Choosing how to bill your clients is one thing, but communicating that system to them is a whole other process. This week, we asked eight designers—Latisea Calton, David Charette, Trevor Ciona, Curtis Elmy, Ashley Mutch, Valerie Peña, Erica Vassalotti and Genevieve Webb—how they discuss their fees with clients.
Straightforward Approach
“We offer a flat rate per room to provide clients with clarity, simplicity and confidence from the very beginning. Rather than breaking rates into hourly fees or individual tasks, our flat-rate structure captures the full scope of our expertise, creativity and meticulous project management. This approach ensures clients understand the total investment upfront, enabling them to focus on the design process and the transformative results we deliver. It’s a straightforward and client-focused approach that reflects our unwavering commitment to transparency and trust.” —Genevieve Webb and Ashley Mutch, Feather Hill Interiors, Stevenson, Maryland
Break it Down
“We send a breakdown of our rates to potential clients in our initial deck that details our services when we get a new design inquiry. Clients are able to get a comprehensive understanding of our rates along with a range of beautiful imagery from our portfolio. Visibility is essential when charging hourly, so we like to ensure that there is an understanding that we are a full-service team and rates will vary based on the team member and task at hand. We have [different rates for] a partner, an associate or assistant designer, purchasing coordination, and CAD/drawing. Educating our clients upfront on the varying rates and range of services we will be performing is essential to establishing that initial trust and loyalty that carries a project successfully through to completion.” —Erica Vassalotti, Bergman Vass, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
No Surprises
“We have full transparency with our clients, so we break down our rates. Building trust during the early stages of a project is vital to its success. Our fee proposals outline how many hours we require to complete each area of the design scope, and it’s a fixed fee proposal, so there are no surprises. I feel clients have fewer concerns when seeing literally how much time we feel is necessary versus a dollar value with no context. Less is not always more in this area, in our opinion.” —Trevor Ciona and Curtis Elmy, Atmosphere Interior Design, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Transparency Is Key
“Transparency is at the core of how we work with our clients. We pride ourselves on being upfront about our pricing structure. We extend any net pricing we receive from our vendors directly to the client. Our design fee percentage, which is clearly outlined in our contract, is applied on top of that number. This straightforward approach ensures that clients understand exactly where their investment is going, which helps build a strong and collaborative relationship. We believe that financial transparency is key to a successful designer-client partnership. It creates open communication, avoids misunderstandings, and allows clients to see the value we bring to their project.” —Valerie Peña, Valerie Peña Studio, New York
Trust the Contract
“We are very transparent about the entire interior design process. We begin by asking for a retainer before we start work, and then we bill by phase and calculate the fee by square footage. Having contracts is essential for clients and for interior designers. Good contracts make good fences. Interior design projects are about design, of course, but also involve managing expectations and liability, so providing all parties with specifics in a contract is essential.” —David Charette, Britto Charette, Miami
Published Record
“I have listed my starting fees on my website. These rates reflect the time, expertise and resources required to bring the client’s vision to life. By breaking them down, I aim to foster trust and clear communication, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable design process while delivering a space that exceeds the client’s expectations.” —Latisea Calton, MLEE Home Decor & More, Jacksonville, Florida
