We’re speaking with an interior designer who is proposing a retainer of $120/hour in addition to a 20% markup on materials purchased. They have assured us that their discount is greater than 20% so we will be saving money even with their markup but it seems a little fishy. Does this sound like a legitimate pricing proposal and if not, what would a reasonable pricing proposal look like?
I am a Certified Interior Designer as well as a General Contractor here in California. For interior design, there really is no rule of thumb, however I personally never charge an hourly because I know how expensive it can get. Request a flat fee plus the 20% markup on materials. Any good designer knows approx. how much time and work will go into a project and should be able to give you a flat rate. I have found with my business that clients as well as myself prefer a flat rate because they know up front what it is going to cost. Just as importantly, if they do a flat rate you as a client should try to be respectful of their time. I hope this helps (more directly, $120 an hour is a reasonable rate for a designer if they only charge hourly)