How do you handle clients who are difficult to work with?
A lot of business owners dread facing challenging clients because they don’t know how to handle them professionally while still sticking to their boundaries. It’s not fun dealing with challenging clients, but it does happen, so let’s talk about it.
In this episode, I’m covering things like when to walk away from a situation, how to end a job that’s dragging on, how to communicate additional fees, and when to say no. I’m sharing my most effective solutions so that next time you face something like this, you’ll know exactly what to do.
Topics covered in this episode include:
If you’re nervous about dealing with challenging clients in your design business, I’ve got you covered in this episode.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Do you love remodeling jobs as much as I do?
I love the imagination and creativity that goes into taking something run down and turning it into something amazing.
A lot of designers enjoy remodeling jobs but they don’t know how to make them profitable. That stems from not knowing how to handle and position yourself with the contractor, so in this episode, I’m covering the mistakes designers make when working with contractors to help you avoid them next time!
If you’re making some of these mistakes, it’s not your fault! No one ever taught you about this so how would you have known? Now you’ll be armed with the information you need and be in a better position than ever.
Topics covered in this episode include:
If you’re ready to start making money off of the remodeling jobs that you love so much, tune in.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Do you have boundaries in place (in writing) to protect you in your business?
The actions of your clients can reveal that you’re missing boundaries in some very important places, so I want to make sure that doesn’t happen. In this episode of Interior Design Business, I’m sharing what kinds of boundaries you need to have in place, how to communicate your boundaries effectively and professionally, and how to follow through on your boundaries to avoid being taken advantage of.
This episode is important because when it comes to boundaries, the behavior that has to change is yours. You can’t control your clients’ behavior, but you can put clearer boundaries in place and stick to them when your clients try to cross them.
Topics covered in this episode include:
If you don’t have any boundaries set up right now, watch and see how much easier your life gets when you start to implement them. Tune in to get started.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Throwing out design fee numbers to potential clients without thinking about it can get you in all kinds of trouble, so why does it happen?
In this episode of Interior Design Business, I’m teaching you how to take a $1,500 throw-out fee that’s going to get you in trouble and turn it into a $4,500 fee with a $30,000 budget (or more!). It’s not hard to do, you just need to know how to say it and how to work through it, and by the end of this episode, you will.
Topics covered in this episode include:
Tune in to find out how to stop losing money by throwing out fees on the fly.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Have you thought about hiring a virtual assistant for your design business?
One of the best things you can do for your business is focus on your brilliance. Your brilliance is your creativity and it’s where you make the most money. How do you spend more time there and less time on paperwork and putting out fires? You hire a VA to help you.
If you’ve been thinking about hiring a VA but you’re not sure if it’s worth it or how to go about it, this episode is for you. I’m covering all the basics like what type of assistant you need, what to assign them, and how to train them.
Topics covered in this episode include:
Tune in to find out how to get your time back, make more money, and do more of what you love.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Are you scared to make your first hire?
The fastest way to build your business is by hiring good people to help you, but hiring has its pitfalls too as I’m sure you know.
I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to be scared. I know it’s a big step, but when you’re well-prepared and you know exactly what you’re looking for, you’re not going to regret hiring people to help your business thrive.
In this episode, I’m sharing three mistakes for you to avoid to make the hiring process a lot smoother for yourself. Trust me, I’ve made these mistakes and learned the hard way, but now you don’t have to!
Whether you’re worried about the cost, the quality of the work, or figuring out who to hire, this episode has something for you.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
What if I told you there were some simple changes that you could make to instantly grow your business?
In this episode, we’re talking about some of the common mistakes that could be holding your design business back. If your business isn’t growing as fast as you’d like or your growth has plateaued, these are some things that you can take a look at to get back on track.
I’m sharing specific things that you can change to give your business a boost, so get ready to take some notes, because you’re not going to want to waste any time getting started.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for a while, this episode will help you get the results you want and build the design business of your dreams.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Are you trying to do everything in your business by yourself?
The fastest way to build your business is to focus your time on high-paying tasks, but often you get caught up in everything else it takes to run a design business. The sooner you can hire someone to do those things, the better.
I want to talk about the thing that stops a lot of business owners from hiring sooner: delegating. If you think that you can’t hire someone because you’re not good at delegating, I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong. Anyone can learn to delegate!
Let’s master the art of delegating together in this episode. I’m sharing everything you need to know to start developing this skill.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Do you want to know the secret to reaching your goals? It might not be what you think.
When you’re starting out in the design business world, it’s all hustle. You pick up every job that falls at your feet and you don’t have a marketing or business plan to follow. It’s all about getting your business off the ground.
