Designer Pay (Part 1)

So, I am now beginning a few entries on how the design/designer business works. For clients, this can a daunting task to understand how this operates. I realize that this may upset some of my colleagues, but I have always prided myself on my integrity and honesty with my clients. I run my business with openness and honesty, and I hope to reveal some of that honesty here.

Here is the 4-1-1 on how designers operate and how the design field works.

When you make the decision to hire a designer for your project, no matter how large or small, one of the most important and critical discussions you will have is how the designer gets paid. There are three basic ways this happens. Let me explain:

1. The designer charges an hourly fee…much like a lawyer or doctor.
   
2. The designer waives his/her hourly fee, and collects just the designer discount given to him/her by the retailers and/or suppliers used by the designer (more about this later).
   
3. The designer charges both an hourly fee, AND collects the designer discount from his/her retailer and/or supplier (definitely more about this later).
   

Let’s delve into option #1 first. This is the quickest and easiest to get out of the way.

At your first meeting with the designer, which in my book should always be a free of charge consultation, you will discuss the terms of how the designer is to be paid. Should he/she charge an hourly fee, here is what to expect. Most designers I know, charge and hourly fee of $75-$150 per hour (and travel time is usually calculated). You can pay more for some star designer with a household name, just so you know. When it comes time to go shopping with the designer for the pieces for your room/project, and more specifically time to pay, you will usually pay and the designer tells the sales representative that he/she is passing on his/her discount onto the client. You may or may not be privy to this conversation – the conversation may have already taken place between the designer and the sales representative prior to your arrival at the showroom. Case closed, right?

(To be continued)