Quick answer
Separate design fees, project milestones, consultation charges, materials or reimbursable costs where appropriate, taxes, total amount, and payment terms so the client can see exactly what is being billed.
Milestone billing is often useful for larger projects because invoices can correspond to defined stages such as concept, design development, procurement, or execution.
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A GST-ready invoice format for interior design consultation and project work — with the right SAC code and a clear split between design fees and materials.
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Here's what a GST invoice looks like for a design consultation phase (before any materials/execution billing):
Studio Verandah Interiors
Ahmedabad, Gujarat · GSTIN: 24XXXXX4455X1Z9
SAC: 998391 (Specialty Design Services)
TAX INVOICE
INV-2026-0061
Design/consultation services: SAC 998391
Covers interior design, concept development, 3D visualization, and design consultation. GST rate: 18%.
If you also supply and install materials as a full turnkey project, that portion is generally treated as a separate works contract— with its own classification and potentially a different GST rate than your 18% design fee. Keep these as clearly separate line items or separate invoices.
Materials like tiles, furniture, and fittings carry their own HSN codes and GST rates (often 12% or 18%, varying by item) — separate from your design service rate.
| Service | Billing Unit | Typical Range (India) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial design consultation | Per session | ₹2,000 – ₹10,000 |
| Full home interior design (concept + drawings) | Per project | ₹50,000 – ₹5,00,000+ |
| Single room design package | Per room | ₹15,000 – ₹1,00,000 |
| 3D visualization/rendering | Per render | ₹3,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Site supervision (execution phase) | Per month | ₹10,000 – ₹40,000 |
| Furniture/material sourcing service | % of material cost | 5% – 15% |
Separate design fees from material/execution billing
Even within one project, invoice the design consultation phase separately from materials and site supervision — they’re taxed and accounted for differently.
Bill in milestones for long projects
A full home project can span months. Bill at clear milestones — concept approval, drawings finalized, execution start — rather than one invoice at the very end.
State the revision limit clearly
Include a note like "Includes 2 rounds of concept revisions; additional rounds billed at ₹X" to prevent scope creep on design-heavy projects.
Clarify who procures materials
If you’re sourcing furniture/materials on the client’s behalf, state your sourcing fee/markup clearly as its own line item rather than folding it into material costs.
Keep a running project ledger, not just final invoices
For projects with many milestone invoices, maintain a simple running total (billed vs. paid vs. remaining) so both you and the client always know where the project stands financially.
Pure interior design/consultation services (drawings, 3D renders, material specification) generally fall under SAC 998391 (specialty design services), taxed at 18%. If you also supply and install materials as a turnkey project, that portion is typically treated as a separate works contract with its own SAC code.
They can be, but it’s clearer to separate them into distinct line items (or even separate invoices) — design/consultation fees are a service, while materials (tiles, furniture, fittings) are goods with their own HSN codes and GST rates, which can differ from the 18% design rate.
Most interior designers include a set number of concept revisions (commonly 2-3) in the base design fee and charge separately for additional rounds — stating this on your invoice or proposal upfront avoids disputes as a project drags on.
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