Business of Design® | Grow a Profitable Interior Design Business with Kimberley Seldon
Kimberley Seldon
471 episodes
1 day ago
Most interior designers want more profit, more stability, and less financial stress—but the idea of “saving more” often feels overwhelming. In this episode, Danielle Hendon breaks down a simple, sustainable strategy that any design professional can start today: saving just 1% of all revenue and putting it out of sight, where it can quietly grow into a real financial buffer.
It may sound small, but this habit builds confidence, financial resilience, and a margin of safety your business desperately needs. Danielle explains how this 1% shift changes your behavior—helping you become more intentional with spending, more strategic with pricing, and more disciplined in how you manage cash flow.
If you’ve ever avoided looking at your numbers or felt anxious about unexpected expenses, this conversation offers a doable first step toward a more profitable, stable design business.
In this episode we learn:
- How taking 1% of all revenue and putting it in a separate account builds financial strength
- Why training your brain to operate without that 1% increases creative problem-solving
- How to build a consistent savings habit—even if you’ve struggled with it before
- When (and how) to increase from 1% to 2% once the habit feels easy
- Why always putting your own needs last leads to burnout and financial vulnerability
- The three profit levers you can pull in your interior design business to increase sustainability
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Most interior designers want more profit, more stability, and less financial stress—but the idea of “saving more” often feels overwhelming. In this episode, Danielle Hendon breaks down a simple, sustainable strategy that any design professional can start today: saving just 1% of all revenue and putting it out of sight, where it can quietly grow into a real financial buffer.
It may sound small, but this habit builds confidence, financial resilience, and a margin of safety your business desperately needs. Danielle explains how this 1% shift changes your behavior—helping you become more intentional with spending, more strategic with pricing, and more disciplined in how you manage cash flow.
If you’ve ever avoided looking at your numbers or felt anxious about unexpected expenses, this conversation offers a doable first step toward a more profitable, stable design business.
In this episode we learn:
- How taking 1% of all revenue and putting it in a separate account builds financial strength
- Why training your brain to operate without that 1% increases creative problem-solving
- How to build a consistent savings habit—even if you’ve struggled with it before
- When (and how) to increase from 1% to 2% once the habit feels easy
- Why always putting your own needs last leads to burnout and financial vulnerability
- The three profit levers you can pull in your interior design business to increase sustainability
EP 447 | Five Business Lessons Every Interior Designer Needs with Diana Wagenbach
Business of Design® | Grow a Profitable Interior Design Business with Kimberley Seldon
37 minutes 57 seconds
3 months ago
EP 447 | Five Business Lessons Every Interior Designer Needs with Diana Wagenbach
Some of the most valuable business lessons come from hard-earned experience—and in this episode, interior designer Diana Wagenbach shares the insights that transformed her business from overwhelmed to overjoyed. Kimberley Seldon sits down with Diana to break down five game-changing takeaways that every designer can apply, no matter where they are in their journey.
Diana talks about why waiting for the “perfect system” only slows you down, and how starting with the tools you have can spark real momentum. She sheds light on one of the biggest profitability killers in the industry—not tracking your time—and explains how consistent time-tracking leads to accurate estimating, healthier margins, and fewer surprise losses. The conversation also includes a candid look at saying no to the wrong projects, hiring with intention, and letting go of the myth that doing everything yourself is a badge of honor.
If you’re ready to streamline your workflow, increase profitability, and build a business that feels lighter and more joyful, this episode is packed with honest, practical advice you can use right away.
In this episode you will learn:
- Why you shouldn’t wait for the perfect time or system—start where you are
- The financial cost of underestimating time and failing to track your hours
- How consistent time-tracking protects your profitability and improves project estimating
- Why you must stop saying yes too soon (and too often)
- How hiring without defined roles leads to confusion and costly mistakes
- Why “doing it all” isn’t a badge of honor—and what to focus on instead
Business of Design® | Grow a Profitable Interior Design Business with Kimberley Seldon
Most interior designers want more profit, more stability, and less financial stress—but the idea of “saving more” often feels overwhelming. In this episode, Danielle Hendon breaks down a simple, sustainable strategy that any design professional can start today: saving just 1% of all revenue and putting it out of sight, where it can quietly grow into a real financial buffer.
It may sound small, but this habit builds confidence, financial resilience, and a margin of safety your business desperately needs. Danielle explains how this 1% shift changes your behavior—helping you become more intentional with spending, more strategic with pricing, and more disciplined in how you manage cash flow.
If you’ve ever avoided looking at your numbers or felt anxious about unexpected expenses, this conversation offers a doable first step toward a more profitable, stable design business.
In this episode we learn:
- How taking 1% of all revenue and putting it in a separate account builds financial strength
- Why training your brain to operate without that 1% increases creative problem-solving
- How to build a consistent savings habit—even if you’ve struggled with it before
- When (and how) to increase from 1% to 2% once the habit feels easy
- Why always putting your own needs last leads to burnout and financial vulnerability
- The three profit levers you can pull in your interior design business to increase sustainability
