Why you should charge for initial design consultations
Why you should charge for initial design consultations

I often talk about how I strongly believe in charging for your initial design consultations and I get lots questions about why this is the case and the logistics around how I suggest this is done (e.g. should you get payment before the consultation? should you ever do any free consultations? - all sorts of questions).

So today I’m going to share as much as I can about why I so strongly believe in getting paid for your first meeting with a design client and how you should go about doing this.

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Pricing, Business OperationsClare Le Roy Comments
Why your design business isn't growing
Why your design business isn't growing

In this post I share some ideas on why your design business may not be growing and why you may not be as profitable as you would like. This is a problem that I see time and again with designers. Perhaps you aren't getting enough clients or perhaps you have enough clients and lots of work but you aren’t seeing the financial results that you feel you should (or would like to!) have. Here are four reasons why that might be the case…

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Build Confidence, Productivity, Business OperationsClare Le RoyComment
How to improve your initial design consultation: a guide for designers
How to improve your initial design consultation: a guide for designers

There's quite a bit that goes in to a great initial design consultation. You have to find a balance between providing value during the consultation while also selling the next step of your process (i.e. a larger, more lucrative project). The consultation is a chance to build rapport and trust. It's not only a chance for your client to see if they like working with you, it's also a chance to see if you like working with the client. In this post I share some of my top tips for how to make the most of this meeting.

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Sales Skills, Business Operations, Working with ClientsClare Le Roy Comments
Strategic tasks to do when client work is slow
Strategic tasks to do when client work is slow

The nature of running a design business is that you will sometimes have months where you have too much work on and you will sometimes have months where you don’t have enough work coming in. In this post I share some ideas for strategic tasks you can be doing in those quieter months that will help move your business forward and create a more consistent stream of clients over the long term.

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Finding Clients, Business OperationsClare Le RoyComment
Frequently asked questions about running a design business
Frequently asked questions about running a design business

Every day I get multiple messages with questions from people in my community about how to start an interior design business and in this post I am sharing the answers to the most commonly asked questions - like; how did I first get clients, how to price your fees and services, how to find suppliers to work with and how to get a job with an interior design firm. My answers to these (and many other!) questions are inside this post, so come and take a read!

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Business OperationsClare Le RoyComment
How to create an amazing client experience: 5 tips for creatives
How to create an amazing client experience: 5 tips for creatives

What is the easiest way to find new clients? Word of mouth - i.e. when existing or former clients tell their friends and family about your products and services. And what is the easiest way of getting people to sing your praises and tell everyone they know about you? Create an amazing client experience! In this post I share 5 ways to wow your clients and make working with you easy, fun and stress free.

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Working with Clients, Business OperationsClare Le RoyComment