"I'm a bit scared to admit it, but I haven't been operating with a contract yet. I know I SHOULD have one... is it really that big of a deal if I'm only working on smaller projects at the moment?"
DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer. This is not legal advice - seek out professional counsel and always have a lawyer look over any document you use. This is for idea-sharing purposes only.
Question: Have you been 'winging it' because maybe you're only working on your design business part time, or have only had a handful of clients so far? Believe me, eventually just 'winging it' can land you in a ton of hot water mentally, emotionally, and financially.
A terms of service contract is the rules of engagement by which you and your clients know and understand how each project operates - without it, anything can happen.
Do your clients know:
- What to expect & when during a project
- How and when to communicate with you
- How you'll invoice them & when
- How you introduce trades to their projects
- How trades get paid
- Who's liable for what
- Where you'll find their furnishings & materials,
- How they'll pay for said furnishings & materials
- How you deal with 'trade discounts'
- Understand what happens if one of you wants to terminate the project?
And so much more!!
This is the basic Terms of Service document I use in my own interior design business for all kinds of projects. Protect yourself and create policies around how you're running your design business!
>>> BONUS video included in download where I do a deep dive into each section & clause in the TOS document, how it works to set the terms, and how it protects me and my business >>>
Don't operate without a Terms of Service, no matter what stage you're at.
>>>>>
Do it different. Do it better. Elevate the industry.
Terms of Service Guide - What You Need To Protect Yourself & Your Business
Terms of use:
DISCLAIMER - This is not intended to replace legal advice. You must do your own due diligence and run any legally binding documents you plan to use in your business by a lawyer.
USE - This resource is the intellectual property of DesignLifeInc. and Urban Theory Design. The purchaser is granted permission for personal use only. Templates & resources are not to be shared with any other individual or company. You guarantee to not republish or redistribute the content and information within as your own, or on/in any personal or commercial websites, offerings, or coaching programs.
All Sales Final.
They definitely didn't teach me this in my design course. but now I havea complete contract to use with clients that covers every aspect of my business. Easy to use and change as needed, thank you!
This was worth every penny! I just modified it a bit for my business and added it into my proposal and it sounds so much more professional than what I previously had.