Episode 44: How a Solid Design Agreement Can Make or Break Your Business

Hey Design Dashers! It’s just US today and we're getting real about one of the most debated topics in the design world: design agreements.

Look, we know contracts can feel like a necessary evil, but here’s our take: a solid design agreement is your BEST tool for protecting your business, your clients, and your sanity. And honestly? If you don’t have one yet… you need to fix that ASAP.

In this episode, we’re sharing our unfiltered thoughts on what makes a design contract effective, why hourly billing has been a game-changer for us, and how we’ve refined our agreement over time to keep it as concise and bulletproof as possible.

We also discuss:
- Where designers often go wrong with contracts (and how to avoid common mistakes)
- Why some clients try to fight the agreement (and the biggest red flags to watch for)
- How to make your contract work for YOU (without scaring off potential clients)
- The biggest lessons we’ve learned from our own contracts  

If you’ve ever second-guessed your contract (or avoided making one in the first place), this episode is your sign. A well-written agreement doesn’t just protect you—it gives your clients peace of mind too.

Tune in now to hear our honest take and get practical tips you can apply immediately.

Oh, and we’re not done talking about this! Join us inside our Design Dash community and let’s keep the conversation going. What’s in YOUR contract? What’s missing? Let’s discuss.

Check out our website too:

https://designdash.com/

Follow us on socials:

https://www.instagram.com/designdasher/

https://www.tiktok.com/@designdasher

https://www.facebook.com/DesignDasher