Every day, we hear stories from interior designers who entered entrepreneurship only to find themselves in a financial shitstorm…
Many of our clients have experienced this firsthand. One of them was a talented interior designer, Jen, who faced a similar predicament: No clarity, no understanding of where money was going, no strategy to scale her business.
Fast forward to today, Jen has taken control of her finances and is brimming with confidence to expand her business in ways she never thought possible. That’s the transformative power of finding a financial partner, like AccountSolve, for your business. This case study delves into Jen’s journey from a one-woman show to a profitable luxury design firm.
About Jen Samson Design
Jen Samson Design is a luxury design firm specializing in residential and commercial projects with a focus on individual aesthetics and lifestyle needs. Inspired by global travels and cultural influences, founder Jen Samson and her team collaborate closely with clients to create unique spaces.
Jen launched her interior design business from her dining room table, driven by a vision to create stunning and functional spaces for her clients. Her spot-on designs quickly earned her a loyal client base and a steady stream of projects. Her reputation grew, and so did her business. Sounds like good news, doesn’t it?
Well, yes and no. As things picked up and business expanded, handling the money side of her growing business turned into a real headache for Jen. Despite her rising success, she felt swamped in financial chaos.
“It was awesome to see the business grow, but the financial side was weighing me down. I had a lot of stress and anxiety because I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Before AccountSolve
Right from the beginning, Jen never found joy in handling the financial side of her business. And the truth is, 99% of business owners hate it. The common feedback we receive from our clients echoes Jen’s experience: navigating the financial aspects of their businesses feels overwhelmingly complex and difficult to grasp. The lack of financial insight to pinpoint where money was going, caused Jen stress and anxiety.
“I was working incredibly hard, but I didn’t know where the money was going.”
After struggling for a good chunk of time, Jen hired a bookkeeper, but the approach was too linear and didn’t address her industry-specific needs. She also uses Ivy, a design software that can integrate with QuickBooks, but it still wasn’t enough to provide the clarity she was looking for. As a result, managing funds for client projects and internal operations became increasingly complicated.
Jen knew she needed a more organized way of managing her finances. She was determined to find an experienced bookkeeper who understood her industry, as well as her business. Through the Profit First website, she discovered Lori, whose expertise in financial management seemed like the perfect fit.
“Having Lori walk me through the Profit First process was a breath of fresh air. She explained everything in a way that was easy to understand and made the whole process less intimidating.”
AccountSolve Approach
Right from the start, Lori dove into the intricacies of Jen’s business, helping her set up bank accounts according to the Profit First methodology and implementing other solutions based upon Jen’s goals and challenges. She ensured a clear separation between client and business funds.
“It took time to get up and running, but once we had our bank accounts set up, everything was much smoother.”
From that very first call, Jen knew Lori was more than just a bookkeeper. She seemed more like a financial mentor and trusted advisor, always offering strategic guidance on staffing, project management, and financial planning.
After AccountSolve
The impact of working with AccountSolve on Jen’s business was significant. With Lori’s help, Jen not only implemented the Profit First methodology, but also built a clear financial system for her business. She finally started to witness how her business slowly transformed.
Ensured financial stability with Profit First implementation
The transformation was almost immediate and profound. With Lori’s help, Jen implemented The Profit First model right from the start. It helped to ensure that business money was always allocated appropriately, providing a stable foundation for growth. Jen could finally track where her money was going, which led to the financial stability she so desired.
Nailed financial clarity through personalized mentoring
The other incredible result of working with AccountSolve was that Jen’s business finances became streamlined and neatly organized. With Lori’s guidance, they simplified all financial processes, making it effortless to monitor income and expenses. Such operational efficiency and financial clarity reduced Jen’s stress and freed up time for creative work.
“It’s not just the systems Lori brings and puts into place. She genuinely connects with me, making the most daunting part of my business something that doesn’t keep me up at night. She makes it fun to talk about and easy to understand. I consider her a mentor because of our relationship, and how she’s helped my business to grow beyond the Profit First buckets.”
Scaled design business with AccountSolve strategic approach
What’s more, Lori provided invaluable advice on staffing, project management, and financial planning. It allowed Jen to expand her team, growing from a solo operation to a team of six, plus additional out-of-state contractors.
“Now, I feel secure and at peace,” Jen says. “The books are aligned and taken care of, so I can focus on what I love: designing beautiful spaces and interacting with my clients.”
Outsourcing bookkeeping to Lori proved to be Jen Samson Design’s saving grace in financial management. This move enabled Jen to focus on her strengths as a business owner while gaining peace of mind, knowing her finances were in expert hands.
If you’re grappling with financial management in your interior design business, reach out to us. Our team is here to help you achieve financial clarity and scale your business with confidence.
