by Harsha Dewa

Created on: April 25, 2008   Last Updated: May 14, 2012

I have been in the interior design industry for over 6 years and have worked in showrooms designing and selling kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and complete concepts. Setting up your own business is always a risk but having the confidence in yourself and support from loved ones will make the world of difference.

Whether you are turning a hobby into a career or are fed up of working for someone else, setting up your own business will not happen over night. Here are a few tips to get you started.

The basics
If you are setting up your new business on a budget, then the basics must be in place. Set up a catchy company name and a logo for all your stationary. Letter headed paper and business cards are a good place to start when ordering stationary and designing these yourself makes it all that more personal. It is very easy to set up a basic website nowadays, and it doesn't cost the earth. You can set up a homepage for clients to introduce them to your services and your contact details.

Build a portfolio
No matter how large or small the job is, try to take as many pictures as possible. Before and after shots are brilliant as you can keep on record the transformations you have made and show these to any new clients you have who may wish to see your work.

Present your images in a smart folder that will hold A3 size paper. This is a good size to work with as it is easy to carry and the pictures on a larger scale will have a bigger impact. Always carry a good quality digital camera and take photos from all angles. You never know when they could come in handy.

Crop, edit and print the pictures and present them in your folder. Remember to always update your portfolio as this will give your clients confidence in the work you do. Examples of sample boards with a corresponding picture of the completed scheme are another good way of presenting your work.

Tradesman list
Make sure you make a note of any tradesmen that come your way. Build up a good relationship with them as they are your first call of advertising by mentioning you to there clients. Also when your clients are looking for decorators or builders, the first person they will ask is their interior designer. It doesn't look very professional if you do not know anyone in the industry and can not recommend anyone.

Advertising
Once your company name and logo are ready, you can design a small flyer introducing yourself, what services you offer and possibly your rates. Don't forget your contact details including an email address. These you can print on your home printer and distribute them to friends, family and even at your local DIY stores, furniture shops and decorating departments of large stores. If work is slow then approach your friends and family and offer to do some interior design work for them at a discounted rate. This will help to build up your confidence, your portfolio and increase your client base.

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