Don't just look for handouts, offer to share something of your own.  You can learn a lot from working for another designer, something I always recommend to those starting a interior design business.

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