250. Why Your Flat Fee Isn’t Flat Enough (and How to Fix It)

Last week, I talked about invisible work, all of those small, well-intentioned tasks that quietly chip away at your profits. This week, I want to continue that conversation with one simple question: if you've switched to flat fees, are they actually flat enough? Because I see this all the time. Designers move away from hourly billings thinking, finally, no more time tracking, no more nickel and diming, no more surprises. But then the project ends, the designer is exhausted, the profits are thin, and they're wondering where all of their time went. And it's not that your number was wrong, it's that your flat fee wasn't flat enough.   Mentioned in this episode: Sign up for The Pricing Fix workshop on November 6th, 12:30 PM EST:  https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/the-pricing-fix Join the wait list for my course, The Designers Edge: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Sign up here to join my panel discussion at High Point: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-podcasters-tickets-1657193372989?aff=oddtdtcreator Sign up for my weekly newsletter: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite   Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/why-your-flat-fee-isnt-flat-enough  

Today, I want to dive into the invisible work that's eating away at your profits. I think you know what I mean, right? They're the hours that never make it into a proposal, the tiny tasks that keep piling up, the “quick things” that somehow take all day. So if you've ever ended a project feeling like you worked twice as much as you got paid for, you probably did. I have been there many times, and I can tell you exactly where the money is slipping through the cracks. Mentioned in this episode: Join the wait list for my revamped course, The Designers Edge: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance Sign up here to join my panel discussion at High Point: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-podcasters-tickets-1657193372989?aff=oddtdtcreator Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/invisible-work-eating-your-profits 

I talk a lot about profitability on these episodes because, of course, we do this for a living. But today, I invited someone to talk with more authority about our finances in general. And I understand it is not always easy to look at our finances, especially if they aren't where we want them to be. But Carla Titus has over 17 years of combined corporate financial planning, analysis strategy, and online businesses experience. She works with interior designers and she understands and provides fractional CFO services and consulting to business owners like us who are looking to grow their business profitability, which is what we all want. Her mission with Wealth and Worth Within is to empower business owners like you to achieve financial clarity and peace of mind so that they can get back to what they enjoy.  In today’s episode, you’ll learn how designers can master their money mindset, set profitable margins, and think like a CEO—so your business grows with confidence and sustainability. Find out more about Carla here: Website: www.wealthworthwithin.com  Facebook: www.facebook.com/wealthworthwithin  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wealthworthwithin   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealthworthwithin/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wealthworthwithin  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wealthandworthwithin   Mentioned in this episode: Join the wait list for my revamped course, The Designers Edge: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designers-guide-to-growth   

Today, we're going to talk about the hard truth: that many of the challenges that we face on construction projects aren't just coming from contractors, architects, or the clients. A lot of them are coming from us, from the way we've been taught to see ourselves, from the way we approach our work, and from the stories we've quietly absorbed about what it means to be an interior designer managing construction. The good news is also the bad news, because if we're the ones doing it to ourselves, we're also the ones who can stop it. Mentioned in this episode: Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/designers-jobsite-mistakes-mindset-shift 

Last week, I talked all about proposals and how designers often present themselves in ways that just don't stack up next to the concise professional proposals from architects and contractors, also known as our colleagues. And I said something then that I want to build on today, that the way we present ourselves to our clients matters. Because it's not just in proposals, it's also in how we charge. And the truth is, a lot of designers are unintentionally making themselves look expendable as well as different from our colleagues, architects, and contractors. And all in the wrong way when it comes to fees. So today, I want to talk about whether you feel stuck charging small consult fees when you could be landing six-figure projects.  Mentioned in this episode: Access the full video interview with Elana Steele of Steele Appliance here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance  Find the full shownotes at:  https://devignierdesign.com/interior-design-pricing-flat-fee-vs-hourly

Are your proposals costing you projects and profit? In this episode, I break down the common mistakes designers make in their scopes of work, why vague language leads to scope creep, and how to write proposals that protect your bottom line and earn respect on the job site. Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/proposal-mistake-costing-interior-designers-projects-profit 

Today’s episode is a little different than normal—and it all started when I scheduled a Lunch & Learn at Steele Appliance in Delaware.  This is a conversation that every interior designer needs to be part of! In this episode, I share how I sat down with appliance expert Elana Steele to cover everything from common design pitfalls and emerging trends to how to find the right local partners. Whether you’re a new or seasoned designer, this conversation will help you guide clients with confidence and elevate your kitchen projects.  Mentioned in this episode:   Access the full video interview here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/appliance  Upcoming Designer-Only Lunch & Learn on appliance specification - Wilmington, DE area: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/offers/H2FSxLJb/checkout Find the full shownotes at:  https://devignierdesign.com/the-appliance-conversation-every-designer-needs-to-hear 

Today I’m sharing two recent wins that build on what we discussed in Ep241: What Do Interior Designers Really Do on Construction Projects? These real-life stories show how valuable designers are on job sites—and I hope they inspire you to create similar experiences in your own projects.  Mentioned in this episode: * Upcoming Designer-Only Lunch & Learn on appliance specification - Wilmington, DE area: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/offers/H2FSxLJb/checkout    Listen to Ep241 here:  https://devignierdesign.com/what-interior-designers-really-do-on-construction-projects/ Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/interior-designers-invaluable-on-job-sites 

I know it probably feels a little crazy to be talking about the holidays right now. But here’s the truth: before we know it, holiday parties, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukkah, and New Year's will be front and center, and for all of us in construction and design, that means deadlines, delays, and client expectations that will collide all at once.  Add in the unpredictable fall and winter weather for some of us who have different weather throughout the year, and suddenly, you may have a perfect storm of challenges that will absolutely derail even the best planned projects. Today, we are talking about how to handle holiday deadlines, vacation slowdowns, and other delays. Not just to save our sanity, but to set realistic expectations with clients Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers Sign up for my weekly newsletter here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/from-the-jobsite  Follow me on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/devignierdesign/  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/holiday-design-planning-for-interior-designers  

Have you ever been asked, “So… what do you do here?” If you’re an interior designer, chances are you’ve heard this question more than once—from contractors, trades, or even clients. The truth is, many people don’t fully understand the value designers bring to a construction project. And if they don’t know what you do, they can’t value it—or hire you for it. In this episode, we dive into why it’s critical to define your role with clarity and confidence. You’ll hear how one greenhouse project revealed the gap in understanding, and how showing up as a decision-maker, problem-solver, and translator between client and contractor changes everything. You’ll leave with the exact language to position yourself as essential, not optional, so you can gain respect, influence, and bigger opportunities. Join the waitlist for my course here: https://www.reneedevignierdesign.com/construction-management-interior-designers  Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devignierdesign/  Find the full shownotes at: https://devignierdesign.com/what-interior-designers-really-do-on-construction-projects