Your First U.S. Design Client? Here’s What Every Canadian Designer Should Know

Landing your first U.S. client as a Canadian interior designer is an exciting milestone—it signals growth, opportunity, and the chance to bring your creative vision to a new market. But along with the excitement comes a fresh set of considerations: currency, logistics, tax obligations, scope of work. Whether you're offering virtual design services or managing cross-border installations, it's important to understand the business side of working internationally.

Here's what you need to know to confidently take your design expertise across the border—and make your U.S. project a seamless success!

1. Currency: Charging in U.S. dollars often works best for your American clients—and it can benefit you too. With the stronger value of the USD, you're able to capitalize on favorable exchange rates and avoid currency conversion losses. To keep things smooth on your end, visit your bank and ask about opening a USD chequing account. It makes receiving payments simpler and gives you more control over when and how you convert funds.

   
   

2. Payment Platforms: When working with U.S. clients, using the right payment platform can make a big difference—both in ease of use and in saving on fees. Tools like Wise (formerly TransferWise), Stripe, and PayPal are popular options for Canadian businesses accepting international payments.

   • Wise is great for direct bank transfers with transparent, low currency conversion fees. It’s especially useful if you invoice in USD and want to convert to CAD with minimal loss.

     Personally, this is my go-to payment platform when I need to exchange currencies quickly and securely. It gets a full 10 out of 10 for ease of setup and user experience.

   • Stripe is a solid choice for businesses offering online payments, especially if you're using platforms like Dubsado, HoneyBook, or custom invoicing tools. It handles currency conversion and integrates easily with accounting software.

   • PayPal is widely trusted and convenient for both you and your clients—but keep an eye on their exchange rates and transaction fees, which can be higher than Wise or Stripe.

     
     

   Whichever platform you choose, be sure to invoice in the currency agreed upon (USD, most likely), and consider setting up a USD account at your bank to avoid unnecessary conversion every time you’re paid.

   
   

3. U.S. Sales Tax Requirements: If you're only providing design services and don’t have a physical presence or employees in the U.S., you generally don’t need to charge U.S. sales tax. This is true in most cases—but it’s a good idea to double-check based on the state where your client is located.

   
   

   However, if you’re shipping furniture, décor, or other materials to a U.S. client, you should consider nexus, which means your business now may trigger a tax obligation in that state.

   
   

   Nexus happens when your business is considered to have a presence in a U.S. state—whether through employees, storing inventory there, or reaching a certain number or dollar amount of sales. This can even apply when using third-party platforms like Amazon or Wayfair, as storing inventory in their U.S. warehouses can trigger nexus. Every state has its own rules for when nexus kicks in.

   
   

   For the purposes of this blog, we’re assuming this is your first U.S. client. Unless you're shipping a large volume of furniture (with some states setting the threshold at $100,000 USD in sales), you likely don’t need to worry about sales tax just yet.

   
   

4. Custom duties & taxes: When shipping goods across the border, it’s important to be prepared:

   • Work with a customs broker: They help navigate complex import and export rules, handle paperwork, and ensure your shipments comply with all regulations—making the process smoother and faster. f you choose not to use a broker, you’ll be responsible for correctly preparing all customs forms, declaring your goods, and paying any duties or taxes. Mistakes can lead to delays, fines, and unnecessary stress.

   • Know the Harmonized System (HS) codes for your products: Customs officials use these standardized codes to classify items like furniture or décor. HS codes determine how your products are categorized, what import duties or taxes may apply, and any special regulations or restrictions. Using the correct HS codes on your shipping documents helps avoid delays, fines, or shipment holds.

   • Clarify who is responsible for duties and taxes: Be upfront with your U.S. client that any applicable duties and taxes will be their responsibility. Let them know these are standard import costs and will be passed on to them as part of the shipment. Clear communication here helps avoid surprises and ensures a smoother experience for both sides.

     
     

     In Conclusion:

     Working with U.S. clients as a Canadian interior designer may come with a learning curve, but it also brings immense rewards—from new creative opportunities to growing your business on an international scale. With a solid understanding of currency, payments, tax rules, and shipping logistics, you’ll be able to deliver a professional experience that builds trust and positions you as a confident cross-border collaborator. The key is preparation, transparency, and keeping the client experience at the heart of every decision. Here's to turning that first U.S. project into many more to come!

   
   

   If you have any questions or need help with your business, contact us.