192 | The Biggest Money Mistakes Interior Designers Make (And How to Fix Them) With Lauren Nist

Have you ever finished a project and thought… “Wait, where did all the money go?”

One of the biggest mistakes creatives make is treating money as something that shows up at the end—rather than something that needs structure from the very beginning. And that mindset? It quietly drains your profit, your energy, and your confidence.

In this episode, I sit down with Lauren Nist, a bookkeeping and advisory expert who works behind the scenes with creative businesses. Together, we unpack the most common money mistakes interior designers make—from underpricing and scope creep to poor billing systems—and how to fix them. If you want financial clarity, stronger boundaries, and a business that actually pays you back, this is your starting point.

Featured Guest

Lauren Nist is a co-founder of Magnolia & Main, a virtual bookkeeping and advisory firm dedicated to helping small business owners gain financial clarity and confidence. With years of experience supporting creative and service-based businesses, Lauren specializes in simplifying the money side of business—from pricing and billing systems to job costing and cash flow management. Her approachable, judgment-free style helps entrepreneurs feel empowered, supported, and in control of their finances.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

✳️ Why creatives struggle with financial structure

✳️ How to protect your cash flow early

✳️ Billing ahead vs. acting like the bank

✳️ Spotting red flags in client behavior

✳️ Simple profit planning for interior designers

Read the Blog >>> Interior Design Money Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

NEXT STEPS:

🔸 Save your seat! FREE Webinar: Are You Ready to Start Your Interior Design Business? How to Know for Sure (and What It Really Costs to Launch)

Check out our Designer's Playlist!

*️ Start Your Interior Design Journey

*️ From Newbie to Confident Designer

*️ Switching Gears to Interior Design

Grab your freebies:

📺 Watch the Webinar, "From Passion to Profit," and learn the 5 Money Moves to start your interior design business right

📌 Your Roadmap to a Career in Interior Design

🎨 3 Things I Wish I had known when I Started my Career

Connect With Me:

📧 Email: podcast@rwarddesign.com

🔆 Instagram: @rwarddesign

🌎 Website at rwarddesign.com

Thanks for listening! I hope this helps you discover if interior design is the career for you. See you next week...

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction and Guest Bio

2:50 Lauren's Journey into Accounting for Creatives

5:32 Common Money Mistakes Creatives Make

7:38 Building a Financial Framework

10:44 Pricing Strategy and Billing Ahead

14:54 Identifying Ideal Clients and Red Flags

18:58 Balancing Job Types and Profitability

21:48 Reviewing Job Costs and Client Feedback

31:06 Habits for Staying Profitable