Hey there! Dan here, ready to talk about something that’s close to my heart and, honestly, should be close to yours too if you’re in the design business – charging for your plans and designs. It sounds so simple, but if you’ve been in this field for a while, you know it’s not always that straightforward. Today, I’m going to share a bit about my journey in realizing the value of design work and how to make sure you’re compensated for what you bring to the table.

How It All Started: The Lightbulb Moment

So, let’s rewind a bit to the early 90s – around ’93, I believe. I’d been designing and doing construction for years, hustling from project to project, not really charging much (if anything) for the plans I’d create. It’s embarrassing to say now, but no one told me I could charge for them! Then one day, I walk into this client’s house for a room addition and kitchen remodel. Super nice folks, a referral from someone I trusted. And I was thinking, “I’m swamped; I probably shouldn’t take this on.” So, I tell them it’ll be $750 to get started on the plans, secretly hoping they’d say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” But what happens next? The client heads into the other room, comes back with a check for $750, just like that.

Suddenly, I’m thinking, “Wait a minute – I can charge for my plans? And people will actually pay?” That little “aha” moment was huge for me. From that day forward, I started charging for every set of plans I did, even if it was just $100. And let me tell you, I was never looking back.

Why You Should Charge for Design

If you’re anything like me back in the day, you might be giving away your designs to close the deal. But here’s the thing: when you offer your planning and design work for free, it doesn’t just hurt your bottom line; it sends the wrong message about the value of your work. And good design is valuable – it’s what makes or breaks a project. Great design doesn’t just make a space look good; it prevents costly mistakes and makes the whole job smoother for everyone involved.

I work with a local contractor who, time and again, sells these beautiful projects but barely charges for the design work. I always tell them, “Guys, the time we put into these plans saves you money down the road.” We’re talking hours upon hours – I’ve put 100 hours into a single project before, working through every little detail. And when I hand over a set of plans, they know they’re going to get a project that’s going to run smoothly, with no surprises. That’s worth something, right?

Changing the Mindset: Design is a Profit Center

The first thing we have to do as designers and contractors is change our mindset. Design work isn’t a “necessary evil” to sell the project; it’s a service with real value. When we start to look at it that way, we realize that we’re not just drawing lines on paper. We’re providing a blueprint that guides the entire project, which saves time, money, and a lot of headaches for our clients. And you know what? We should get paid for that.

Some contractors I work with still think they’ll lose the project if they charge for their design work. But here’s what I tell them: the right clients appreciate the value of a good set of plans, and they’re willing to pay for it. By charging for your design services, you’re also positioning yourself as a professional. Think about it – when a client sees that you value your own work enough to charge for it, they’re going to value it more too.

Tips for Charging More for Your Plans

Now, how do you go about charging for your design work if you’re not already? Here are a few things I’ve learned over the years:

1. Start Somewhere – Any Charge is Better Than Free
   If you’re giving plans away for free right now, even a small fee is a step in the right direction. Start with a nominal charge to get your foot in the door. Once clients see the value, you can start increasing your fees.

2. Communicate the Value
   When you sit down with a client, explain why a detailed set of plans is essential. I often tell clients about projects that went off the rails because the plans weren’t detailed enough. Real-life examples hit home, and clients are more likely to see the value.

3. Use the Right Language
   Here’s a little trick: don’t call it a “free consultation.” Say it’s “complimentary” if you’re not charging, or, better yet, mention that the service usually costs $500, but you’re providing it as a courtesy. Words matter, folks.

4. Make Design a Separate Profit Center
   Look at design as a service on its own. You can still offer bundled services, but when you start treating design as a standalone offering, it opens up a whole new revenue stream.

5. Confidence is Key
   This one’s big. You have to believe in the value of your own work. If you know that a great set of plans is worth the price, that confidence will come across to clients.

Join Us at the Chief Architect Summit

If you’re looking to dig even deeper into topics like this, come join us at the 2025 Total Immersion Summit for Chief Architect Users. We hold it every year out in the beautiful Outer Banks, North Carolina, where we bring together designers and contractors from all over to share ideas, talk about what’s working, and tackle challenges together. It’s part training, part networking, and a whole lot of fun.

At the summit, we’ll be going through things like how to set up your design business for profit, how to use Chief Architect to create precise, professional plans, and the nitty-gritty of running a design business. You’ll hear from experts who’ve been in the field for decades and learn strategies to elevate your game. And don’t forget – you’ll eat like royalty. My sister and her team handle the food, and trust me, it’s reason enough to come.

Wrap-Up: Start Valuing Your Work

So, here’s the takeaway: if you’re not charging for your plans, start now. Remember, great design work saves time, money, and headaches – that’s worth every penny. Take it from a guy who used to give his work away. Once you start charging what your designs are worth, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.

And if you’re interested in a deeper dive into how to turn your design services into a real profit center, I’ve got a special video below. In it, I go into more detail on charging for design, handling common client objections, and sharing tips from years of experience. Feel free to watch it and take notes – you might pick up a few extra ideas to take your design business to the next level.

Thanks for reading, and keep charging what you’re worth!