Interior Design Business

Terri Taylor
  • 4.8 (42)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Are you an interior design professional who wants to create time-accurate, money-generous, and fee-based job offers that clients jump to say "yes" to? Terri Taylor, President and Creative Director of the Interior Design Business Academy and the host of the Interior Design Business Podcast, is here to help interior design professionals who want to create lifestyle design businesses that pay them what they are worth.Each week, Terri is bringing her clear, proven, and repeatable step-by-step "recipes" for attracting ideal luxury clients along with her overreaching attitude of gratitude, abundance, beauty, and joy for creating long-lasting and meaningful success.Terri knows that what you believe to be true and how you feel about wealth and money have a direct connection to the level of clients, budgets, and jobs you attract, so tune in each week to discover the strategies and support mechanics you need to achieve your goals as an interior design professional.

  1. 1d ago

    The Two Income Stream Business

    Are you building both income streams your interior design business needs to thrive? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the most important concepts every designer needs to understand: your business should generate income from two completely separate sources, your design expertise and your product sales. Many designers unknowingly combine these two revenue streams, creating confusion for clients and limiting their profitability. When design and purchasing become blurred together, designers often undervalue their expertise, struggle with pricing, and end up working far more than they're being paid for. I explain why design should always lead the client relationship, how purchasing should function as a separate white-glove service, and where the line between design work and administrative purchasing tasks should be drawn. We also discuss why fee-based pricing creates stronger boundaries than hourly billing, how wholesale purchasing builds a healthier business, and why developing both income streams is essential for long-term success. If you've ever wondered why you're working so hard without seeing the financial rewards you expected, this episode will help you rethink how your business generates profit and where opportunities for growth may be hiding. In this episode, we cover: The two income streams every design business needsSeparating design from purchasingWhy clients shouldn't see you as a furniture salespersonFee-based pricing versus hourly billingDefining where design ends and purchasing beginsAvoiding scope creep and underbillingBuilding profitable purchasing systemsThe importance of wholesale vendor relationshipsCreating sustainable business profitHow mindset affects your income ceilingShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

  2. Jul 25

    Purchasing Secrets

    Are your purchasing policies protecting your business, or creating costly headaches? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I share the purchasing strategies that have helped countless interior designers avoid some of the biggest mistakes in managing client purchases. From retail shopping requests to custom drawings and hybrid purchasing, we'll explore the boundaries every designer needs to establish before a project begins. Many designers struggle when clients want to shop alongside them, purchase products themselves, or ask for custom drawings they plan to take elsewhere. While these requests often seem harmless, they frequently lead to confusion, damaged relationships, lost profits, and projects that no longer reflect the designer's standards. I explain why selling trade products at retail pricing creates a healthier business model, how to handle clients who insist on buying from stores like Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware, and why hybrid purchasing almost always becomes a nightmare. We also cover the importance of setting clear expectations in your Letter of Agreement and charging appropriately for purchasing services when retail products are involved. If you've ever wondered how to protect your time, maintain profitability, and avoid purchasing disasters before they happen, this episode is packed with practical advice you can implement immediately. In this episode, we cover: Why hybrid purchasing doesn't workSelling trade products profitablyHandling clients who want retail productsSetting purchasing boundaries from the beginningAvoiding custom drawing disastersProtecting your reputation during purchasingWriting stronger Letters of AgreementCharging purchasing fees on retail productsGiving clients clear purchasing optionsCreating a smoother purchasing processShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

