Mastering the Business of Interior Design: Success by Design

Katie Decker-Erickson, Business Coach for Interior Designers
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

As an interior designer, do you find yourself caught between your love for design and the realities of running a profitable business? Whether you're launching your firm or scaling to new heights, the business side of interior design can be complex—and often overwhelming. That’s where Katie Decker-Erickson comes in. As a business coach for interior designers and the founder of a multimillion-dollar design firm, she knows firsthand what it takes to build a thriving, sustainable business while staying true to your creative vision. With nearly 20 years in the industry and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Katie is actively in the trenches—elevating her own firm while helping other designers master the business of design. We’ll answer questions like: How do I get more interior design clients? What should I charge for interior design services? What are the best marketing strategies for interior designers? How can I grow my interior design business? How do I build a brand as an interior designer? How can I scale my interior design business? What systems do I need to run a successful interior design business? How do I create a client onboarding process for my design firm? Is it worth hiring a coach for my interior design business? This show delivers actionable tips on how to grow an interior design business with smart, sustainable strategies. You'll get insights on marketing your interior design services, building a strong brand, streamlining your systems, and scaling your firm—without burning out. If you're an interior designer, firm owner, or creative entrepreneur ready to build a profitable, passion-filled business, you're in the right place. Tune in, and let’s grow your interior design business—together.

  1. 3d ago

    119. Why Small Interior Design Projects Might Be Your Biggest Opportunity

    Send Katie a Text Message!! Are you turning away small projects because they don't seem profitable enough? You may be missing one of the biggest opportunities in your business. In this episode, I challenge the common belief that designers should only pursue large, full-service projects. Instead, I explain why evaluating the client—not just the project—can lead to stronger relationships, more repeat business, and greater long-term profitability. We also dive into customer lifetime value, profitable entry offers, scope management, and how to create a business that grows through relationships rather than constantly chasing new leads. In This Episode, We Cover:  Why small projects aren't always small opportunities  The difference between hiring the project and hiring the client  Understanding customer lifetime value in an interior design business  How to create profitable entry-level design services  Why scope growth isn't always scope creep  Building contracts that support additional services  Creating repeat clients instead of constantly finding new ones  The mindset shifts that lead to sustainable business growth The goal isn't simply to book bigger projects. It's to build relationships that create value for years to come. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    119. Why Small Interior Design Projects Might Be Your Biggest Opportunity

  2. Jul 8

    118. Why Referral-Only Is Holding Your Business Back

    Send Katie a Text Message!! Referrals are one of the best compliments your business can receive—but they shouldn't be the only way you're attracting clients. In this episode, Michelle Lynn and I unpack one of the biggest myths in the interior design industry: that being "referral only" is the ultimate sign of success. While referrals are an incredible source of business, relying on them alone creates an unpredictable pipeline and makes it difficult to confidently grow your firm. We dive into what it actually takes to build a sustainable sales and marketing system—from blogs and SEO to email marketing, social media, and creating a repeatable sales process that supports long-term growth. In This Episode, We Cover:  Why referral-only businesses often struggle with consistency  The difference between referrals and a true marketing strategy  How to create a predictable pipeline of ideal clients  Why consistency matters more than constantly creating new content  How blogs, SEO, Pinterest, email marketing, and social media work together  Why every interior designer needs a documented sales process  The importance of building a business that supports the life you actually want  How intentional marketing creates more freedom and stability If you've ever wondered why your business feels like it's constantly riding the highs and lows of referrals, this episode will help you shift your thinking and build a more intentional approach to growth. Because referrals are a wonderful bonus. They're just not a business strategy. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    118. Why Referral-Only Is Holding Your Business Back

