Interior design business software runs the studio rather than the room: specifications, purchasing, client approvals and invoicing in one place. Choose by the job you most need done, running projects and money or presenting ideas, and check you can export your records before you commit, because you'll still need them if you leave.
Let's clear one thing up first, because it sends plenty of studios off in the wrong direction.
Myth: the nicest design screen wins
The design screens are what you'll see first in any demo, so they're what most buyers end up comparing. It's an easy mistake. Your client will never see the back of this software, but you'll be in it all day, chasing specifications, raising purchase orders, getting approvals and sending invoices.
So judge these tools the way you'd judge a new studio manager: can they keep track of what's been specified, what's been ordered and who's signed it off? This list is about that side of the business. If you're looking to draw a room or plan a floor, you want a different kind of tool, and I've covered those in my list of interior design and room planning apps.
Two jobs, four kinds of software
A studio asks this software to do two jobs: run the project and the money, and present ideas to clients. The eight tools here come at those jobs from four directions.
- Built for design firms, running projects and money: Design Manager links specifications, purchase orders and client invoicing. Programa tracks FF&E specs, approvals and orders. Ivy covers projects, documents, payments and clients. DesignFiles also takes in the design work and sourcing, so it reaches across both jobs.
- Built for bigger, multi-project firms: Fohlio centres on FF&E specification, procurement and brand standards across projects, which is more than a small residential studio is likely to need.
- General creative-business tools: Dubsado and HoneyBook handle proposals, contracts and invoices for all sorts of small firms. Neither is built for interior design, so ask how specifying and purchasing would work before you assume they'll cover it.
- Presenting ideas only: Milanote is for concept and mood boards you can share. It isn't a billing tool, so you'd run it alongside something else.
Eight studio tools compared
Here they all are in alphabetical order, in no particular order of merit.
| Tool | Type of tool | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Design Manager | Specifying, purchasing and billing | Linking specs, purchase orders and client invoices |
| DesignFiles | All-in-one design business software | Design work, sourcing, invoicing and client messages together |
| Dubsado | General creative-business tool | Proposals, contracts, invoices and workflows |
| Fohlio | FF&E specification and procurement | Complex multi-project specification and brand standards |
| HoneyBook | General client management | Proposals, contracts, invoices and payments |
| Ivy | Business management for design firms | Projects, documents, payments and clients in one place |
| Milanote | Concept and mood boards | Visual boards shared with clients |
| Programa | Studio project and specification management | Tracking FF&E specs, approvals and vendor orders |
My advice for a small studio
Work out which job hurts most before you book a single demo. If it's purchase orders and client invoices, stick to the tools built for design firms and make them walk you through one real order, from specification to approval to invoice. Use a project you've already finished, because you'll know straight away if a step's missing.
If you hardly buy anything on your clients' behalf and mostly sell your time, a general tool may be plenty, and it's worth reading about proposal software and other client management tools before you decide. Don't pay for specification features you won't touch. And don't choose on the mood boards. They're the nice bit, and they're not where a studio's days go.
The eight, alphabetically
Design Manager
Best for: Residential firms wanting specifications, purchasing and finance joined up; the vendor says it's served them since 1984, with profitability tracking and client invoicing.
DesignFiles
Best for: Full-service and e-designers connecting design work, sourcing, invoicing and client communication; the vendor offers customisable project templates to onboard faster.
Dubsado
Best for: Creative service businesses sending one form with proposal, contract and invoice together; the vendor says payment reminders send themselves. Not interior-specific.
Fohlio
Best for: Larger firms on complex multi-project work; the vendor lists FF&E specification, procurement, brand standards, cross-project analytics and a Revit integration.
HoneyBook
Best for: Small business owners in the US, Canada, UK or Australia, where the vendor says it's available; handles proposals, contracts, invoices and projects. Not interior-specific.
Ivy
Best for: Designers who source as they go; the vendor lists a product clipper feeding a custom catalogue, plus branded proposals, invoices and card or wire payments.
Milanote
Best for: Presenting ideas on boards of notes, images, videos, sketches and links, with others invited to edit, comment or view. A concept tool, not a billing tool.
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Programa
Best for: Studios tracking FF&E specs, client approvals and vendor orders in one system; the vendor says clients can review and approve items from a shared link.
Records you'll want after you leave
Most buyers forget this until it's too late. These tools end up holding your purchase orders, client invoices and approvals, which is handy right up to the day you stop subscribing.
The IRS recordkeeping page puts the US position simply: "You must keep your records as long as needed to prove the income or deductions on a tax return." Your software contract won't change that, so those records need a way out. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules vary by place, so check with the regulator or a qualified adviser.
So before you commit, ask these and get the answers in writing:
- Can I export purchase orders, invoices and approvals myself, without raising a support request?
- What format do they come out in, and will they open without your software?
- Does a client approval keep its date and the name of the person who gave it?
- How long can I still get into my account after I cancel?
Then test it. Run one finished project through the export during your first week, and open the file. If you can't read it, you've found out at the right time.
Do you make interior design business software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
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Frequently asked questions
What is interior design business software?
It's software for running a design studio: specifications, purchasing, client approvals, invoicing and project tracking. It's different from apps that draw rooms or plan floors.
What does furniture, fixtures and equipment mean in design software?
It usually refers to the schedule of items you specify and order for a project, and you'll often see it shortened to FF and E on vendor sites.
Can I use a general client tool instead of a design-specific one?
You can if your work is mostly your own time and you don't buy much for clients. If you handle a lot of purchasing, ask to see exactly how a general tool would deal with specifications and orders.
Do I still need a room planning app?
Possibly. Business software runs the project and the money, whereas room planning apps help with layouts. Many studios will need something for each job, so check what your current tools already cover.
Should I check exports before signing up?
Yes. Your purchase orders, invoices and approvals will live in the system, and you may need them after you leave. Ask what you can export and test it on one finished project.
How long should I keep my studio's records?
It depends on where you are and what the records are for, so check with your tax authority or an accountant. Whatever the answer is, make sure you're able to get those records out of your software.