  3. Jul 18

    What's Your Money Story

    What beliefs about money are quietly shaping your interior design business? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined once again by IDBA's Head Mindset Coach, Valerie Priester, to explore one of the most powerful mindset topics every designer faces: their money story. The way we think about money often begins long before we start a business. Childhood experiences, family beliefs, and past conversations can shape how comfortable we feel discussing budgets, charging premium fees, and working with affluent clients. These unconscious beliefs frequently influence pricing decisions, client conversations, and even the opportunities we allow ourselves to pursue. Together, we unpack where money stories come from, how they create fear around charging what you're worth, and why many designers unknowingly project their own financial beliefs onto luxury clients. We also discuss how developing a healthier relationship with money creates more confidence, better client experiences, and greater business growth. If you've ever struggled to raise your fees, felt uncomfortable talking about budgets, or worried that clients won't invest in your services, this episode will help you recognize the beliefs that may be holding you backk, and show you how to begin changing them. In this episode, we cover: Understanding your money storyHow childhood experiences shape financial beliefsWhy designers struggle with pricing conversationsCommon money beliefs that limit business growthSeparating your financial mindset from your clients'Why luxury clients think differently about moneyBuilding a healthier relationship with moneyRecognizing scarcity versus abundance thinkingAllowing money to flow instead of chasing itHow mindset impacts attracting ideal clientsShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

  4. Jul 11

    What's Your Story

    Are the stories you're telling yourself holding your interior design business back? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I’m joined by IDBA’s Head Mindset Coach, Valerie Priester, to explore how the stories we create in our minds shape our decisions, confidence, and business success. Many designers hesitate to pursue bigger opportunities, raise their fees, or change the way they do business, not because they lack the skills, but because they're operating from stories based on fear, doubt, or past experiences. These stories often feel true, even when they aren't. Together, we discuss where these stories come from, why our brains hold onto them, and how they influence everything from client conversations to pricing decisions. We also share practical ways to recognize limiting beliefs, stop preparing for imaginary problems, and take action with confidence. If you've ever found yourself thinking, "What if they say no?" or "That won't work for my clients," this episode will help you replace fear-driven stories with empowering beliefs that support your business growth. In this episode, we cover: What your "story" really isHow fear-based thinking affects business decisionsWhy your brain mistakes repeated thoughts for truthRecognizing the "what if" mindsetWhy action builds confidenceHow stories create procrastinationCommon limiting beliefs designers experienceThe importance of staying present with clientsReplacing fear with a winning mindsetBuilding awareness to overcome self-sabotageShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

  5. Jul 4

    Being Paid What You Are Worth is Not About Design Fees or Hourly Billing

    Is the real reason you're underpaid your pricing model, or something much deeper? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I wrap up our series on hourly billing versus design fees by exploring the real issue behind getting paid what you're worth: your relationship with money. Many designers believe switching from hourly billing to design fees will solve their profitability problems. But the truth is, neither pricing model works if you don't have healthy boundaries and the confidence to charge appropriately for your expertise. In this episode, I discuss how limiting money beliefs affect pricing decisions, why designers often discount their services without realizing it, and how childhood money stories continue to influence business decisions years later. We also talk about the importance of maintaining boundaries, receiving payment with confidence, creating a healthy exchange of value with clients, and replacing outdated beliefs that keep you underpaid. If you've been struggling to charge what you're worth, this episode will help you shift your mindset so you can confidently build a profitable design business. In this episode, we cover: Why pricing models alone won't solve underchargingHow money stories affect your business decisionsThe importance of strong client boundariesWhy designers discount themselves unnecessarilyChanging the language you use around moneyReceiving payment with confidenceCreating a healthy exchange of valueRecognizing and overcoming scarcity thinkingRewriting limiting beliefs from childhoodBuilding a mindset that supports being paid what you're worthShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

