Key Takeaways from “Billing Methods For Interior Designers” on the DesignDash Podcast

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In Episode 51 of the DesignDash podcast, hosts Laura and Melissa sit down for a candid conversation that gets to the heart of something every interior designer wrestles with: how to charge for their work. It’s part of Financials Month inside the DesignDash Community, and this episode sets the stage for their upcoming workshop on billing models—hourly, flat fee, hybrid, and beyond.

But this isn’t just about dollars and cents. We need to talk about mindset, confidence, and redefining value in a creative profession where your time, intuition, and hard-earned expertise deserve compensation. Laura and Melissa revisit the mistakes they made early in their careers—from undercharging for full homes to taking on flat-fee projects that ran months (or years) longer than expected. Through those stories, they reveal a powerful truth: confidence in your billing starts with confidence in your worth.

Key Takeaways from Billing Methods For Interior Designers

Where Designers Get Stuck: The Undervaluation Trap

One of the most resonant parts of the episode is Melissa’s insight into the most common mindset block she sees among designers: an ingrained habit of undervaluing time. Designers often find themselves shaving off billable hours out of guilt or a sense that their learning curve isn’t “billable.”

But as Laura reminds listeners, if the client were doing the work themselves, it would take longer and result in costly mistakes. Designers don’t just bring aesthetic value—they bring clarity, efficiency, and problem-solving that clients can’t replicate.

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The Evolution of Billing Models

Laura reflects on her early years, when she priced entire homes at a flat fee of $3,500 and inevitably lost money. That experience prompted a shift to hourly billing—a model that better reflects the flexible, often unpredictable nature of large-scale projects. Hourly billing also allows the designer to say yes more freely as the project evolves, without needing to constantly renegotiate the scope.

Still, flat fees aren’t without merit. For designers with highly repeatable processes and predictable scopes, flat fees can offer clarity and ease for both the client and the firm. But without historical data or airtight processes, they can be risky. That’s why many firms, like Laura U Design Collective, have moved to a hybrid model that blends structure with flexibility.

The Case for Hybrid Billing

Hybrid billing allows firms to charge a fixed fee for defined phases, like concept development or schematic design, and switch to hourly when projects enter more unpredictable territory, such as procurement and construction administration. It’s a model that protects both designer and client, offering predictability upfront and adaptability on the backend.

Laura and Melissa also discuss construction-phase billing—sometimes structured as a monthly fixed fee based on weekly site visits, but only when working with trusted builders. In these cases, hours are still tracked internally to ensure the firm stays within range, even if the client is billed a consistent amount.

Alternative Models and Tailored Solutions

The conversation expands to include other models emerging in the industry. Time-block packages, for instance, offer clients 10-hour consulting bundles, prepaid and pre-scoped. Others use a percentage-of-construction-costs model, which is more common in architecture but can raise ethical questions if not transparently managed. And some firms offer furnishings at a flat markup, while others offer clients discounts off MSRP.

As the episode shows, there is no universal right answer. The right billing structure depends on project type, team size, client expectations, and—most critically—your own confidence in the value you provide.

When and How to Talk About Money

Billing conversations should begin on day one. Transparency about billing structure, fees, and what clients can expect creates trust and helps prevent awkward surprises. Laura encourages designers to reference a one-sheet—a document that outlines their billing structure, the phases of work, and the value they bring. Having this handy not only increases clarity but also helps the designer step into those conversations with calm confidence.

It’s also essential to communicate openly when circumstances change, whether due to tariffs, supply chain issues, or revised scopes. Clients aren’t in the industry day-to-day—they need context and communication to stay aligned.

Charging What You’re Worth

At its core, this episode is a rallying cry for interior designers to recognize and communicate their value. Design is more than choosing pretty things; it’s a nuanced blend of vision, logistics, sourcing, psychology, project management, and trust-building. Clients are paying not just for outcomes, but for the ease, delight, and quality of life that a designer creates.

If you take one thing from this episode, let it be this: your value as a designer doesn’t lie in how quickly you work, but in how deeply you understand your craft. Put it on paper. Write it down. Build the confidence to say it out loud. And most of all—charge for it.

Final Thoughts on Making Your Billing Process Work

If you’re navigating the nuances of pricing your creative work or simply seeking clarity around building a more confident design practice, the DesignDash community is where those conversations happen. Inside, you’ll find like-minded designers who are generous with their knowledge, candid about their missteps, and committed to raising the bar for our industry. Whether you’re refining your billing structure, rethinking your value proposition, or craving the kind of support that turns hesitation into momentum, this is your place. Join us, and design not just a career, but a life you love.