A home decorator helps people use the space in their home or office more efficiently. They’ll recommend the colors, layouts, and furnishings that will best complement a room. Traditional interior designers will do the shopping or the preparing of the physical items that go in the space. Unlike interior designers, they’re not expected to use computer-aided design programs or architectural principles when on the job.
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.
Northwest ($29 + State Fees)
DIY: How to Start an LLC
Start a home decorator business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Home Decorator Business
- Form your Home Decorator Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Home Decorator Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Home Decorator Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Home Decorator Business
- Get Home Decorator Business Insurance
- Define your Home Decorator Business Brand
- Create your Home Decorator Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your home decorator business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Home Decorator Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a home decorator business?
Because a decorator relies primarily on selling their time, the costs can be minimal to get going. Owners should have a professional website showcasing their work — even if it’s just simulated images on a basic computer program. A good website can cost a few hundred dollars per year if the decorator designs the site themselves. They should have business cards and a physical portfolio to show their clients. Finally, decorators will need some type of commercial insurance to protect themselves in case they make a mistake in their client’s homes (e.g., moving a piece of furniture and accidentally breaking an expensive vase.) Decorators can work from their home to maximize initial profits.
What are the ongoing expenses for a home decorator business?
Expenses for a decorator include insurance, website upkeep, employee salaries, and the rent or mortgage for their office space (if applicable).
Who is the target market?
Upper and middle-class homeowners will likely be the primary target. Home decorators are highly coveted by many people, but high rates can sometimes make them an underutilized profession for those without substantial incomes.
How does a home decorator business make money?
Home decorators typically charge people for their professional advice and efforts either by the hour or by the room.
How much can you charge customers?
Home decorators charge based on their experience and reputation. To simply spruce up a room and give a few final touches, they may charge $100 for an hour or two worth of work. For a complete redesign, they may charge $500 for a full day. Established decorators may charge much more than this — especially if they specialize in finding inexpensive furniture or in restoring old pieces.
How much profit can a home decorator business make?
Home decorators have high profit margins, so the pay can be quite substantial. If a decorator has 200 clients in a year at an average of $400 per client, they’ll make about $650,000 per year, assuming their business expenses run around $15,000 a year.
How can you make your business more profitable?
Decorators can consider becoming interior designers if the demand is high enough in their area. This will mean more schooling and official certification, but the rates a designer can charge will be higher than that of a decorator. Or they can consider adding one-off services to clients, such as furniture restoration.
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your home decorator business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your home decorator business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a home decorator business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Certificate of Occupancy
A home decorator business is generally run out of a home or small storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.
- If you plan to lease a location:
- It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
- Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a home decorator business.
- After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
- If you plan to purchase or build a location:
- You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
- Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your home decorator business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Home Decorator Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Home Decorator Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a home decorator business
Home decorators will likely find their business primarily through word-of-mouth, which is why it can be helpful to start by helping family or friends with their home decoration dilemmas. Decorators may also want to join community website groups on sites such as Facebook where people swap advice with one another. They can recommend professional advice for free in an effort to get their name out there and inspire real business.
How to keep customers coming back
Clients want a beautiful home at an inexpensive price. They want one-of-a-kind pieces they can use as conversation starters when they have guests over. The more a decorator can provide this, the more likely it is they’ll be able to keep their clients while simultaneously growing their customer base.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
This business is excellent for someone who appreciates how and why different pieces work in different rooms. Decorators need to be creative and flexible, shifting their perspective based on both the physical characteristics of the room and the wishes of their clients. They should enjoy working with people, as they’ll need to understand a client’s personality before suggesting patterns or arrangements for them.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a home decorator business?
Decorators will spend the majority of their time going through different options for the many rooms they’ll plan. However, they’ll also need to make time for client consultations, marketing efforts, and invoicing matters.
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful home decorator business?
Decorators need to be creative and thoroughly in-tune with the basic elements of design. It’s not necessary to have formal education, unlike in the case of an interior designer, but it may help to take a few classes to get a better handle on how function meets form.
What is the growth potential for a home decorator business?
Growth potential can be staggering for the right home decorator. Even the most modest of homes can benefit from a decorator’s critical and creative eye, and because trends change often enough, even home decorators entering a saturated market may find they can grow their business quickly with a little ingenuity.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a home decorator business?
Home decorators need to showcase their dedication and creativity to their clients at every opportunity. Ideally, decorators will be able to complete much of their vision without making a client buy a lot of extra furnishings or accessories. Owners may want to start their business part-time to see how well they can handle different styles and spaces.
One of the biggest hurdles to cross when running your business will be how you’ll get the necessary supplies for your clients. Making relationships with suppliers or home furnishers can help immensely when it comes to knowing what’s available, what’s a good deal, and what should be avoided. Decorators don’t have a lot of rules when it comes to how they help their clients, which can work to their advantage. Decorators can spend their day attending auctions and estate sales, refurbishing client’s old furniture back to its original glory, or negotiating with suppliers for a better rate.
Decorators need to find the best ways to attack different problems without stepping outside their client’s boundaries. They need to give their clients a reason to choose them rather than relying on the thousands of articles and books written about interior decorating. Owners should emphasize the value of their expertise and why customized advice is really the only way to get the best results.
As decorators start learning the ways to efficiently solve the puzzle, they’ll find their business begin to grow. Decorators can also consider offering their services online to get started. This is a growing form of decorating that can open up your target market considerably, even if the personal element will be somewhat lost. This can also help you cut down on your initial expenses, as you’ll essentially just need to give advice and nothing else.
How and when to build a team
You likely won’t need to hire a team unless your workload spins out of control. In that case, you may want to hire an accountant or secretary before hiring additional decorators. This can ensure your style isn’t corrupted by another decorator, so you don’t risk your reputation.