  6. Jun 27

    Getting Out of Your Own Way

    Are you the biggest obstacle standing between your business and the success you want? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I explore one of the most important, and often overlooked, factors in building a successful design business: mindset. Many designers work harder, put in longer hours, and constantly search for new strategies, yet still struggle with inconsistent cash flow, difficult clients, and stalled growth. Often, the problem isn't a lack of talent or opportunity. It's the beliefs, fears, and habits that are keeping them stuck. In this episode, I break down some of the most common ways designers get in their own way, including feeling "not good enough," letting fear dictate decisions, playing small when opportunities arise, and surrounding themselves with people who reinforce limiting beliefs. We also discuss how mindset impacts financial success, why your internal dialogue matters, and how changing your expectations can transform the clients, projects, and opportunities you attract. If you've ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated by the pace of your business growth, this episode will help you identify the invisible barriers holding you back, and show you how to move beyond them. In this episode, we cover: Why mindset impacts business successHow excuses keep designers stuckOvercoming the "I'm not good enough" beliefUnderstanding fear versus realityWhy playing small limits your growthLearning to say yes to bigger opportunitiesThe connection between beliefs and financial successHow your environment influences your resultsThe power of taking responsibility for your futureCreating a mindset that attracts better clientsShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

  7. Jun 20

    Why Design Fees Work Best… and Why They Don't

    Are design fees really the best way for interior designers to get paid? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I continue the conversation around pricing and billing by exploring the advantages and disadvantages of fee-based design. Many designers assume design fees automatically solve the problems created by hourly billing. But the truth is that design fees only work when they are supported by a clear scope of work, defined deliverables, strong boundaries, and a well-written letter of agreement. In this episode, I explain why fee-based design can dramatically improve profitability, cash flow, client confidence, and project management. We also discuss the mistakes designers make when creating flat fees, how to handle client requests outside the original scope, and why talking about money remains one of the most important skills a designer can develop. If you've ever wondered whether design fees are right for your business, this episode will help you understand when they work best, and when they can become a costly mistake. In this episode, we cover: Why design fees fail without clear boundariesThe importance of scope, deliverables, and planningHow design fees improve client confidenceWhy fee-based design improves cash flowCreating profitable letters of agreementManaging client requests outside the scope of workWhy designers need to talk about moneyUnderstanding value versus timeHow experience increases profitabilityWhen fee-based design works bestShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

  8. Jun 13

    Why Hourly Billing Works and Doesn't Work

    Should interior designers charge hourly, or is there a better way? In this episode of the Interior Design Business Podcast, I break down one of the longest-running debates in the design industry: hourly billing versus fee-based design. While hourly billing can work in certain situations, it also creates significant challenges for both designers and clients when it's not managed properly. From inaccurate time tracking and delayed cash flow to client anxiety around costs and scope creep, hourly billing often creates more problems than designers realize. In this episode, I explain when hourly billing works, how to make it more effective, and the hidden pitfalls that can hurt profitability. We also discuss retainers, scope management, client communication, time tracking, and why experience should increase your value, not reduce it. If you've ever wondered whether hourly billing is helping or hurting your business, this episode will help you understand the advantages, disadvantages, and what to watch out for as your business grows. In this episode, we cover: Why hourly billing creates challenges for many designersThe importance of accurate time trackingHow delayed billing impacts cash flowWhy designers often underbill clientsUsing retainers to improve hourly billingManaging scope creep and additional requestsWhy client communication around money mattersThe hidden costs of hourly billingUnderstanding the difference between time and valueWhy experience should increase your earningsShow notes are available at interiordesignbusinessacademy.com Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/InteriorDesignBusinessAcademy Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/interiordesignbusinessacademy

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About

Are you an interior design professional who wants to create time-accurate, money-generous, and fee-based job offers that clients jump to say "yes" to? Terri Taylor, President and Creative Director of the Interior Design Business Academy and the host of the Interior Design Business Podcast, is here to help interior design professionals who want to create lifestyle design businesses that pay them what they are worth.Each week, Terri is bringing her clear, proven, and repeatable step-by-step "recipes" for attracting ideal luxury clients along with her overreaching attitude of gratitude, abundance, beauty, and joy for creating long-lasting and meaningful success.Terri knows that what you believe to be true and how you feel about wealth and money have a direct connection to the level of clients, budgets, and jobs you attract, so tune in each week to discover the strategies and support mechanics you need to achieve your goals as an interior design professional.

Information

  • Creator
    Terri Taylor
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    209
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 © 2022 Copyright Interior Design Business 2022
  • Show Website
    Interior Design Business