How to Start an Interior Decorator Business
Launching a decorating business: naming your services carefully, the set-up paperwork, and billing the first room.
A decorating business starts with deciding what you'll offer (color and finish choices, furnishing, styling) and how you'll describe it, then the paperwork: registering, a tax ID, insurance, and how you'll invoice. Design fees, purchases for clients and markups are covered in the interior decorator invoicing guide linked below.
How you may describe your services can depend on your state. The BLS page on interior designers (In the US, BLS, last modified August 27, 2026) says "Licensure requirements vary by state." It adds: "In some states, only licensed designers may do interior design work. In other states, both licensed and unlicensed designers may do such work; however, only licensed designers may use the title “interior designer.”" Look up what your state allows before you use the word "designer".
A first decorating invoice with sample figures: a color consultation at 1 × $200.00, styling two rooms at 2 × $350.00 = $700.00 and accessories bought for the client at 1 × $180.00 come to $200.00 + $700.00 + $180.00 = $1,080.00. Use your own figures; these are only an illustration.
Step-by-step startup guide
Follow these steps to launch your interior decorator business on solid footing.
- 1
Define your services
Choose what you'll do, such as color schemes, furniture selection or styling for sale, and what you'll pass to a licensed designer or contractor.
- 2
Check what your state allows
The BLS (In the US, BLS, last modified August 27, 2026) says "Licensure requirements vary by state." Ask your state's licensing board how you may describe your work.
- 3
Register the business
The SBA's launch guide (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) says "If you conduct business as yourself using your legal name, you won’t need to register anywhere." Your state and local offices can say what a studio name or an LLC involves.
- 4
Tax ID and banking
The SBA (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) says "Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your business’s federal tax ID number." It also says "As soon as you start accepting or spending money as your business, you should open a business bank account."
- 5
Arrange insurance
The SBA (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) says "Speak to insurance agents to find out what kinds of coverage makes sense for your business."
- 6
Set your pricing and purchase terms
Decide between hourly, per-room or flat project fees, and how you'll handle items you buy for clients.
Tips for starting your interior decorator business
- Keep a photo record of each room before and after.
- Ask your state about sales tax on items you resell to clients before you set purchase terms.
- Plan for self-employment tax. The IRS (In the US, IRS, last reviewed or updated October 30, 2026) says "The self-employment tax rate is 15.3%."
- Keep receipts for everything you buy on a client's behalf.
How Billed helps you get started
Features to look at as you set up your business.
Estimate Templates
Billed's features page lists "Estimate Templates": "Create professional estimates with Billed App estimate templates."
Estimate Attachments
Billed's features page lists "Estimate Attachments": "Attach important files and images with your estimates."
Attach Receipts
Billed's features page lists "Attach Receipts": "Never lose a single receipt again. Keep all of your receipts in Billed App."
Categorize Expenses
Billed's features page lists "Categorize Expenses": "Easily categorize your expenses in Billed App. This helps you in filing taxes during tax season."
Frequently asked questions
Invoice Your First Room
Create invoices, track payments and keep your clients' details in one place with Billed.
At a glance
| Stage | What to check | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Titles and licensing | "Licensure requirements vary by state." | BLS (In the US, BLS, last modified August 27, 2026) |
| Registration | "If you conduct business as yourself using your legal name, you won’t need to register anywhere." | SBA (In the US, SBA, checked October 31, 2026) |
| Tax ID | "You never have to pay a fee for an EIN." | IRS (In the US, IRS, last reviewed or updated October 16, 2026) |
| First invoice | Consultation, styling, purchases | Interior decorator invoicing guide |
When this isn't for you
If you decorate as an employee of a furniture store or design firm, these set-up steps aren't yours; they're for running your own business.