How to check how a designer makes money on what they source

You've picked a designer to source your furniture and finishes. The quote looks reasonable, but you're wondering: are they making money from what they recommend, and if so, how much? It's a fair question. Designers can earn income through trade discounts, direct markups, commissions, or a blend of these—and the way they structure that income shapes what ends up in your home and what it costs. Knowing how they're paid isn't about suspicion; it's about clarity.

Ask directly about their income streams

Start with a straightforward conversation. Ask the designer to explain exactly how they make money on sourcing. Will they charge you a service fee plus a markup on purchases? Do they take trade discounts and pass savings to you, or keep them? Are they earning commission from suppliers? A designer who answers this clearly and without deflection is already being transparent.

Request a written summary of their fee structure before you commit. This might say something like "service fee of X rand, plus 20% markup on retail purchases" or "flat hourly rate, no markup—I pass all trade discounts to you." Having it in writing prevents misunderstanding later. If they're vague or say "we'll sort it out as we go," that's a yellow flag.

Check their supplier relationships

Designers often have preferred suppliers or showrooms that offer them trade pricing. That's normal and can be legitimate—trade discounts can actually work in your favour if passed on. What matters is whether those relationships are creating pressure to recommend items you don't need.

Ask the designer to disclose which suppliers give them trade discounts and which don't. Then ask for quotes from both categories for similar items—a sofa from their preferred supplier and the same style (or equivalent) from one they don't have a relationship with. If the preferred option is always significantly cheaper even accounting for their markup, the discount is real and you're benefiting. If pricing is similar but they keep steering you to the preferred supplier anyway, they may be prioritising their margin over your budget.

Request references from past clients and actually call them. Ask specifically: "Did the designer seem to recommend items based on your needs, or did it feel like they were pushing certain suppliers?" Listen for hesitation. A satisfied client will tell you if the designer sourced broadly or narrowly.

Verify their claims about trade access

Some designers claim exclusive access to trade-only suppliers or "special pricing" that sounds dramatic. Verify this. Ask them to show you proof—a letter from the supplier confirming their trade account, an email with their account number, screenshots of trade pricing. Legitimate trade relationships have documentation.

If they're claiming huge discounts (40–50% off retail), ask the supplier directly to confirm typical trade discounts for that product category. A genuine trade account holder will have numbers that align with industry norms; inflated claims are often fiction.

Also check: are they registered as an interior designer with a professional body relevant to their work? Search SACSSP or relevant associations to see if they're a member and whether any complaints or disciplinary records are public. This won't tell you their markup structure, but it does reveal whether they're operating under any professional code of conduct.

Before you hand over a budget, sit down with their fee proposal and understand every line. If they're earning money from sourcing, that's fine—but you need to know the mechanism so you can judge whether their recommendations are serving your project or their pocket. A designer who shows you the maths isn't hiding anything.

When you're ready to move forward, use Strove to find verified interior designers in your area. You can review their profiles, read feedback from other clients about their sourcing practices, and contact a few to compare how they structure their fees and explain where their income comes from.