  3. Jul 1

    117. The Trade-Offs No One Talks About When Growing a Design Firm

    Send Katie a Text Message!! Growing your business should feel exciting—but if you've ever wondered why success suddenly feels heavier, this episode is for you. One of the biggest misconceptions in the design industry is that growth automatically creates more freedom. In reality, growth often exposes the parts of your business that have been held together by your own talent, memory, and constant involvement. In this episode, I'm talking about the hidden trade-offs of scaling a design firm, why so many business owners misdiagnose the problem, and the leadership shifts required to build a business that can continue growing without depending on you for everything. In This Episode, We Cover: Why growth often feels harder before it feels easierThe hidden trade-offs of scaling an interior design businessHow owner dependency quietly limits growthThe difference between personal excellence and transferable excellenceWhy more clients won't solve structural problemsThe leadership shifts required to build a scalable design firmHow to protect your standards without carrying every detailWhat it really means to lead as the CEO of your businessIf your business is growing but feels heavier than you expected, this conversation will help you understand why—and what to do next. Because the goal isn't just to build a bigger business. It's to build one that can grow without costing you your creativity, your profitability, or yourself. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    117. The Trade-Offs No One Talks About When Growing a Design Firm

  4. Jun 24

    116. Booked Out, Busy, and Still Not Profitable Enough?

    Send Katie a Text Message!! Most interior designers think they have a revenue problem. But what if the real issue isn't how much money is coming in? What if it's how much money is quietly leaking out? In this episode, Katie breaks down one of the biggest profitability challenges facing design firms today: hidden profit leaks. From scope creep and revision loops to owner over-involvement and untracked labor, many designers are losing thousands of dollars without realizing it. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why revenue and profitability are not the same thing • The hidden profit leaks affecting most design firms • How scope creep impacts your bottom line • Why tracking time still matters—even with flat fees • The role owner dependency plays in profitability • How to identify margin erosion before it becomes a bigger problem • The CEO mindset shift that helps protect profit If you've ever felt like your business should be more profitable than it is, this episode is for you. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    116. Booked Out, Busy, and Still Not Profitable Enough?

  5. Jun 17

    115. A Profitable Design Business Is Not the Same as a Scalable Design Firm

    Send Katie a Text Message!! One of the biggest misconceptions I see in the interior design industry is the belief that profitability automatically means your business is healthy. It doesn't. You can have beautiful projects, happy clients, strong revenue, and still be operating a business that can't handle another level of growth. In this episode, I'm breaking down the difference between a profitable design business and a scalable design firm—and why that distinction matters if you're trying to move from six figures to seven figures. We're talking about the hidden ways owners compensate for weak systems, how growth exposes structural problems, and why building a load-bearing business matters more than simply increasing revenue. In This Episode, We Cover: Why profitability and scalability are not the same thingThe signs your business may already be at capacityHow owner dependency creates hidden risksThe four load-bearing elements of a scalable design firmWhy more growth often reveals business weaknessesHow to run a simple load test on your businessThe CEO mindset required for sustainable growthIf you've ever felt like your business is working but something still feels off, this episode is for you. Because the goal isn't just to make more money. It's to build a business that can actually carry the success you're creating. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    115. A Profitable Design Business Is Not the Same as a Scalable Design Firm

  6. Jun 10

    114. Your Business Doesn’t Need You As Much As You Think It Does

    Send Katie a Text Message!! What if the biggest thing holding your business back isn't your team, your workload, or your schedule? What if it's the fact that your business still depends on you for everything? In this episode, I'm diving into one of the biggest growth barriers I see in interior design firms: owner dependency. It's the moment many business owners reach where the business is growing, revenue is increasing, and the team is expanding—but somehow everything still comes back to them. We're talking about the difference between delegation and authority, why so many designers become the bottleneck without realizing it, and the leadership shifts required to move from being the operator of your business to becoming the CEO. In This Episode, We Cover: The hidden signs your business is too dependent on youWhy growth can actually create more pressure instead of more freedomThe trap of "it's faster if I do it myself"How owner dependency impacts your team, clients, and profitabilityThe difference between assigning tasks and delegating decisionsWhy recurring problems should become systemsHow to create a business that can operate without your constant involvementThe leadership shift required to scale sustainablyIf you've ever felt like your business can't function without you, this episode will help you identify where that dependency exists and what to do about it. Because the goal isn't to build a business that needs you more. It's to build one that gives you your life back. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

