Decide what kind of studio you are
Define your services, ideal clients and where your studio will work.
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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
A practical route into independent practice.
A 14 page guide for interior designers going independent for the first time, whether you're leaving a studio, changing career or turning freelance work into a real business. Across 11 short chapters, it walks through the decisions that matter in the right order: what kind of studio to be, setting up the business, pricing, process, contracts, procurement, tools, building a portfolio, finding your first clients and managing money. Every chapter ends with the decisions to make before moving on, and the guide closes with a checklist for your first 90 days.
BEST FOR
- Designers leaving a studio to start their own practice
- Career changers launching an interior design business
- Freelancers turning side projects into a real studio
- Anyone setting their first fees and contracts
HIGHLIGHTS
- 11 chapters, each on a single page
- A Decide before moving on checklist at the end of every chapter
- The formula for working out your minimum hourly rate, with a worked example
- Fee models, project stages and procurement approaches compared side by side
- A first 90 days checklist to work through
WHAT'S INSIDE
Every chapter in the guide
Set up the business
Choose a structure, register correctly and put insurance and banking in place.
Price your work
Compare fee models and calculate the minimum hourly rate your studio needs.
Shape your process
Build a clear project journey from discovery through installation and handover.
Contracts and terms
Understand the clauses, responsibilities and protections a studio agreement needs.
Procurement and trade accounts
Choose how the studio will buy, charge and manage supplier relationships.
Tools and systems
Set up the practical software and file structure that keep work organised.
Build a portfolio before clients
Create convincing project stories before a full client list exists.
Find your first clients
Build visibility, qualify enquiries and turn early conversations into proposals.
Manage the money
Plan cash flow, tax, payment terms and a simple monthly financial routine.
Your first 90 days
Work through a realistic sequence for foundations, setup and getting seen.
A NOTE BEFORE YOU BEGIN
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules differ by country, and the guide explains what to ask an accountant, lawyer or insurance broker.
WHAT YOU GET
In the file
14-page A4 PDF
Delivered by email
Print-friendly layout
Request the guide with your email, then use the private link in your inbox to read it on screen or print it.
FROM THE SHELF
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