Why Victoria Hagan Never Negotiates Her Fees

For nearly three decades, Victoria Hagan has been designing homes for some of the most discerning clients in the world.She launched her business straight out of design school, turned a staff bathroom at a Southampton show house into a New York Magazine cover, and built a firm that became synonymous with timeless, personal, and deeply considered living. But what most people miss when they hear "interior designer" is everything that has nothing to do with decorating.Takin' Care of Lady Business Episode 158In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Victoria Hagan, founder of Victoria Hagan Interiors, to talk about what it really takes to build a creative business, why she refuses to follow trends, and why trusting her instincts became the foundation of both her creative work and her business decisions.Victoria started her firm in her twenties after a brief internship and a defining moment in a show house that nobody wanted. What followed was a career built on listening, problem-solving, and an unwillingness to play it safe. Along the way she lost a business partner, navigated high-profile clients who were used to getting their way, and learned that knowing when to hold your cards is just as important as the work itself.Together, they discuss why interior design is far more about business than creativity, how to set fees and never negotiate against yourself, the difference between decorating a space and designing a life, and why the worst advice Victoria ever received turned out to be the most useful.What you'll learn:Why interior design is a business first and a creative career secondHow to set your fees, hold your ground, and never negotiate against yourselfHow to read a room and know when to push and when to hold backWhy trusting your gut is a skill most people are trained to ignoreWhy reading a client's first move tells her everything she needs to knowHighlights:(00:00) Meet Victoria Hagan(01:06) What most people get wrong about interior design(02:04) Starting a business straight out of design school(07:43) Losing a partner and keeping the business alive(12:38) Why she never negotiates her fees(20:07) How she reads clients to find what they really want(36:51) Knowing when to stay small on purpose(40:38) The worst advice she ever receivedAbout Our Guest:Victoria Hagan is the founder of Victoria Hagan Interiors, a design firm she built from the ground up starting in her twenties. For nearly three decades, she has worked with some of the most discerning clients in the country, creating homes, family compounds, and environments that feel deeply personal, timeless, and alive. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest and other leading publications, and her firm is known for a design philosophy rooted in how people actually want to live rather than what trends dictate.Beyond her interiors practice, Victoria has expanded into product design through licensing partnerships, bringing her aesthetic to a broader audience. Her work sits at the intersection of creativity, business, and the belief that great design is less about decoration and more about helping people connect with the life they want to be living.Victoria Hagan’s Website: https://victoriahagan.com/ Victoria Hagan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriahaganinteriors/ About Jennifer Justice and The Justice Dept.JJ’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-justice-354a0b99The Justice Dept: https://www.thejusticedept.com/JJ’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferjusticel/ Newsletter: https://tkolb-newsletter-a50814.beehiiv.com/The Justice Dept. is a female-focused advisory, consulting, and law firm advocating for female founders, talent, execs, and brands. We represent bo$$ ladies to make them 💰💰.If you love what you hear, please subscribe and share with a friend.This is a Lady Business LLC Production.