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How Should I Price My Interior Design Services?

interior design

business admin

Three things to think about when pricing your interior design services.

Words by 

Lyden Claire Killip

Published on 

March 31, 2023

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As an interior designer, the question "How much?" should never make you nervous. The key is to be confident in your pricing strategy for interior design services. This confidence will assure your clients as well. There are various pricing strategies for interior designers, allowing you to choose what works best for you. It's crucial to value yourself and your services while covering your expenses. This approach should also be realistic and appealing to clients. The good news? It's easier than you think! Start by asking yourself these three questions to set the right pricing for your interior design services.

This article will explore:

  • Defining Your Services: Clearly outline what your interior design packages include to ensure fair pricing and prevent scope creep.
  • Understanding Your Market: Research competitors' pricing to understand client expectations and justify your own rates confidently.
  • Covering Costs and Profit: Calculate your desired income, consider business expenses, and set prices that reflect the value of your services.

What are you offering?

Before you put a price tag on it, you need to be clear about what you're offering. Are you providing clients with everything from mood boards to project management? Or are you offering initial concepts only? Maybe you have different packages that cover different extents of the services?

Determining the scope of your services and clearly defining the contents of each package will provide clarity for both you and your clients. This strategy allows you to accurately break down the costs associated with each product, ensuring your pricing is accurate and fair. Clear guidelines regarding what is included in the price of a project will also prevent clients from demanding additional tasks outside the agreement. Avoid giving a quote with a vague package description; you might end up spending more than you earn.

What do your competitors charge?

Well, this is awkward. Your client just pointed out that your competitor offers a much more comprehensive service at a much lower price point. While you should never undersell yourself to match others, you need to be realistic about the value of your interior design services and what clients are willing to pay. It never hurts to check the prices of your competitors in your area. Although your competitors likely won't share their exact rates online, it's worth researching the general pricing consensus—clients always want a bargain.

Tip: Houzz is an excellent site to check for price references. If you don't want to compromise on your pricing to match competitors, then prepare yourself for these situations by having a strong justification for your pricing strategy and confidence in your ability.

How much do you need to earn?

Remember, you are an interior designer and a business owner. You need to charge enough to cover your business expenses and still make a healthy profit. The profit margin need not be exorbitant, but it should definitely reflect the value of your work. If you provide excellent services with exquisite results, you deserve to charge like a luxury good.

As a starting point, work out your desired yearly income. Divide the amount by months, then days of work. This strategy will give you a rough estimate of what to charge for your personal labor, which you can then account for on top of the cost of materials, travel, and other expenses.

Visualist is a software empowering creative professionals to work, earn and scale their businesses. Learn more here.

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