How to earn as an interior designer in Slovenia: practical steps

Where paying customers actually come from

In Slovenia paying clients for interior design work come from a mix of local and online sources. Neighbours and friends often provide the first handful of jobs. People you know at work or parents at your children’s school can ask for a consultation or a small redesign. Small landlords and private homeowners in your area are common early clients.

Online search and social media are important once you have photos and descriptions of your work. Local marketplaces and community groups on social platforms bring leads from nearby towns. The Websta marketplace also connects people looking for services with providers by service and place, and clients can post a task for providers to make offers.

• - Neighbours, friends and workplace contacts
• - Parents and local school communities
• - Private landlords and small businesses nearby
• - Online search, social media and local marketplace listings

How to set a first price and talk about money

Start simple. Decide whether you will charge by the hour, by a fixed package, or by project. For a first offer consider a clearly scoped package such as a single-room consultation with a short report, or a mood board and shopping list. That makes it easier to explain what a client gets for the price.

When you discuss money, describe deliverables and payment terms before you begin work. Use clear language: what is included, how many revisions, how long work takes, and when you expect payment. For larger jobs ask for a deposit and staged payments tied to milestones. Never promise income or client numbers.

• - Offer simple, named packages for early clients
• - Explain exactly what is included and what is extra
• - Use deposits and staged payments for larger jobs
• - Be prepared to walk a client through why your price fits the scope

What the first ten customers usually look like

The first ten customers are rarely all large projects. Expect a mix: a friend who wants a living room refresh, a neighbour needing furniture layout, a landlord wanting cost-effective staging, a small cafe owner asking for a light redesign, and a parent from school needing a child’s room plan. Many will be local and small in scope.

These early jobs help you refine estimating, develop a photo portfolio, and collect testimonials. Treat small projects as opportunities to improve a repeatable process: fixed scope, clear timeline, and a simple contract or agreement.

• - Short consultations and single-room jobs
• - Furniture sourcing and shopping lists
• - Home staging and layout changes
• - Small commercial or cafe refreshes

What to sort out when taking money as an independent person in Slovenia

Check the authorities early. For tax and VAT questions contact the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia (FURS) and ask about registering income, invoicing rules, VAT thresholds and reporting. For questions about registering a business or sole trader status, check the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services (AJPES) or the eVEM portal and ask what forms and registrations apply to you.

Also check with your municipality about any local requirements. If you are employed, read your employment contract and check with FURS or a tax advisor about how side income affects social contributions and taxable income. If you take card payments online, make sure invoices and receipts match the money you receive.

• - Ask FURS about tax registration, invoicing and VAT
• - Ask AJPES or eVEM about business registration options
• - Check your employment contract and social contribution implications
• - Keep clear invoices and records for any online card payments

What tends to go wrong in the first months

Common early problems are scope creep, underpricing, poor time estimates, and not collecting deposits. Scope creep happens when the client asks for more without adjusting price or deadline. Underpricing hurts sustainability and makes it harder to grow.

Other issues are inconsistent marketing, low-quality photos, and slow invoicing. Clients judge design work by clear visuals; if you do not have good before-and-after photos or clear service descriptions you will lose leads. Also plan for late payments and simple contract templates to avoid disputes.

• - Scope creep without formal change orders
• - Underpricing and unsustainable offers
• - Poor photos and vague service descriptions
• - Late invoices and unclear payment terms

How a Websta profile fits into this

A Websta profile creates a single page you can send to anyone and that can be found through the marketplace. The profile can show your services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. People nearby can find providers by service and place, and can also post a task for providers to make offers on.

Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe, and you set your own prices. Use the profile as a professional reference for queries from neighbours, workplace contacts, social posts, and marketplace requests. Keep the page updated with recent photos and clear service descriptions.

• - One page for services, prices, photos, contact form and booking
• - Found through the Websta marketplace by service and place
• - Payments routed to your bank account through Stripe
• - Use the link in messages, social posts and email replies

Practical first steps to get started

Do a small launch: photograph two or three projects, write two simple service packages, prepare a short contract template and set up a Websta profile. Reach out to friends and neighbours with a clear offering and ask for referrals or permission to photograph work.

Keep expectations realistic. Building a steady stream of paid clients takes time, consistent work and clear administration. Track leads, update your portfolio after each job and iterate your prices as you learn what clients pay and what tasks take most time.