To set up an interior design business, you'll need to tackle the following steps:

1. Define Your Business Idea: Decide on the scope of your services, such as whether you will focus on residential or commercial spaces, the style of design you specialize in, and whether you will offer additional services like furniture procurement or renovation planning.
2. Conduct Market Research: Understand your target market, including their needs, preferences, and budget.
3. Create a Business Plan: Outline your business structure, target market, competition, and financial projections.
4. Secure Funding: Determine your startup costs and secure funding from personal savings, loans, or investors.
5. Choose a Business Name and Register: Choose a unique and memorable business name, and register it with the appropriate authorities.
6. Obtain Business Licenses and Permits: Research and obtain the necessary licenses and permits required to operate an interior design business in your area.
7. Develop Your Branding: Create a strong brand identity, including a logo, color palette, and website.
8. Set Up Your Office: Choose a physical location or set up a home office, and purchase the necessary equipment and supplies.
9. Build a Portfolio: Start building a portfolio of your design work to showcase your skills and attract clients.
10. Create Pricing Packages: Develop pricing packages for your services, taking into account your target market's budget and the value you offer.
11. Market Your Business: Use a variety of marketing strategies, including social media, networking, and partnerships, to promote your business and attract clients.
12. Develop Client Relationships: Provide excellent customer service and build strong relationships with your clients to encourage repeat business and referrals.
13. Review and Improve: Continuously review your business processes, pricing, and services, and make improvements to stay competitive and meet your clients' needs.

Overall, starting an interior design business requires careful planning, research, and dedication, but it can be a rewarding and fulfilling career. Explore our comprehensive guide to learn more about how to start an interior design business.

Interior design business software is an online tool that helps interior designers handle everything from lead management to designing, estimating, project management, invoicing and more. It is an umbrella term used to describe software that helps manage every part of an interior design business by streamlining processes and optimizing workflows while preserving the client experience.

When searching for professional interior designer software, there are 5 main features you’ll want to closely evaluate to ensure they fit your needs. 

1. Smart Lead Generation - It’s one thing to find new leads, but to keep up with past, present, and potential ones, all at the same time? With little effort? That’s where Houzz Pro comes in.
2. Game-changing Design Tools - Your software should go above and beyond to create mood boards, generate floor plans and build proposals that wow your clients. And guess what? Houzz Pro has innovative features like a web product clipper tool that you’ve got to try. 
3. Personable Project Management - The words “project management” are a drag, but actually managing the projects doesn’t have to be. If your interior design software includes helpful automation and transparency for every team member to see, you’re golden. P.S. Have you checked out our Project Management feature yet? We think you’ll love it. 
4. Convenient Invoicing & Online Payment Tools - Getting paid and keeping paper trails are critical in this line of business, and no one knows that better than you. Double check that whatever payment system you’re choosing accurately logs every penny, and the online system is quick, safe and secure. That’s what we’re all about. 
5. Seamless Integrations - There are likely tools or systems you do not want to change in order to use software (QuickBooks, Gmail, etc.). Ensuring your software integrates with those important platforms is a must. Did we mention we play nice with QuickBooks, Gmail and Zoom? Surprise.

At minimum, any good interior design business software should have these features, but there may be differences in how technical or extensive they are. The best way to get a feel for whether a software is right for you is by signing up for a demo or starting a free trial. This way you can test drive the features before committing to a subscription. While you’re here, feel free to give our free trial a spin. 

When you subscribe to Houzz Pro's software for interior designers, you add a plethora of lead and project management features to your digital tool belt. From client winning tools like our Proposals and 3D floor planner, to project administration features like our change orders and schedule—Houzz Pro centralizes all your business management needs into one easy-to-use software.

You can find more information about what features are included with each of our plans here.

When you subscribe to Houzz Pro’s interior design business software, you gain premium access to our support team. That means you get an exclusive phone number that directs you to an onshore team member and you get pushed to the top of the queue.
You also get personalized on-demand onboarding support, showing you how to properly use the specific features you want, when you want, to help get your business up and running with Houzz Pro. We also have a wide variety of help articles available in our Help Center and in-depth how-to videos on our YouTube channel.