Starting or running your own Interior Design business takes guts, but keeping it going without burning through your cash is a whole different challenge. One minute you’re riding high, the next you’re looking at your bank balance wondering where the money went. It’s not always the big purchases that drain your budget either. Sometimes it’s the little things, the quiet monthly costs you forget about, that slowly eat away at your bottom line.
The good news is you don’t need to overhaul your whole business to save money. With a few small changes, you can reduce your overhead costs and keep more of your income for the things that actually matter.
Let’s go through some simple ways to do that.
Start with your monthly outgoings
Before you cut anything, take a proper look at what you’re spending money on every month. Grab your bank statement, open up your online banking app, whatever works. Just take an honest look.
You might spot a few obvious ones straight away. Subscriptions you don’t use anymore, services you signed up for and forgot about, software that seemed useful at the time but just sits there.
Cancel anything that isn’t helping you run the business. Even small amounts add up over the year. Getting rid of unused subscriptions or switching to cheaper plans is one of the quickest ways to bring down overheads without feeling the pinch.
Rethink your workspace
If you’re renting a workspace, ask yourself if you actually need it. Can you move to a home office? Or maybe even build a design studio in your garden? Could your team work remotely, even part-time?
Rent, heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance — it all costs money. If you can move to a smaller space or go fully remote, you could save thousands a year. Even switching to a coworking space a couple of days a week can give you the flexibility without the full-time price tag.
If you do need a physical space, think about sharing with another business. Splitting the bills makes it way more manageable.
Get second-hand instead of new
We all love the feeling of new gear, but buying second-hand can save a lot of money without sacrificing quality. Office chairs, desks, laptops, shelves, storage units — there’s loads of it out there in great condition.
Check local Facebook groups, online marketplaces, or ask around your network. Bigger companies often sell off equipment when they upgrade, and smaller businesses shut down all the time and want to sell things quickly. As long as it works, who cares if it’s not fresh out of the box?
Use tools that actually save time
There’s an app or tool for nearly every part of running a business now. The trick is to choose ones that save time without creating more work.
You can get help with things like bookkeeping, customer messages, social media, project planning, invoices, and more. A lot of these tools are free, or offer low-cost plans that work just fine for small businesses.
Just be picky. Don’t pile on loads of new platforms because they sound cool. Stick to the ones that genuinely make your life easier.
Handle repeat customer questions automatically
If you’re spending time answering the same questions over and over, that’s time you could be spending elsewhere. Setting up something to help with this isn’t just about saving time — it can help reduce your need for extra support.
One of the best ways to do this is with a simple chatbot on your website. It doesn’t need to be fancy. You just set it up with answers to common things like store hours, delivery times, or return policies.
And here’s the thing — the benefits of adding chatbot software aren’t just about customer convenience. It also helps you cut down on admin time, reduce customer service costs, and keep people happy without needing someone on standby all day. Even a basic chatbot can take care of routine queries, leaving you free to deal with the bigger stuff.
Go paperless
Still printing invoices or filing away receipts? You’re spending more than you need to. Ink, paper, folders, printer repairs — it all adds up. Not to mention the time it takes to deal with paper when everything could be digital.
You can store receipts online, sign documents electronically, send invoices by email, and back everything up to the cloud. It’s safer, faster, and cheaper. Once you get into the habit, it’ll feel like second nature.
Outsource when it makes sense
Hiring someone full time is a big commitment. You’re not just paying a wage. There’s sick pay, holiday pay, tax, training, and equipment. If you don’t need someone in the business full time, you don’t need to hire them.
Outsourcing can help you get the job done without the long-term cost. Whether it’s graphic design, bookkeeping, admin, or social media, there are people who do this stuff on a freelance basis. You pay them for the work you need, when you need it. No strings attached.
It’s a great way to access skills you don’t have, without adding to your monthly expenses.
Be smart with your marketing
Marketing doesn’t need to mean splashing out on ads. In fact, some of the best marketing is free.
Use social media to connect with people. Post helpful content, show what your business is like behind the scenes, share reviews or customer photos. You don’t need to post constantly, just regularly enough to stay visible. Email is another great tool. Start building a list and send updates or offers once a month. There are free tools that make this easy.
Encourage happy customers to spread the word. Ask for reviews or referrals. Word of mouth is powerful, and it doesn’t cost a penny.
Review your suppliers and service providers
The price you paid when you first signed up might not be the best deal now. Go back and check the rates on your insurance, phone contract, internet, supplies, packaging, delivery — anything you’ve been paying for regularly.
Sometimes all it takes is a quick call to ask for a better deal. If they won’t budge, shop around. Loyalty is nice, but not when it costs you more.
Make it a habit to do this once a year. You might be surprised at how much you can save just by switching or negotiating.
Keep your energy use low
Even small businesses can rack up big energy bills if no one’s paying attention. But there are easy ways to bring those costs down. Switch things off at the end of the day. Use energy-saving bulbs. Open a window instead of cranking up the fan. Don’t leave things plugged in if they’re not being used.
If you’ve got a team, make sure they know to do the same. It sounds basic, but every little bit helps when you’re trying to cut costs.
Track your spending regularly
This one’s not glamorous, but it makes a difference. Keep an eye on your numbers. Check in every week or at least every month to see what’s coming in and going out.
When you do this regularly, you’ll start spotting patterns. Maybe there’s a week where expenses are always high. Maybe you’re still paying for something you thought you cancelled. Maybe a new tool is saving more than you expected. The more you understand your numbers, the easier it is to make good decisions.
Think twice before signing long contracts
When you’re just getting started, long-term deals can feel reassuring. You get locked into a rate, and it’s one less thing to think about for the next year. But in reality, long contracts can trap you.
Maybe the service doesn’t live up to the promise. Maybe your needs change. Maybe you just found something better. If you’re locked in, you’re stuck paying for something you no longer want or need.
Look for month-to-month options where you can. Even if the monthly rate is slightly higher, the flexibility can save you more in the long run. And if you do go with a contract, always check the terms before you sign. Some providers will let you cancel early or downgrade your plan, but you’ve got to know that upfront.
It’s also worth asking if there’s a trial period. That way, you can test the service without fully committing right away.
Don’t buy things just because you think you should
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need what other businesses have. A full suite of software. A big office. A shiny new logo. But if it’s not helping you run things more smoothly or bringing in money, it might just be adding to your costs.
Before you buy anything, ask yourself one thing — is this going to make my business better right now? If the answer’s no, skip it. You can always come back to it later.
As you can see, there are loads of ways you can save yourself money on your business’ overhead. Try these tips and before you know it, you’ll notice more money in profit and how streamlined your business is!
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