In today’s episode, we’re cutting through the fluff and getting real about profit, pricing, and what it actually takes to run a design business that pays you well and feels good to run. Interior designer Lindsay Kjellberg shares how she went from nonstop hustle and just $30K in profit on $800K in revenue… to working 30 hours a week, taking vacations, and pocketing $250K a year (without working harder!)  Spoiler: joining Business of Design® was a total game-changer. We’re diving into the smart decisions she made—like charging for consultations, tracking all her time, and raising rates with confidence. If you're ready to work smarter, earn more, and finally feel in control of your business, you’re going to love this one.

In this episode we learn:

- profit matters more than revenue

- charging for consultations attracts serious clients and boosts conversions

- billing for every minute of your time can double your income without raising rates

- higher rates and smarter project selection create more freedom and less stress

- mindset shifts—like valuing your time and ignoring outside opinions—fuel real growth

Transform your business at https://businessofdesign.com/membership

Business of Design® is in full money mode with the launch of a 6-week Financial Intensive, kicking off October 16th. In this episode, Cheryl Horne, Director of Operations, shares real-world strategies and practical advice to help you take immediate control of your business finances—no matter where you’re starting from.

Whether you’re struggling to price confidently, unsure how to track profitability, or simply tired of feeling overwhelmed by the numbers, this episode offers tools you can implement today to move your business toward long-term success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why understanding your numbers is the foundation of a thriving design business

• Practical tips to build financial clarity and confidence

• How setting time limits on tasks improves productivity and profitability

• The power of tracking your billable hours—and regularly reviewing them

• Why separating revenue streams boosts both insight and income

• The key difference between salary and profit—and why it matters

• How to create a system of regular financial check-ins that drive smart decisions

🎯 Ready to go deeper? Join the upcoming Financial Intensive beginning October 16th and start building the systems that will lead to lasting financial success. Register at https://businessofdesign.com

In this episode, Kimberley gets real about her money management journey—yes, even the messy parts—and shares how getting clear on your numbers can be a total game-changer. Will Leonard introduces Zena, a smart new pre-funded spending card that makes tracking expenses way less painful (and dare we say...kind of satisfying?). From expense categories to regular money check-ins, financial visibility isn’t just about bookkeeping—it’s a secret weapon for growth. If you’ve been avoiding your finances, this episode might just change your mind.

In this episode we learn:

- how centralizing your business purchases can tame the chaos and bring clarity

- why a pre-funded spending card like Zena might just be your new favorite business tool

- how organizing expenses by project can save you serious time (and sanity) on bookkeeping

- the surprising way expense categories can actually boost your bottom line

- how real-time tracking keeps your financial house in order—without the stress

- a smarter, calmer way to prep for tax season (bye-bye, last-minute panic)

Learn more to grow your business at https://businessofdesign.com/membership

As an interior design professional, you create beauty, function, and transformation for your clients—but are you building the same for yourself? In this episode we dig into the powerful connection between your sense of worth and your ability to build true wealth. If you’ve ever questioned what you should charge, struggled with confidence in business, or felt stuck on the income treadmill, this episode will shift your perspective—and help you design a business as intentional as your interiors.

In this episode we learn:

- why undercharging isn’t just a pricing issue—it’s a self-worth issue

- how wealth isn’t just about money, but about time, freedom, and choice

- the hidden costs of burnout and overdelivering

- practical ways to increase your profit margins without compromising your creativity

- how to reframe your mindset around money, value, and success as a creative

Business of Design® is your blueprint for running streamline projects and building a highly profitable interior design business. Get your business blueprint at

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

A website, like any great interior design project, needs a solid strategy, a thoughtful process, and an eye for aesthetics. In this episode, website strategist Elle Kwan joins us to unpack the essentials of building a high-performing website for your interior design business. Elle shares smart strategies for creating content that resonates with your dream clients and satisfies Google’s search engine algorithms. From clarifying your services to choosing the right website platform, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you attract, engage, and convert.

You’ll learn:

- What a strong website strategy looks like

- How to speak to both clients and Google robots

- Why clear service definitions are key

- Pros and cons of popular website platforms

- Why starting small with a DIY site is okay

- How to stay focused and trust yourself through the ups and downs of running a business

Business of Design® is your blueprint for running streamline projects and building a highly profitable interior design business. Get your business blueprint at

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

Our brains are wired to filter out information that is unnecessary; that’s why marketing fails so often. To get through the filter and get your client’s attention, you’ll have to do something radical—you’ll have to get different. Author and entrepreneur advocate, Michael Michalowicz shares his solution to the highly ignorable marketing trap.   

In this episode we learn:

- organize clients by revenue spent and their crush factor (how much you love working with them)

- find out where your ideal clients converge and market there

- avoid being highly ignorable, approach clients in a way that gets their attention

- perform your own R&D (rip off and duplicate)

- be the true you; lean into it

- be strategic about the mediums your market in (e.g., blog, tv, print ad, Facebook ad, etc.)

- also, be strategic about the method (e.g., gift basket of cookies vs. gift basket of tequila)

introduce keys (signifier that tells you if the marketing piece is working)

Business of Design® is your blueprint for running streamline projects and building a highly profitable interior design business. Get your business blueprint at

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

Daniela Furtado is back and this time we put her on the spot by rapid firing the top marketing questions interior design professionals ask us at BOD™. As usual, she is full of insights and great suggestions.

In this episode we learn:

- what quantifies a good marketing return

- how to build a referral strategy that works

- how to manage a mix of offerings on your website

- should your prices appear on your website

- talk about money early and often

Business of Design® is your blueprint for running streamline projects and building a highly profitable interior design business. Get your business blueprint at

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

What are Business of Design® members thinking about these days? Since Director of Operations, Cheryl Horne, speaks to members on a daily basis, she’s got answers. Cheryl and Kimberley dish about smart ways to increase current project sizes, how to determine how many jobs is the right number for you and why it’s so important to ignore your inner worrier when it comes to billing clients.

In this episode we learn:

• key ways to determine which projects are most profitable

• why it's beneficial to train new staff with BOD™ modules

• three profit levers to pull when your business is in a famine era

• what happens when a client wants to shop themselves

• which course should you take first when you are a new employee

Slow season got you feeling... stuck? You're not alone. In this episode, our Advocate-in-Chief  shares 5 smart moves every interior designer can make when work slows down. From reconnecting with past clients to finally creating that operations manual, these are actionable, empowering steps to help you emerge from any lull stronger, sharper, and ready for whatever’s next. Whether you're in a rut or just need a reset, this is the pep talk you didn’t know you needed.

In this episode we learn:

- why former clients are your most valuable leads—and how to reconnect without being salesy

- what goes into a killer operations manual and how it can change your business

- systems you finally have time to implement that will pay off all year long

- how to use slow seasons to sharpen your skills and expand your value

- yes, it’s ok to raise your rates even when business feels slow

- how mindset shifts during slow periods can lead to powerful breakthroughs

Business of Design® is your blueprint for running streamline projects and building a highly profitable interior design business. Get your business blueprint at

https://businessofdesign.com/membership

Do more of what you love and less of what you don’t love. Sounds like a good plan, doesn’t it? Of course it does. It’s a simple concept that’s sometimes challenging to implement says our guest expert, Brad Farris.

In this episode we learn:

• stay in your zone of genius by delegating what you aren’t good at

• the boss should have the fewest emails, not the most

Business of Design® is your blueprint for running streamline projects and building a highly profitable interior design business. Get your business blueprint at

https://businessofdesign.com/membership