Jean Liu on communicating additional fees to clients in a pre-invoice estimate, the value of using credit cards as a form of consumer protection and preparing for tariff-related fees.

Dwayne Bergmann on why his firm uses different billing models depending on the project type, how opening a storefront took his firm to the next level, and why he doesn’t ever discuss markups with clients.

Brian Paquette on vetting storage partners, how warehouse insurance can result in profitability for both parties, and why the design business is 95 percent execution and logistics.

Michelle Gage on the book that transformed her approach to leadership, the benefits of hiring a brand manager and how she educates clients on the costs of design.

Designer Bria Hammel on aligning payments with various phases of the design process, why every firm’s first hire should be an accounting position, and the go-to management software that keeps everything in order.

Chloe Redmond Warner on the employee who pushed her to improve the firm’s processes, the lengths she’s go to to determine a client’s aesthetic sensibility, and how taking a sabbatical ultimately helped her discover a new way of working that preserved her time and mental energy.

Arianne Bellizaire and Cortney Bishop share advice on a range of designer dilemmas, including when to start talking about design costs with prospective clients, what it takes to scale the receiving arm of your business and how to deal with an unreliable contractor.

Meg Lonergan faced a sudden crisis during the pandemic: in a matter of six weeks, she let go of all of her firm’s team members. To bring her business back from the brink, she took a hard look at her own leadership style, and started building a firm for the long haul.

Meagan Camp on building storage costs into client budgets from the beginning, her vetting process for new receivers and the organizational system that ensures every item gets to the right place.

Alex Kaehler on how putting her firm’s values in writing changed the company culture, how she’s communicating rising costs to clients, and how she’s finding joy these days in a workflow that has her getting into the weeds on each and every project.

Amy Storm on when to be transparent with clients about jobsite issues, how frequently communicating updates can protect your firm, and red flags that indicate whether or not it’s worth walking away from a contractor relationship.

Adam Hunter on the hire who brought consistency to his firm’s processes, how he developed boundaries to protect his professional relationships, and how he’s looking at his firm’s mission in a new light after the wildfires in Los Angeles.

Emilie Munroe on why vetting is a two-way interview, how charging for consultations can cloud your firm’s end goal, and what it means to embrace client rejection.

Bella Mancini on the business coach who overhauled her firm’s processes, why it’s crucial that clients communicate with every member of her team and how ditching a markup has transformed her business for the better.

Kevin Isbell on vetting vendors, navigating expensive mistakes, and ensuring that the client’s experience comes first—no matter the cost.

Britt and Damian Zunino of Studio DB on how they communicate the value of a coordinated architecture and design process to clients, how a consultant helped sharpen the firm’s structure and systems, and the ways they’ve honed their ability to recognize when they’re ready to grow.

Victoria Sass on different approaches to working with a public relations agency, how digital placement can actually yield longer-term results for your business and why local press contains a wealth of value that’s often overlooked.

Beth Dotolo and Carolina Gentry on how they make sure the chemistry is right with prospective clients, why video plays a major role in their intake process, and how they use social media to foster both new and old clientele.

Dane Austin on bringing a theatrical edge to big-picture design planning, a strategy for physically packaging ideas that invokes the world of luxury shopping, and the value of refining the decision-making process through three levels of presentations. Plus: Ask Us Anything is going live! Join host Kaitlin Petersen at High Point Market this month as she sits down with two former guests of the show to workshop designers’ business questions in real time. To RSVP, visit fourhands.com/event-rsvp.

Isabel Ladd on how she knows when it’s time to raise her rates, why her team includes a dedicated social media expert, and what it took to put together the handbook that guides her firm’s processes.