Resilient by Design with Rebecca Hay

How do you actually know when it's time to raise your interior design rates? Not because another designer charges more. Not because someone in a Facebook group told you their hourly rate. And definitely not because you picked a number that simply feels right. In this episode, I'm breaking down four signs that can tell you whether you've outgrown your current pricing: capacity, experience, demand, and profitability. We'll talk about why being fully booked can mean your rates are too low, how your growing experience should affect what you charge, why saying yes to almost every proposal could actually be a warning sign, and the profitability math that ultimately settles the question. I'm also digging into the hidden cost of waiting too long to change your pricing, from resentment and burnout to attracting the wrong clients and leaving yourself without enough margin to grow a team. If your business has evolved but your rates haven't kept up, this episode will help you figure out whether it's time for your pricing to catch up. And if you're ready to stop guessing at the number, check out Pricing With Confidence at rebeccahay.com/pricing. Episode Resources: 280: Why Most Designers Are Scared to Raise Their Rates (And What You Can Do Instead) This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

When your client looks at marble and porcelain, they see two tiles. As the designer, you see sourcing, samples, maintenance, installation, trades, lead times, revisions, coordination, risk… and hours of work they may never see. Years ago, I charged the same design fee for two bathrooms in the same home. One involved a straightforward porcelain selection. The other involved marble, multiple suppliers, stone-yard visits, samples, revised drawings, fabricator conversations, installation issues, and a client who changed her mind after approval. Same approximate square footage. One took roughly three times the work. In this episode, I'm breaking down the invisible work that needs to be considered when you're pricing an interior design project, including: Six questions to ask when assessing the scope of a selection How client preferences can impact your design fee Why changes after approval need clear boundaries How customization and complicated materials affect profitability Why two projects with the same square footage shouldn't necessarily have the same fee The importance of tracking your hours, even with flat-fee projects Your client isn't just paying you to know the difference between marble and porcelain. They're paying for everything you know, anticipate, and coordinate because of that decision. If your pricing isn't capturing that work, it might be time to take another look at your design fee. Episode Resources: Learn more about Pricing With Confidence: rebeccahay.com/pricing Watch the Original Video: What's the Difference: Marble vs Porcelain -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

Six years ago, Ching Tan was winging her process, second-guessing herself, and walking into client conversations unsure of what would happen next. Today, she runs a full-service interior design firm, works with custom builders, and takes on large-scale projects with budgets reaching $1 million+. So what changed? In this episode, Ching returns to Resilient by Design to share how building structure behind her talent changed the way she runs her business. We talk about how she learned to pre-qualify clients, confidently lead conversations with clients and trades, price projects by phase, communicate consistently throughout a project, and stand behind her designs instead of letting everyone else steer the ship. We also get into working with builders versus homeowners, managing large project budgets, moving into full-service design, and why the process you use today should continue evolving as your business grows. If you're still winging parts of your projects or waiting until you feel completely confident before taking on bigger work, Ching's story is proof that you don't have to have everything figured out before you begin. You need a strong foundation you can build from. Episode Resources: Ready to create your own process? Learn more about Power of Process® and build the structure behind a more confident, streamlined interior design business. Episode 28: What you need in your business to gain your clients' trust Find Ching at www.taninteriors.ca and on Instagram @taninteriorsds -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

When is an ideal client a lemon? When you don't have the process to serve them. Today I'm talking about two very different interior designers. I've been both of them, and maybe you have too. One is saying yes to every consultation, decorating job, and small project that comes through the door, hoping it will eventually lead to something bigger. The other already knows she wants to offer full-service design but feels unsure, intimidated, or overwhelmed by everything that comes with it. Full service isn't a level you "graduate" to as a designer. It's a business model, and it isn't right for everyone. In this episode, I'm sharing five questions to help you decide whether full-service interior design is actually the business you want to build. We're talking about the work beyond the design, the kind of client relationships you want, fewer versus higher-volume projects, profitability, lifestyle, and why saying yes to everything can actually keep you from the projects you want most. I also share how I went from taking on lots of smaller projects to building a full-service firm, and why the biggest shift wasn't better marketing or a prettier portfolio. It was process. Because when you can clearly articulate the entire journey, clients can finally trust you to take them on it. Episode Resources: Episode 209: Why Decorating Can Be More Lucrative Than Design Episode 222: Tailor Your Business to Your Lifestyle Rebecca Hay YouTube Channel Learn more about Power of Process: https://rebeccahay.com/powerofprocess -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

What happens when you stop winging your interior design business and start putting real processes behind it? In this episode, I'm joined by interior designers Ale Cretul, Andrea Krill, and Jocelyn Polce to talk about how dramatically their businesses have changed over the last few years. From Andrea leaving corporate finance and building a growing design team, to Jocelyn moving from 20+ clients a year toward fewer, larger projects, to Ale realizing she needed to learn the business behind the design, their paths look very different. But the common thread is clear: they started treating their design businesses like businesses. We talk about process, hiring, client boundaries, confidence, community, mindset, bigger projects, difficult clients, and the importance of defining what success actually looks like for you. You'll also hear how the three of them found an unexpected peer support system in one another and why having people around you who understand your goals can completely change the way you navigate business growth. If you're busy doing the work but still feel like you're figuring out your business one project at a time, this conversation is for you. EPISODE RESOURCES Power of Process is now open for enrollment until October 8th. Learn more here: https://rebeccahay.com/powerofprocess 237: Transforming a side hustle into a full-time interior design business with Andrea Krill 246: How one POP alum moved from side hustle to full time designer & never looked back with Andrea Krill 101: [Bonus] It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to start. The biggest 12 month business transformation with Jocelyn Polce 171: The biggest 2 year business transformation with Jocelyn Polce 131: High Point Market, is it worth it? Part one Roundtable 132: High Point Market, is it worth it? Part Two Roundtable Guest Websites Andrea Krill Interiors Ale Cretul Interiors August Oliver Interiors -- This episode is sponsored by Programa. Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.