  7. Jun 3

    113. The Art Of The Principle: The Hard Conversations No One Talks About That Will Save Your Business

    Send Katie a Text Message!! In this special joint episode of Success by Design and Design for the Creative Mind, Michelle Lynne and I kick off a new series called The Art of Being the Principal. We dive into what it really takes to lead a successful interior design firm, move beyond being the operator of your business, and step fully into the role of CEO. If you're balancing design work, team management, marketing, finances, and client demands while wondering why growth still feels so hard, this conversation is for you. IN THIS EPISODE: • The difference between being a business owner and a business operator • Why most designers struggle to step into the CEO role • How systems and processes create more freedom and creativity • What to delegate first as your firm grows • Why protecting your time is critical to scaling sustainably • The importance of hiring the right people and creating accountability • How to stop working harder and start leading smarter • Why successful principals make time for strategy, not just execution Most interior designers don't need to become better designers—they need to become stronger leaders. In this conversation, Michelle and I share honest insights about delegation, leadership, decision-making, and building a firm that supports your life instead of consuming it. If you're ready to move from constantly doing the work to confidently leading the business, this episode will challenge the way you think about growth. Your business should be working for you—not you working for it. This conversation is all about how to make that happen. • Connect with Michelle Lynne: https://www.michellelynne.com Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    113. The Art Of The Principle: The Hard Conversations No One Talks About That Will Save Your Business

  8. May 27

    112. The Hidden Cost of Saying Yes to the Wrong Projects

    Send Katie a Text Message!! What if the project draining your energy, your time, your profit, and your team was never actually the problem? What if the bigger issue is that you said yes to it in the first place? In this episode of Success by Design, I’m talking about the subtle “wrong projects” interior designers take on all the time — the ones that seem fine at first. The budget looks decent, the client seems nice enough, and the space has potential. But somewhere along the way, the project starts pulling your business in a direction you never intended. I’m unpacking why these projects create so much stress, how they quietly weaken your boundaries and positioning, and why saying yes to the wrong fit can completely reshape your business over time. We’re also talking about the hidden costs designers don’t always recognize — from scope creep and emotional labor to team confusion, burnout, and opportunity cost. Inside this episode, I’m sharing: Why wrong projects are usually a positioning problem, not just a client problemThe hidden cost of saying yes to misaligned workHow weak filters lead to exhausting projectsThe difference between high-touch service and unlimited accessWhy pricing, boundaries, and process all act as client filtersThe 7-question framework I use to evaluate whether a project is truly the right fitHow to stop building a business around fear-based yesesIf you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a project that looked good on paper but felt heavy in real life, this episode is going to hit home. Because the goal is not just to stay booked and busy. The goal is to build a design business that actually supports your life, your leadership, and your long-term vision. Connect with Katie LinkedIn Business Strategy Sessions for Interior Designers Free Resources for scaling your interior design firm Website

    112. The Hidden Cost of Saying Yes to the Wrong Projects
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About

As an interior designer, do you find yourself caught between your love for design and the realities of running a profitable business? Whether you're launching your firm or scaling to new heights, the business side of interior design can be complex—and often overwhelming. That’s where Katie Decker-Erickson comes in. As a business coach for interior designers and the founder of a multimillion-dollar design firm, she knows firsthand what it takes to build a thriving, sustainable business while staying true to your creative vision. With nearly 20 years in the industry and a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Katie is actively in the trenches—elevating her own firm while helping other designers master the business of design. We’ll answer questions like: How do I get more interior design clients? What should I charge for interior design services? What are the best marketing strategies for interior designers? How can I grow my interior design business? How do I build a brand as an interior designer? How can I scale my interior design business? What systems do I need to run a successful interior design business? How do I create a client onboarding process for my design firm? Is it worth hiring a coach for my interior design business? This show delivers actionable tips on how to grow an interior design business with smart, sustainable strategies. You'll get insights on marketing your interior design services, building a strong brand, streamlining your systems, and scaling your firm—without burning out. If you're an interior designer, firm owner, or creative entrepreneur ready to build a profitable, passion-filled business, you're in the right place. Tune in, and let’s grow your interior design business—together.

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