Now that you have better clients, you’re making more money, and you have bigger expenses, it’s time to get strategic about how to reach your revenue goals. What do you have to do to get strategic? Look at your data.
This episode is all about how to simplify the process of reaching your goals by learning to track and review the data in your business.
If you want to reach your goals faster (and more easily) tune in!
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Have you been curious about getting into commercial design?
In this episode, I’m sitting down with Megan Thompson from Spark Interiors to talk all about her journey to becoming a commercial designer.
She’s sharing what her path to success has looked like and some of the things that helped the most along the way. From graduating during a recession to hustling as a new designer to hiring her own team, she’s covering it all, and boy does she have some wisdom for you.
Even if commercial design isn’t your area of expertise, there’s a lot to be learned from Megan’s story, so you’re not going to want to miss this!
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Designing a business is exactly like designing a room.
Do you think I’m wrong? By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
I’m taking a look at what the design process is like and how to apply it to creating your business. The great thing about this is that you already know how to design a room! That means you already know the formula to design the business you want. You’re halfway there!
From vision boards to goal-setting, I’ve got you covered in this episode.
Tune in to hear how to visualize, plan, and create the business (and life) that you’ve always wanted. The process starts right here.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
So, you’ve got a good design practice, a steady stream of ideal clients, and your jobs are consistently profitable. What’s the problem? You have absolutely no time for yourself. In fact, you spend most of your time putting out fires.
Does that sound familiar?
It’s hard to grow your business when you’re spending all your time fixing things. Do you want to know the solution to the chaos? Systems and processes.
When you have repeatable systems and processes in place, your problems will start to solve themselves. In this episode, I’m talking more about the systems strategy and teaching you how to start getting systems set up in your business so that you can reclaim some of your time.
If that sounds good to you, don’t miss this episode.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Are you ready to say goodbye to imposter syndrome?
In this episode, I’m joined by someone who knows that feeling well, Thea Stephens. Thea is sharing how imposter syndrome manifested for her and how she overcame it (and you can too.)
You’ll hear the story of how she got started in design and where she is now, as well as some of the lessons she learned along the way and the changes she made to her business. If you enjoy hearing other people’s stories, you’ll love this episode.
If imposter syndrome is holding you back, it’s time to say goodbye. Tune in to find out how.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Have you been wanting to start your own design business and wondering how to get started?
If you’ve been waiting for an episode about starting a business, you’re in the right place.
In this episode, I’m taking you through a list of everything you need to get set up to start your business. From networking and building a team to setting up software and marketing, I’ve got you covered.
If you’ve already started your business, think of this episode as a checklist for you to go through, and if you haven’t, you can use this episode as a framework to get started.
I’m so excited for you to start this journey and I can’t wait to see where it takes you!
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
What’s it like to be a student at the Interior Design Business Academy?
In this episode, I’m joined by my student and amazing interior designer, Sarah Conti, to talk all about her journey.
Sarah is sharing her story from discovering a passion for design at a young age to starting a business and eventually realizing that she needed help if she wanted to grow. She’s sharing the takeaways from the Interior Design Business Academy program that have allowed her the freedom to work fewer hours, take on only her ideal clients, and do what she loves most.
I’m so proud of the program and I’m equally proud of my students who are thriving in their lives and business, so I’m excited for you to hear Sarah’s story. Don’t miss it!
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Have you ever completed a job only to find that there’s no money left to pay yourself with and you don’t know where it all went?
In the last few episodes of the podcast, we’ve been talking about how to recognize jobs that are too small to be profitable and either make them profitable or say no to them. On the other end of the scale, there are also jobs that are so big that they end up not being profitable either.
These jobs can take years to finish and have beautiful results, but by the time you’ve paid everyone involved, there’s nothing left for you. In this episode, I’m showing you where you might be losing money and teaching you how to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
If you’re not bringing in as much profit from big jobs as you should be, why not? Let’s take a look at it together.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Are you trying to move your business upmarket?
Perhaps you’ve realized that you’re not getting paid what you’re worth or you want to get some of your time back. Whatever your reason is, it’s not too late to start moving upmarket!
In this episode about moving upmarket, we’re talking about some technical and physical things you can do to shift your interior design business toward higher budgets, higher-paying clients, and better jobs. I’m covering how to charge more, why you need a sales system, how to say no, and so much more!
If you want to hear about the mindset work that goes into this process, go back and catch Part 1!
If you’re ready to take your business upmarket, this is for you.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
How do you move your interior design business upmarket?
In this episode, I’m sharing everything I know about moving upmarket and what it takes to shift your mindset as you become a high-end designer.
