We’ve all been there: you’re so into the creative process that you sweep those late-night “billable” hours spent scouring the information superhighway for the perfect wall sconce or tile pattern right under the rug. One of the biggest frustrations designers face is figuring out what to charge and how to account for their precious time. You are working in a service industry, so your charging strategy should reflect your expertise, your experience, and the time and energy you put into your projects, while accounting for headaches and hidden costs. Regardless of the approach you take—designer markups and/or charging per project, per hour, per foot, or per however you feel like it—there is no one “right” way to charge. Every method has its pros and cons, and every project or client might require something different.

Business consultant Sean Low, whose company provides practical business advice to creative professionals, will outline the different pricing structures relevant to interior designers, highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each, and share real-life scenarios so you can figure out which is right for your business. Readers of his column for BusinessofHome.com know Low tackles designers’ problems head on, so be prepared to be challenged and provoked.

Regardless of how much you love your job, you still must to get paid what you deserve.

In this class, attendees will learn:

- The pros and cons of the different pricing structures, including flat fee, hourly, cost per square footage and designer markups
- Which pricing method will work best for your design business
- What to charge, when to charge and how to account for your time
- The impact of cash flow and timing on pricing

By the end of class, attendees will have:

- A thorough understanding of different pricing methods and how to apply them to your own design business
- Knowledge on how price impacts the message sent to clients and how timing (i.e., when to charge what) impacts the ultimate success of the project

Additional Notes: 

This is an online course conducted through AdobeConnect. You will receive an email with information on how to join the evening before the class.