Table of Contents
Introduction ix
01 Design 101 1
What Are Your Options? 2
What Does a Designer Do? 6
Required Assets and Traits for the Job 10
The Myths and Realities of Entrepreneurship 11
A Few Loose Ends 13
Testing the Waters 13
Determining Your Level of Participation 14
If You Have Children 14
Read, Read, Read 15
Associations 15
Further Your Education 16
Be Prepared 16
02 Setting Up Shop 17
What You'll Need 18
Storage Space 20
Your Car 21
A Word about Your Appearance 21
Defining Your Business 22
Existing Businesses and Franchises 24
Your Business Name 25
The Paper Trail 26
Insurance 27
03 Start-Up Costs 30
What It Will Cost to Start Your Business 30
Doing the Books 31
Buying and Using a Computer 31
Samples 34
04 Writing Your Business Plan 37
The Executive Summary 38
Company Profile 38
Products and Services 40
Market Analysis 40
Marketing and Sales 42
Finances 42
05 Record Keeping 46
Keeping Track of Your Money 46
Generating a Profit-and-Loss Statement 49
Making Cash flow Projections 51
Accounts Receivable and Payable files 51
Customer Contracts 56
Credit Accounts for Your Business 58
Quotes or Estimate Sheets 62
Invoices 62
Client files 62
Job Tracking Worksheet 65
06 Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing on a Budget 72
Advertising Goals 72
Typical Advertising Techniques 73
Other Ways to Get Business 86
Tracking Your Business 86
Using Existing Clients to Cultivate New Business 89
Keeping Track of Your Clients 90
Turning Inquiry Calls into Sales 90
07 What to Charge 95
Getting to Know Your Competition 96
Other Sources of Information 97
The Bidding and Estimating Process 99
Pricing Your Products 99
Product Sales 101
Sales Tax 108
Contract Labor 108
Interior Design Consulting Fees 111
An Inspirational Word 114
08 Now That You Have an Appointment, What Do You Do? 116
The Appointment 116
After the Sale 128
09 Product Overview 134
Section 1 Hard-Line Window Coverings 135
Section 2 Soft Treatments 142
Section 3 Bedding and Accessories 150
Section 4 Flooring 152
Section 5 Wallpaper 155
Section 6 Miscellaneous Products 156
Sustainability in Interior Design 157
Sales Manual 159
Practice Worksheets 160
10 Managing the Growth of Your Business 166
Moving Out 166
Finding Good Employees 168
You Can Do It! 173
Appendix A Resources 174
Associations and Resources 174
Trade Shows 179
Resources by Chapter 181
Appendix B Solutions to Practice Problems 195
Index 196
About the Editor 205