As interior designers, we usually start our businesses by hustling. We take every single job that falls at our feet. That hustle is an effective way to start a business, but it’s not an effective way to move upmarket. If you keep taking every job that comes your way and working longer and harder hours, you’re not going to have the time and energy to focus on up-leveling your business.
If you feel like you have to keep working more and more in order to succeed, I’m here to tell you that that’s not true. Let’s unpack it in this episode and find out how to take your business upmarket.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
How well do you know your numbers?
In this episode, I’m talking about little money habits that create big results, and it all starts with getting familiar with your numbers.
I’m sharing some little changes you can make to the way you handle your money as an interior designer that will make a big difference to your finances. From bookkeeping tips to attracting more money, if you struggle with finances, I’ve got you covered.
I want to help you shift your energy around money so that you can use your time and money to benefit others without being taken advantage of or giving your knowledge away for free.
If you avoid looking at your finances because you think you’re not a numbers person, don’t skip this episode!
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
What do you say “yes” to that you shouldn’t?
In this episode, we’re talking about people-pleasing.
People-pleasing is an important part of being an interior designer, but it has a time and a place. People-pleasing often leads to giving away your time when really you don’t have time to be giving away! The problem is that many of us have a hard time saying no.
I’m listing some of the areas where you are likely giving away your time to be a people pleaser and sharing some strategies to help you break the habit of saying yes to everything.
This episode will help you stop saying yes to things that don’t serve you.
If you’re a chronic people pleaser, this is for you.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
How much of your time gets gobbled up by distractions?
Time is your greatest currency and it can’t be replaced. Once it's gone, it’s gone.
Often, I hear designers say, “If I just had one more day in the week, I could get it all done,” but the truth is if you did have one more day, you would just fill that one up too. A more practical solution is learning how to notice what is filling up your time and what happens when you get distracted.
In this episode, I’m helping you identify what is taking up your time and sharing some practical solutions to stop those things from cutting into your day.
Tune in to learn some of the most common things that take up time for interior designers and how to beat them!
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
What are the dos and don’ts of a first appointment?
As you know, a first appointment is a rich opportunity to gain a potential client’s trust and business. How do you make sure that happens? That’s what I want to share with you in this episode.
I’m talking about what to charge, what to include, how long it should be, and lots of other first appointment dos and don’ts. If you’ve ever had a question about how to handle a first appointment, this episode has an answer for you.
No more giving away your time and value for free or spending hours on a potential client only to never hear from them again. Your first appointment should be setting you up for success and now it will!
Tune in to find out whether you’re doing any of these first appointment dos and don’ts!
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Are you ready for another episode all about budget mistakes?
This topic is important enough that I thought it deserved a second episode.
In this episode, I’m sharing more budget mistakes that you should look out for and avoid in your business. If you didn’t catch episode 10, you can go back to that episode any time to hear Part 1 of this discussion about budget mistakes.
In this episode, I’m covering sales tax, how much product to order, timelines, focusing on the experience, and so much more. I want to bring your attention to some of the mistakes that often go under the radar and that you might not have considered before.
If you want to find out what budget mistakes I think you should avoid, tune in.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Let’s talk about budget mistakes.
There are some mistakes that you just can’t afford to make. No matter how much you might want to help people out, you can’t run a successful business if you’re losing money on jobs. Trying to do jobs for less at your own expense just doesn’t work.
If you’re honest with your clients from the very beginning about what things cost and what you can do within their budgets, everyone will be happier in the end!
I’m sharing everything I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) about setting realistic budgets that work for your clients and still allow you to turn a profit.
If you have a hard time charging your worth and sticking to a budget, this is for you.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/
Have you ever felt like a client was taking advantage of you and your time?
If you feel like that a lot, it might be time to take a look at your boundaries.
Many of us have never been taught to have boundaries or we’ve never had permission to have boundaries, so it’s not surprising that we just don’t have them. In this episode, I want to help you identify some areas of your business where you need to establish clear boundaries and teach you how to communicate those boundaries to your clients.
A lack of boundaries in your business leads to being taken advantage of and having feelings of resentment towards your clients and your job, which is why this is so important for us to talk about.
You might feel like clients will be upset with you if you try to establish new boundaries, but I promise that’s not true. Clear boundaries actually improve the client experience! It’s a win-win.
Tune in to find out how to establish clear and effective boundaries in your business.
I would love to connect on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy or Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy!
Show notes are available at https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com.
Click here to register for my FREE training webinar “Own that Remodeling Job and Get Paid what You are Worth” taking place live on March 31, April 3 and April 5 at 12pm ET' and the link is https://interiordesignbusinessacademy.com/real-deal-webinars/