Interior design as a profession : Why study professional practice? ; Defining the profession ; What is a profession? ; Professional responsibility in a changing world ; Historical overview ; Interior design divisions ; Interior design value ; The business of interior design -- Professional advancement : Educational preparation ; Internships ; Lifelong learning ; NCIDQ examination ; Licensing and registration ; Professional associations ; Social responsibility -- Ethics and professional conduct : Ethical standards ; Ethics in the business environment ; Professional conduct ; Disciplinary procedures -- Legal responsibilities : The legal environment of interior design practice ; Criminal versus tort law ; Negligence ; Intentional torts ; Intellectual property, copyright ; Code compliance -- Where do designers work? : How do designers work? ; Global design work ; Types of work environments ; Expectations -- Project compensation and design fees : Calculating the billing rate ; Which compensation method? ; Estimating design fees ; Indirect job costs ; Methods for setting design fees -- Preparing design contracts : Definition and basic elements of a contract ; Letter of agreement or contract? ; Proposals versus contracts ; Contract form and the statute of fraud ; Developing the design contract ; Content formalities ; Interior design contracts: content and form ; Performance and breach ; Termination by agreement ; Avoiding contract disputes -- Product pricing : Catalog pricing ; Pricing terms ; Discounts ; Selling prices ; Deposits, down payments, and retainers ; Freight and FOB ; Delivery and installation charges ; Sales and use taxes -- The selling of goods: the Uniform Commercial Code and warranties : Historic overview of the UCC ; UCC definitions ; The buyer's rights and obligations ; The seller's rights and obligations ; Statute of frauds ; The sales contract ; Electronic agreements and signatures ; Sales on approval ; Title ; Risk ; Warranties and product liability -- Trade sources : Manufacturers ; Sales representatives ; Marts, showrooms, and market centers ; Local showrooms ; Retail specialty stores ; Manufacturer's dealers ; Internet sourcing ; Tradespeople and craftspeople ; Construction contractors ; Selecting trade sources -- The project management process : What is project management? ; The role of the designer/specifier ; Brining value to clients through design ; Phases of an interior design project ; Project delivery methods ; Stakeholders ; Selecting project teams ; Plan review boards ; Project schedules ; Project budgeting ; Managing and recording your time ; Project files or job books ; Building Information Modeling (BIM) ; Value engineering -- Contract documents and specifications : Contract documents ; Specifications ; Specifications organization ; Sustainable product specifications ; Construction agreement ; Competitive budding ; Modifications ; Submittals -- Contract administration: construction and order processing : Contract administration: construction ; Contract administration: procurement and order processing ; Shipping and freight ; Expediting -- Contract administration : Delivery and project closeout : Delivery and installation ; Project closeout ; Postoccupancy and follow-up -- Creating and managing an interior design practice : Understanding motivations and risks of business ownership ; Advantages and disadvantages of business ownership ; Functions of management ; Management styles ; Working alone ; The stages of a business ; Buying an existing business.

Advice and counsel : Attorney ; Accountant ; Banker ; Sources of capital ; Establishing business credit ; Insurance ; Technical consultants ; Sources of information and assistance -- Preparing the business plan ; The business plan ; Start-up costs ; Setting up the office -- Business formations : Sole proprietorship ; Partnerships ; Limited liability company ; Corporations ; Joint venture -- Business legal filings and licenses : Business legal filings ; Licenses ; Income tax basics -- Strategic planning: designing the future : The importance of planning ; Strategic planning basics ; Mission statements ; Business analysis ; Business goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics ; Budgeting ; Measuring performance ; Benchmarking -- Money management : Accounting methods: accrual versus cash accounting ; Accounting records and systems ; Basic financial reports: income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows ; Managing your finances ; Controlling overhead ; Computer applications for accounting -- Fundamentals of marketing : Branding ; Target marketing ; Establishing a niche ; The four Ps of marketing ; Marketing analysis ; Marketing plan -- Promotional basics : Promotion ; Public relations ; Publicity ; Press release ; Advertising ; Internet and social media marketing ; Referrals ; Networking -- Promotional tools and methods : The graphic image and stationery ; Photo portfolio ; Brochures Competitions ; Direct mail ; Publications ; Proposals as a marketing tool -- Selling strategies : What is selling? ; Selling services versus products ; The buyer decision-making process ; Buyer demographics ; Building client relationships ; Selling techniques ; Negotiating ; The selling process -- Design presentations ; Presentations ; The initial client interview ; Project presentations ; Closing techniques ; Overcoming objections ; Follow-up ; Additional guidelines for making presentations ; Good impressions -- Employee management : The agency relationship ; Job classifications ; Job descriptions ; Employment at will ; Employment contracts ; Independent contractors ; Compensation and fringe benefits ; The performance evaluation ; The employee handbook ; Mentoring ; Sexual harassment ; Federal laws regulating employment -- Goals and career options ; A personal mission statement ; Personal and professional goals ; Career decisions ; Design career specialties -- The job search : The search is on ; Resumés ; Resumé format ; The cover letter ; Portfolios ; Digital job search strategies -- On the job : How employers review resumés and cover letters ; The job interview ; Typical interview questions ; Illegal questions ; Follow-up ; Your first job ; On-the-job strategies ; Making a career change -- Appendix : NCIDQ definition of interior design -- Glossary.