Hey, it’s Eric Lee with Starfish Coaching and Designer’s Business Academy. I’m back with another blog post in my design business tips series. In this blog post, I want to discuss the top five business mistakes that designers often make. As a designer who has built my own successful business, I have made these mistakes myself, and now as a business coach, I see many designers repeating them. I want to share these common errors so that you can learn from them and avoid making the same critical mistakes.
Mistake #1: Wearing all the “hats”
One common mistake that I see in not just the interior design business, but in most small businesses, is that owners tend to wear all the hats. This usually happens in the early stages when funds are limited, and there’s no big financial backing. As a result, business owners end up doing everything themselves, from janitorial work to bookkeeping, sales, design, and more. While this may be necessary initially, it becomes a mistake when business owners continue to handle tasks that they are not necessarily good at or don’t enjoy.
My advice for those struggling to let go of these tasks is to assign a dollar amount to your time. Determine what your time is worth per hour and use that as a measure for future delegation. If a task can be done by someone else for less than your hourly rate, it makes financial sense to delegate it. By doing so, you free up your time to focus on high-level work that brings in more business and allows you to leverage your skills effectively.
Mistake #2: Being too perfectionistic
Another mistake I often see designers make is being too perfectionistic. While there’s nothing wrong with having high standards, it becomes problematic when those standards cannot be met by others. As your business grows and you start building a team, it’s essential to let go of the need for everything to be perfect and accept that “good enough” is sufficient. Holding onto unattainable standards can prevent you from delegating tasks and leveraging your time effectively.
Consider the trade-off between maintaining perfectionistic standards and growing your business. Ask yourself whether it’s more important to uphold those standards or to step back and allow others to contribute. Finding a balance is crucial for sustainable growth.
Mistake #3: Not setting boundaries
Many new business owners, including designers, struggle with setting boundaries. In an attempt to provide exceptional customer service, they often bend their own rules and go above and beyond to accommodate clients. While it’s important to be customer-oriented, there comes a point where you need to define your boundaries and communicate them clearly.
For example, being too nice to clients and accommodating their requests outside the scope of your work can lead to scope creep and potential issues down the line. It’s essential to set clear expectations and let clients know what is and isn’t included in your services. Additionally, establishing boundaries around working hours, payment terms, and client communication can help maintain a healthy work-life balance and ensure smooth operations.
Mistake #4: Unclear scope of work
Having a clear and defined scope of work is crucial for designers. I often see new business owners neglecting this aspect in their contracts and proposals. Failing to clearly outline what your fees cover and what they don’t can lead to misunderstandings and disputes with clients.
I recommend specifying the scope of work in detail, including an exclusion list if necessary. By doing so, you set clear expectations from the beginning and avoid difficult conversations about additional fees or unexpected requests later on. Being transparent about what is included and what is not helps build trust and ensures a smoother client-designer relationship.
Mistake #5: Neglecting marketing and business development
Neglecting marketing and business development is a common mistake that designers make. As creative professionals, designers often prioritize their craft and the actual design work, leaving marketing and business growth as an afterthought. However, without effective marketing and consistent business development efforts, it can be challenging to attract new clients and sustain a thriving design business.
If you’re ready to take your interior design business to the next level, consider leveraging the Interior Design Business Accelerator. Our comprehensive program, designed by experienced Interior Design Business Coach Eric Lee, offers essential tools, strategies, and resources to help you run a successful design business.
