As we anticipate the potentially compounding challenges tariffs will have on interior designers—inflating material costs, delaying timelines, and straining client relationships, it may be time to revisit your services agreement. As your first line of defense, having the right provisions in place can help you shift tariff-related risks from crisis scenarios into planned contingencies.

Explore some of the advantages and limitations of arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution method that interior designers can use, and review the best practices for drafting a good arbitration clause for your contracts.

Not all written agreements are created equal. In this article we explore the key elements every interior designer should include in their client contracts to best protect their business, and to ensure all parties are in mutual agreement over the essential terms of the deal.