Hey friend, welcome back to Design for the Creative Mind! I'm so glad you're here. If you’re new around here, this season is all about Rookie Mistakes & Real Talk—a behind-the-scenes look at the most common missteps interior designers make in business (and how to bounce back when you make one).

In today’s episode, I’m sharing a hard lesson I learned the painful way—what happens when you don’t have a strong contract… or worse, when you do and you don’t enforce it.

If you’ve ever had a client overstep, ask for something totally out of scope, or shop your selections online… this one’s for you. I’ve been there (like, deeply), and I want to help you avoid the stress, the loss, and the awkward convos I had to navigate back when I didn’t know better.

What I cover in this episode:

• The (cringey but honest) story of how I lost thousands early in my career

• Why a one-page contract does not make you client-friendly—it makes you vulnerable

• Common red flags to watch for, like the “just one more thing” request or the feedback that takes forever

• Exact phrases you can use to set boundaries with clients who are overstepping

• What to do when your contract doesn’t cover something

• How I present contracts now to prevent miscommunication and build trust

• The recent updates I made to my own contract after a few client hiccups

I know contracts aren’t the sexiest part of our business—but they are absolutely essential. They’re not just paperwork—they’re your business armor. And when you know how to use them confidently, you lead your business instead of reacting to chaos.

So grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and let’s talk about the contract catastrophe that changed everything for me—and how you can avoid it.

Podcast Website and Resources:

Get more info about our year-long mentorship and coaching program: https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/business-bakery  

Text BESTIE to 855-784-8299 for business tips, encouragement, and all our DFCM updates.

 

SIMPLIFY YOUR MARKETING, SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE. Sidemark is an all-new, all-in-one software that organizes sales, marketing, and business services all in one convenient location. Join mysidemark.com to help grow your interior design business.

Stay in touch with Michelle

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedforthecreativemind/ 

Join our Free Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/idbizlaunchpad 

Get clarity on your next best step today! https://www.designedforthecreativemind.com/reviewguide

 

Have ideas or suggestions or want to be considered as a guest on the show? Contact me! https://www.DesignedForTheCreativeMind.com/contact

 

A Podcast Launch Bestie production