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Founders & Friends
Founders & Friends is where interior designers and creative entrepreneurs come for real conversations about building a business—and a life—that feels good.
Hosted by a designer-turned-founder, each episode dives into honest, behind-the-scenes stories from industry leaders, creative thinkers, and bold business owners who are shaping the design world on their own terms. We talk about the big wins, the hard lessons, the financial truths, and the messy middle of entrepreneurship.
Whether you're just starting out or scaling something big, this podcast is your reminder that you're not doing it alone—and that success can look a lot of different ways.
Come for the insights, stay for the community. This is Founders & Friends—where business gets personal, and conversations get real.
Founders & Friends
24. What Designers Get Wrong When They Go Out on Their Own with Georgia Economakis
After nearly 30 years in the interior design industry, Georgia — founder of Designs by Georgia — reached a pivotal moment: stay comfortable, or take the leap into business ownership.
In this episode, Georgia and host Ronniesha Rivera have an honest, no-fluff conversation about what it actually takes to start and run a sustainable design firm — especially at the construction and kitchen & bath level, where liability, budgets, and boundaries matter more than aesthetics.
Georgia shares why hiring an accountant first (before your first job!) is non-negotiable, why designers must bring in a lawyer early to draft contracts that protect them, and how blurry roles with contractors can quickly become a legal nightmare. Together, they break down how to set firm boundaries, qualify clients during discovery calls, identify red flags within minutes, and confidently walk away when a project isn’t the right fit.
The conversation also dives deep into the realities of kitchen and bath design — from why it’s a highly specialized discipline, to how Georgia sets realistic remodel budgets starting at $100K+, manages client expectations, and communicates costs without fear or apology.
If you’re a designer thinking about going out on your own, transitioning into kitchen and bath, or tightening up your business systems to protect your time, energy, and liability — this episode is a must-listen.
You can find Georgia at:
https://www.designsbygeorgia.com/
https://www.instagram.com/georgiaeconomakis?igsh=YmRxYmd2aTF3c2c%3D
This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design
If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.
www.vetted-bydesign.com
https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/
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