Learned It From Experience: L.I.F.E. Lesson #14
I talk to a lot of designers and it continues to surprise me how many do not have an invoicing system in place. Let’s not dwell on why you don’t have one, let’s move right into why you should.
As designers, we are a creative bunch. That means when we own our own business, the business side does not come easy. That’s ok. As long as you know that and put the right people and systems in place so it doesn’t get away from you.
When you don’t have an invoicing or payment collection system in place, you are flat out losing money. What if the grocery store relied on you totaling items in your head to pay for them? That they hoped you’d know the right amount and leave that when you left? How often do you think people would get the amounts correct? Not very. The store would be losing money. This is exactly what you are doing when you don’t invoice people for your services and materials with a system.
Scary, I know. Both taking on a new system and the thought of losing money. Let’s look at it a different way, think of the money you’ll find by putting a system in place!
There are lots of programs created to help you with this. Many of us start with QuickBooks because we have heard of it, and don’t look much further when we start. Quickbooks is a great platform, fairly easy to learn and navigate, and will get you going with all the things you need to begin sending correct invoices.
You can stick with QuickBooks, especially if you don’t have a system currently. If you have a bookkeeper, someone whose specific job is to invoice and maintain your books I like Studio Designer. This is because it is more industry-specific.
As designers, we may have material invoices AND consulting invoices. Or say for one sofa, we may have multiple purchase orders associated with it. Two different fabrics and a trim. Studio Designer allows you more flexibility rather than creative workarounds in QuickBooks.
The point here isn’t to sell you on a specific program, the point is to get you to understand you need some sort of system in place. Not only will you find more money, but you will also feel less stressed knowing you have a system to collect money, and you will have more time to do the designing!
Do you need personalized support while building your design business? That is exactly what you will receive as a member of MYDB (Manage Your Design Business), where you’ll learn to thrive as an interior designer.
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