You didn’t start your design business to manage receipts and decode sales tax.

You didn’t start your design business to manage receipts and decode sales tax.

You started it to make beautiful spaces.

But somewhere between the fabric swatches and final walk-throughs, you got buried in spreadsheets, sourcing chaos, and the dreaded question: "Did I charge the right tax on that ottoman from Italy?"

If your back office is stressing you out—or worse, slowing you down—it’s time to get a system in place that matches the level of elegance and control you bring to your design work.

Here’s how to tame the financial chaos behind your creative brilliance.

Get Clear on Sales Tax—and Where You Owe It

Sales tax is one of the trickiest parts of running a design firm. Depending on your state, you may need to collect sales tax on goods, design fees, or even freight. If you’re sourcing across state lines or working with out-of-state clients, the complexity multiplies.

Start with these basics:

• Know which states you have nexus in (where you’re required to collect tax)

• Keep resale certificates on file for trade vendors

• Set up clear, itemized invoices so taxable and non-taxable services are separated

Better yet, work with a bookkeeper who understands design industry tax rules—and keeps you compliant without the guesswork.

Build a Sourcing System That Doesn’t Break Your Brain

Sourcing is your magic. But it’s also a paperwork nightmare—multiple vendors, changing prices, deposits, lead times, and custom details that can make or break a project.

If you’re still managing this in email threads and sticky notes, it’s costing you more than time—it’s eroding your profitability.

Here’s what helps:

• Use tools like Ivy, DesignFiles, or Studio Designer to centralize purchase orders and vendor tracking

• Log deposits and balances owed the moment you issue them

• Have a dedicated place to track markups, freight, and taxes (hint: not your brain)

Ditch the Frankenstein Spreadsheet and Go Pro

We get it—your spreadsheet is a masterpiece. It’s color-coded. It’s been with you for years.

But if you’re managing your whole business on 12 linked tabs with manual inputs, it’s only a matter of time before something breaks. And when it does? You lose time, money, or client trust.

A modern, cloud-based bookkeeping system can:

• Separate personal and business finances (hello, clarity!)

• Track income and expenses by project

• Estimate quarterly taxes automatically

• Generate real P&Ls, not just guesses

And if it’s set up right? You’ll actually understand what’s working in your business—and what’s not.

Partner With a Team That Gets Designers

You deserve support that understands what it’s like to run a high-touch, high-stakes, detail-driven business.

At EB Squad, we specialize in back-office support for interior designers. We speak your language—markup, sourcing, retainers, and yes, even that Italian ottoman. We build systems that support your creativity, not distract from it.

Our designer clients say the same thing: once they let go of the admin chaos, they stepped into their CEO role—and their business took off.

The Bottom Line

You can run a beautiful business behind the scenes, too.

The systems that support your work should be just as elegant, intentional, and smart as your designs.

If your spreadsheets are starting to feel like a second full-time job, let’s talk.

Because your creativity deserves a financial foundation that actually holds up.

Let EB Squad help you build it.