37. The Biggest Mistakes Interior Designers Make in Business

In this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera is joined by Erin Hildmann and Keri Hinterreiter, co-founders of The Collective for Designers, to unpack the real, often unspoken side of building a design business. Drawing from their backgrounds in event management, client communications, and telecom consulting, Erin and Keri share how they transitioned into the design industry and ultimately built a business dedicated to helping designers succeed beyond creativity—on the operational and strategic side. The conversation dives deep into entrepreneurship’s realities, from the constant mental load of ownership to the importance of structuring a strong co-founder partnership. They emphasize why a formal operating agreement, aligned vision, and clearly defined roles are critical to avoiding conflict and building a sustainable business. Ronniesha, Erin, and Keri also break down the most common mistakes designers make—like skipping contracts, failing to map the client experience, relying on gut over data, and falling into people-pleasing habits. A major theme throughout the episode is the importance of systems and data-driven decision-making, especially when it comes to pricing, profitability, and scaling. Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, this episode is a candid look at what it really takes to build a profitable, aligned, and resilient design business. You can find Erin & Keri at:https://www.thecollectivefordesigners.com/https://www.instagram.com/thecollectivefordesigners/ This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by DesignIf 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.comhttps://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/