From Engineering to Garden Design: Jenna Bayer on Building a Million-Dollar Referral Business

What is the secret to sleeping well at night as a business owner? In this episode of Women's Million Dollar Conversations, Alice Tang sits down with Jenna Bayer, the founder of Jenna Bayer Garden Design. Jenna shares the exact moment she moved from "hoping to pay for childcare" to running a high-revenue, intentional design firm. The highlight of this episode is Jenna's "Pearl of Wisdom" regarding cash flow management—a strategy that allowed her firm to double its revenue during a global pandemic without laying off a single employee. In this episode, you'll learn: -The "6-Month Payroll Rule" that ensures business survival during crises. -Why referral-only businesses are built on integrity and customer service. -Transitioning from a technical career (engineering) to a passion-driven one (horticulture). -The "Stubbornness" factor: Why thinking about the 200+ families you support keeps you going. Key Moments: 00:46 – Jenna's 28-year journey in garden design and human-centric environments. 05:58 – The million-dollar milestone: Why Jenna didn't think it was attainable at first. 08:58 – Gratitude for the team: Building a business that supports families. 09:50 – Internal Bias: Overcoming the feeling that you "don't deserve" success. 12:20 – The Cash Flow Pearl: How 6 months of reserves changed everything 16:50 – The "200 Families" realization: What keeps Jenna from locking the door.