Hi there, designer đź‘‹
This week, something really special happened.
One of my closest friends reached out and asked for help with her very first client proposal.
We used to work together back in corporate - long days, big presentations, senior-level work… and paychecks that absolutely did not reflect the effort. Now she’s starting her own business, and I couldn’t be more excited for her!
Of course, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
I shared my real proposal
Not just the numbers - but the thinking behind them.
How I scope projects. How I price.
How I protect my time, energy, and creativity.
And as I was walking her through it, I realized something important:
If this helped her feel more confident stepping into her first client proposal, it might help you too.
So I wrote a new blog this week
In it, I break down:
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how I think about pricing (square footage vs flat fee)
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why scope of work matters more than most designers realize
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how structure creates confidence - for you and your client
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and how my business evolved from corporate burnout to running high-fee, high-responsibility projects
I also shared real pages from my proposal not as templates to copy, but as examples of what clarity, boundaries, and professionalism actually look like.
This isn’t about copying what I do
It’s about understanding why it works.
Because when your process is clear:
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pricing feels less emotional
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clients ask better questions
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approvals come easier
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and you stop second-guessing yourself after every meeting
If pricing ever feels confusing, heavy, or overwhelming…..
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re charging enough - or explaining yourself too much - I think this will resonate.
👉 Read the full blog here:
A quick side note because I get asked this often
A big part of how I built a sustainable, profitable business was learning how to work with markup and procurement properly - which is also what led me to create Furnish & Flourish.
I don’t go deep into it in this blog, but if markup has ever felt confusing, uncomfortable, or like a missed opportunity, just know there is a system for it - and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Ana 🌸
Interior Design Den
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