“You have to work hard for money” or “Money doesn’t grow on trees” are just a few of the money beliefs that many of us grew up with. These childhood beliefs may be quietly hindering your design business.
In this episode, I chat with expert CFO and money mindset coach Audrey Faust who explains how your early experiences with money shape your current success, often without you even realizing it.
As a creative professional, you’re trained in design, not finance. But to grow a profitable business, you need both. Audrey shares how to shift your thinking and set up smart financial systems that support your success. She explains how your subconscious mind—where 95% of your thoughts live—might be running the business, and how to retrain it to support growth, confidence, and profit.
If you’re ready to stop undercharging, feel more confident with your money, and start building a design business that thrives, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now and grab Audrey’s free Profit Accelerator Workbook to take the first step toward mastering your money and your mindset!
And if you need a step-by-step guidance to feel empowered in your business finances, check out Profitable Business Academy and use code DESIGN35 for 35% off.
Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode
Learn how to overcome limiting money beliefs and start believing in your value as a designer
Get simple, clear steps to separate business and personal finances and avoid common financial mistakes designers make
Stop stressing over money (aka pricing) and start making empowered, confident decisions
About the Guest:
Audrey Faust is an expert CFO and money mindset authority who helps entrepreneurs create the financial strategies they need to scale their businesses for increased profit and growth.
Through her unique blend of financial expertise and mindset coaching, Audrey empowers her clients to master their financial data with clarity and confidence. Her signature approach goes beyond numbers, instilling a strategic money mindset that fuels growth, boosts profitability and enables entrepreneurs to make empowered, forward, focused decisions.
Audrey’s best selling book, She Grows Rich, further explores these transformative principles, offering women actionable steps to become financial powerhouses.
Connect with Audrey Faust:
Website: Audrey Faust Consulting
YouTube: @BusinessFinancialLiteracy
Instagram: @manifesting_cfo
Facebook: @manifestingcfo
Check out these episode highlights
01:46 Money Mindset and the Creative Professional
03:05 Audrey’s Background and Path to Coaching
Her background in accounting and working with small businesses
Transitioned from done-for-you CFO services to coaching after all her clients sold their businesses
Focuses on smaller businesses and solopreneurs
04:51 The Role of Money Mindset in Sustainable Growth
Childhood money beliefs shape adult financial behaviors
Reprogramming requires awareness and active rewiring of those subconscious beliefs
08:20 How to Reprogram Limiting Beliefs
Repetition is key to rewiring beliefs
Her personal experience of changing her belief from “Making money is hard” to “Making money is easy” through repetition
The importance of identifying and changing limiting beliefs to achieve financial success
10:07 First Financial Steps for New Designers
Keep business and personal finances separate to avoid legal and financial complications
Have a separate credit card and bank account for the business to simplify tax and cash flow management
Understand your investments and avoid situations where the business loses money
Don’t ignore your expenses, even early on
Use spreadsheets if QuickBooks feels too advanced at the beginning
12:39 Sweat Equity and the Timeline to Profitability
Expect around 2 years to build a sustainable business
Most new designers need to supplement their income during this period
Side hustles or part-time jobs are common
15:11 Pricing Strategies and Profitability
Audrey’s “Profitability Blueprint” helps pinpoint pricing gaps
A hybrid model (flat design fee + hourly rate for implementation) is recommended
Designers need to factor in admin and project management costs
18:01 Overcoming Money Blocks When Pricing Projects
21:08 Handling Project Issues and Reserves
Have a financial cushion for project mishaps
One designer repurposed an unwanted item through her store to offset the loss
Build flexibility into budgets for peace of mind
Be aware of financial numbers and focus on profitability rather than just revenue
22:21 Final Takeaways for Financial Success
Don’t fear your numbers. Know your baseline monthly needs
Don’t just chase revenue—focus on profit
Review your financials monthly; 80% of successful businesses do this
Audrey offers an Excel P&L tool in her course for beginners
Links Mentioned
Need guidance in your business finances? Check out Profitable Business Academy and use code DESIGN35 for 35% off
12 Secrets from an Expert CFO: Free Profit Accelerator Workbook
- She Grows Rich for personal financial inspiration and business insights
Next Steps
Join the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and launch your design business this summer
Grab your freebies:
- Furnishings Investment Guide
- Remodel Budget and Timeline Guide
- Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design
- 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career
Take a Quiz!
- Find Your Perfect Interior Design Style if you are curious about your design style
- Find Out What Type of Interior Designer You Should Be!
Join the Design Mentor to kickstart a successful career in interior design!
Check out the best books every interior designer should have here.
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Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week…