As a new designer, I was surprisingly intimidated at the idea of presenting a legally binding contract for my clients to review and sign before taking on their design project. I knew having a contract in place was absolutely necessary, but oddly, I was really anxious about it.

I thought, “What if they won’t agree to my terms because it’s too demanding? What should I do if they push back and don’t sign the contract? What if they ask me a question about something in it and I have no clue how to answer?”

Let me be the first to say that it only took me one bad client experience to get myself over these self-imposed worries. So next time, when a client decides to change everything at the 11th hour, make sure you’ve got a contract in place to protect yourself and help steer the ship back on course!

What is a Scope of Work & why should I care?

In the world of design and construction, a well-defined statement of work (SOW) serves as the cornerstone of any contractual agreement, laying out the precise parameters and expectations of a project. For both interior designers and 3D interior designers, understanding and meticulously outlining the scope of work is extremely important. This document delineates the tasks, responsibilities, deliverables, and project objectives, acting as a compass that guides the design process from inception to completion. It not only lays the foundation for a successful collaboration between designers and clients but also serves as a safeguard against miscommunications, disputes, or deviations from the project's original vision.

Sounds really important, right? It is!

Are you unsure about what to include in your SOW? Or, maybe you already have yours dialed in but want to update it and ensure it’s comprehensive? It doesn’t matter if you’re brand new to the design industry (we all were once!) or happen to be a seasoned veteran, there’s never a bad time to learn something new.

Not sure where to start? Well… 👇

I’m here to help! I created a FREE DOWNLOADABLE LEGAL GUIDE giving you 25 different scopes of work that can be included in the statement of work section in your client contract.