| Customers can come from both the business world | | | | the company may be closely tied to the current owner |
| and in private homes. Locating these customers is a | | | | who has a reputation in this industry. The buyer must |
| matter of your company's reputation, advertising and | | | | be sure that buying the name is worth the price and |
| being in the right place at the right time. This is a skill | | | | can be used to continue the business. If it is a larger |
| business that can be studied and learned in a formal | | | | company with a staff, the chances of continuing will be |
| setting like a college. Some people have a better eye | | | | easier as the staff could continue to turn out the work |
| for the business, but a smart business owner can hire | | | | and maintain the standards that made the company a |
| great talent if they are good at bringing customers | | | | viable purchase. |
| through the door. Getting started can be as simple as | | | | Starting a business after gaining the knowledge and |
| doing it out of your home or buying an existing firm. | | | | the experience either formally or by working in the |
| You will need the foundation of some education in the | | | | industry is the way most new owners get involved. |
| field. A degree in the field will give you creditability and | | | | The small start from home is the way many get into |
| prior jobs will allow you show a portfolio. Another way | | | | this business and begin to build a reputation. Word of |
| to get started in the business is to work for a | | | | mouth referrals seem to be the best way to get new |
| successful firm and learn from the talented people in | | | | clients in this industry. Advertising is a possibility, but |
| the firm. | | | | trade shows may be a better way to get your |
| How to get started on your own | | | | message out to the business community. Home shows |
| Once you have the education and some experience, | | | | would be a way to get the message out to |
| you can start your own business or buy an existing | | | | homeowners |
| one. The problem with buying an existing firm is the | | | | Trade experience versus formal education |
| business may be a captive of one talented owner. If | | | | Formal education at a school with a great reputation is |
| the customers are seeking out the company due to | | | | a good start in this business. Learning the business by |
| the owner, then the reputation may not be transferable | | | | working in it is another way to learn the trade. Both will |
| to a new owner. This is always the problem when | | | | work, but having them both will add to your creditability. |
| buying a business that depends on creative talent in | | | | Knowing what works and how visual and technical |
| order to make sales. If you have a successful history, | | | | problems have been resolved is invaluable experience. |
| you may be able to pull it off, but if you are that well | | | | Developing the eye for the business and the creativity |
| known, you may be better off to just start your own | | | | that is needed to build a reputation can be partially |
| company. This decision should be studied very | | | | learned, but it is an innate talent with many of the more |
| carefully. What will you gain by going down either | | | | successful interior decorators. If you are in this |
| path? The other problem with buying an existing | | | | category, then dreaming of owning a business may be |
| company is all you are buying is the reputation and | | | | a lot easier for you than it would be for someone who |
| maybe some open doors to corporate clients. This is | | | | is less talented. |
| not like a retail business where you are buying | | | | Conclusions |
| customer traffic. If you really have the talent to deliver | | | | Interior decorating is a business that comes with an |
| creative jobs, then the way to go may be to just start | | | | eye for style and class. Businesses are willing to spend |
| your own company from the start. A firm with several | | | | good money to put the right image out to their clients. |
| talented employees may be worth the gamble if they | | | | Moneyed homeowners are also willing to spend to get |
| will stay with a new owner. As you can see this is not | | | | the right feel for their home. Some homeowners have |
| an easy problem to solve and each situation must be | | | | no idea of colors or furniture style and really do need |
| looked at on its own merits. | | | | help. Professional help can make a difference in the |
| It takes money to start or buy a business | | | | impression a business makes on clients when they visit |
| If you have a solid amount of money, you can either | | | | the office. Style and quality carry the feel of |
| start a business or buy a business. If you have little | | | | competence to the visitor to the business. No |
| money, but a lot of talent, you can start a business out | | | | coordination makes for a jumbled appearance and a |
| of your home. This is a much slower process to build a | | | | scattered mind. This may not be true, but people due |
| business, but for some potential interior decorators this | | | | follow their impressions when doing business. The |
| would be the only way they can get a start in the | | | | biggest factors in this business are knowledge, |
| business. The point of this section is that there is no | | | | experience and talent. Formal training will help any one |
| way around the fact that a person will have to take | | | | that wants to make this their life's work On the job |
| the hard way to own a business if they do not have | | | | knowledge will provide a basis for doing the work, but |
| the funds. If they do have the funds they can probably | | | | the formal training allows for better use of innate talent. |
| do either course to owning a business. The caveat is | | | | This is a unique business that will attract a special and |
| that when buying an existing business in this industry | | | | creative person. |