Welcome back to The Business of Beautiful Spaces! This is Part 2 of our special four-part series on building a profitable interior design business with Laura Thornton.
In this episode, Laura shares why tracking your time is one of the smartest—yet most underused—profit strategies for designers. From eye-opening stories about flat fees gone sideways to actionable tips on building better habits, Laura breaks down how understanding where your time really goes can transform both your business and your sanity.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why flat fees without time tracking are a hidden danger for your profit
- The real reason time tracking isn’t “micromanagement”—it’s smart business intelligence
- How to spot inefficiencies and bottlenecks (and fix them for good)
- The tools and habits Laura uses for herself and her team (no fancy tech required!)
- Why increased efficiency should increase your profit—not lower your fees
- How to make time tracking a regular, stress-free part of your business
Key Takeaways:
- Don’t let “invisible” hours eat away at your flat fees—measure what matters!
- Time tracking helps you quote confidently, spot patterns, and work smarter.
- The reward for efficiency is higher profit, not lower pricing.
- Reviewing your tracked time regularly is the secret to less stress and more money.
Ready for the next episode in the series?
- Listen to Part 1 - Know your numbers. The Foundation of Profitability
- Listen to Part 3 - Efficiency gains, they belong to you
- Listen to Part 4 - Follow the Profits, not all projects are sexy
If you loved this series and are ready to master the art of pricing your design services, I've created the thing just for you! T
In just one focused hour, we’ll dive into whatever you need most—pricing strategies, client management, attracting high-end clients or building repeat business. You’ll get clarity, strategy, and expert advice based on my 27+ years of running a thriving, seven-figure design firm.
This is your chance to get real answers to the questions you’ve been dying to ask—from someone who’s actually been there.
Book your session as you need it—no strings attached.
Be sure to follow along on Instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces + @thorntondesign to stay up to date on what we're talking about next week. If you love our podcast, please, please, please leave us a review. If you have any questions or topic ideas OR you wish to be a guest email us thebusinessofbeautifulspaces@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Laura Thornton is the principle designer of Thornton Design Inc, located in Kleinburg, ON. Since founding the company in 1999, Laura has been committed to creating a new kind of interior design experience for her clients. Thornton Design is an experienced team of creative talents, focused on curating beautiful residential and commercial spaces in the Toronto, Ontario area and beyond. Now sharing all the years of experience with other interior designers to create a world of collaboration and less competition.
The Business of Beautiful Spaces I @thebusinessofbeautifulspaces
Thornton Design I @thorntondesign
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