contributed by Terri L. Maurer, FASID [interior designer / planning and strategies consultant / speaker / author]

Thinking about opening your own design business” How prepared are you, really” Far too often in our profession, businesses are started without ample time or effort spent on the planning process. Designers hang out their shingle, declaring themselves in business with little more than a vendor’s license in hand. They set up shop before even deciding what their business will look like from the beginning, or years down the road. Seldom is time taken to look at the market in terms of competition, types of services offered, or what costs will be to get the business through six months or the first year. Few designers even take the time to explore the different business models available. Think how valuable it would be to step into the minds of other designers who have already started and grown a business, who know the ropes and are willing to share.

In short, most of us are not nearly as adept at setting up and running a business as we are as creative, trained professionals. And, it’s not our fault. Our educational standards leave very little room in curriculums for business courses, and those that are included seldom have any relation to our industry.

For this reason, I have set out to develop continuing education programs aimed at the interior design industry, focused on helping designers become better entrepreneurs and business people. When approached by ASID and Wiley & Sons, Inc. to write a book on the business of design, it only took a few minutes of consideration before I yelled out: "Yes!" Writing a book about the business side of our business was something near and dear to my heart.

Interior Design in Practice: Case Studies of Successful Business Models was a collaborative effort with Katie Weeks, a former senior editor with Contract magazine and now editor with Eco-Structure magazine.

Putting our heads together, Katie and I determined to research as many business models as possible within our profession. Our goal was to provide a broad picture of the industry and the many choices it offers those with an entrepreneurial bent. Our plan was to cover businesses from start up through succession planning for retirement, hitting on key elements ranging from business and strategic planning, to marketing and promotion, finances, and technology and everything in between.

In addition to identifying a long list of business models and successful designers in those different models and specialties, professional experts in areas of planning, finance, marketing, web design and other key topics were interviewed as well.  Our goal, in addition to representing many business models, was to work with designers from a very diverse geographic representation, locating "everyday" designers willing to share their stories with our readers.

Business models run the gamut from solo practitioner to partnerships, through franchises, dealerships, small, medium and large enterprises. Experienced designers with various levels of experience and years in business all generously shared the stories of their businesses, the good days and the growing pains involved.

• Want to know about the difference between business planning and strategic planning, when and how to use each” Jill Johnson, a consulting expert from Minnesota shares her advice in Chapter 1, and several designers tell how planning has played a part in the success of their businesses.

• Are you ready to work on your on-line presence” Bruce Brigham, FASID, shared how his web site connected him to Cartier jewelers in Paris and made him a player in the global market.

• Interested in expanding your business” Learn how several designers took different directions to grow and expand theirs – mergers, acquisitions and more.

For an inside look at Interior Design in Practice, including contents and an excerpt of the first chapter, GO HERE to visit the Wiley & Sons web page.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Interior Design in Practice is available directly through Wiley & Sons but also can be found at online bookstores like Barnes & Noble and Borders. But, hey – why not help PLiNTH & CHiNTZ out and purchase through Amazon by clicking right here, clicking on the cover image (above right) or using the visual link below” You’d be doing your good deed of the day.