Hey y'all! Welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! Today, I'm diving into a question that came straight from Instagram—thanks to Louise from Design in Ireland. She reached out with a great one: "How can interior designers set boundaries with flat-fee clients who sometimes get a bit too comfortable asking for extra time?"

Here's a peek at what I cover in this solo episode:

Sales Process Essentials: I break down my client process, from initial calls to meet-and-greets. It’s all about educating clients upfront on how we work and setting boundaries from day one. The Power of the Scope of Work: Having a detailed scope is everything. I'll share how we make sure our clients understand what's included—and what's not. This scope can also help clients understand why changes can lead to additional costs.

Leveraging the Contract: I talk about using our Letter of Agreement (a friendly contract) to reinforce expectations. This doc lays out unique clauses, like only showing the best option for each item, limits on revisions, and the number of site visits included.

Scheduling & Time Management: Pre-scheduling meetings has been a lifesaver for both my team and our clients. It keeps us on track and gives clients a sense of urgency without feeling rushed.

Adding a Contract End Date: I explain why we include a project timeline so clients stay motivated, and so we have a framework if the project takes longer than expected.

Tracking Data for Better Flat Fees: It's a must to track how much time each task really takes. I share how I use that data to refine our flat fees and ensure they work for us financially.

 

I hope this helps! And to anyone else with burning questions about the business of design, I'd love to hear from you. If you shoot over your questions, I'll either devote an episode to your topic or gather a few for a "What Would Michelle Do?" segment!

 

Thanks for listening, and remember to choose greatness every day!

 

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