How one POP alum moved from side hustle to full time designer & never looked back

Get out your notebooks for this one, listeners! Today’s guest is the infectious and inspiring POP alum, Andrea Krill, who shares her incredible journey from side hustle to full-time design firm owner.

Andrea spent two decades as an accountant in the corporate world before transitioning to open her own design business. She brings invaluable skills from her previous career into her new venture and shares actionable tips that she focused on right from the start. While some of her advice is non-traditional, it’s all fantastic!

In this episode, Andrea discusses the steps she took to set herself up for success, how she built a portfolio, and why getting comfortable saying ‘no’ was crucial. She also reveals the one thing aspiring business owners can’t afford NOT to do. Additionally, Andrea explains how she structured her team and why she continually reinvests in her company.

I took notes on this one, and I know you will too—her advice is just that good. Don’t miss out on this episode—listen now to get inspired and gather actionable insights for your own business journey!

Episode Highlights

• Moving from Side Hustle to Full-Time Business: Andrea discusses the steps she took to transition from a side hustle to a full-time interior design business, including ignoring the numbers initially to gain experience and build her portfolio.
• The Importance of Saying No: Andrea emphasizes the importance of saying no to projects that don’t align with her business vision, allowing her to focus on the right clients and opportunities.
• Offering Procurement Services: Andrea explains the necessity of offering procurement services to ensure her business’s profitability and how she started small and scaled up.
• The Role of Professional Photography: Andrea and Rebecca discuss the importance of investing in professional photography to build a portfolio and attract clients.
• Building a Team: Andrea shares her experience of hiring her first part-time design associate and a procurement associate, highlighting the importance of having the right people in the right roles to support business growth.
• The Power of Networking and Community: Andrea talks about the impact of networking and building a community, particularly through Power of Process, on her business’s growth.

Episode Resources

• Learn more about Andrea Krill at her website and follow her on Instagram.
• Listen to Andrea’s Shorty Episode | 237 – Transforming a side hustle into a full-time interior design business with Andrea Krill
• Learn more about Power of Process

Read the Full Transcript ⬇️

Rebecca Hay: Hey, hey, hey, it’s Rebecca, and you are listening to Resilient by Design.
Today, my guest is Andrea Krill of Andrea Krill Interiors, based in Philadelphia. This episode is so actionable. You are going to love it. Andrea shares her experience of moving from being a CPA at a hedge fund, with two decades of experience in the financial sector, to starting her interior design firm as a side hustle and then taking it within three years to a full-time profitable business.

We dive into all the things. She came super prepared to this interview with actionable tips, guys; you’re going to want a notepad for this one. Andrea is just a real ball of energy. She’s such a joy. I met her in person at High Point Market in 2024. She also happens to be a Power of Process alumni. And in this episode, she shares the specific steps that she took to move from side hustle to full-time design firm owner.

There are some surprising revelations in this episode that even I didn’t expect, and I made notes for myself. She talks about saying no to the wrong projects and how you can do it while being respectful to the people interested in your services. She shares, of course, how the Power of Process impacted the trajectory of the success of her business.

And then the power of networking and how she doubled her leads from 2023 to just Q1 of 2024. And of course, her last nugget of wisdom really resonates. You’re going to love this episode with Andrea. Enjoy. Welcome back to the podcast, Andrea. I’m really excited to have you. We did a short episode with you, and everybody is desperate for more. So here we go. Can you introduce yourself to our listeners who are new to your story?

Andrea Krill: Yes. Well, first, thank you, Rebecca, for having me back on your podcast. I’m so happy to be here again. My name is Andrea Krill, and I’m the founder and lead designer at Andrea Krill Interiors. I run an interior design firm that’s based out of Philadelphia’s Mainline area. We offer full-service design for both decorating and renovation projects. And I really tell people that we excel at creating colorful, beautiful, livable spaces for busy professional families. I am also a wife and a mom to four beautiful, but very loud and crazy kids. So we also have a busy household here.

A bit of background about me: I spent nearly two decades in the accounting and finance industry before pivoting to design. And I know that I’m not the first accountant to turn into an interior designer, but I do often get asked how I transitioned from being a CPA to running a design firm. I have to say, I was greatly influenced by my upbringing. My dad was a contractor, a master carpenter, and he built the house that we grew up in, literally nail by nail, board by board, in his spare time on nights and weekends with the help of all his friends and family members who were also in the trade.

During that time, we lived with my grandparents, who were antique dealers. So I spent a lot of time with them on weekends going to different antique markets and fairs. My parents instilled in me a love of home and taking pride in where you live and investing in your home. So for me, as I became a homeowner and started raising my family, I kept those same values and loved turning my own home into a reflection of that. Friends, neighbors, and family members noticed and began asking me for design advice or help. I was always happy to do it. With that said, I wasn’t always a designer. I pursued a very traditional career path as an accountant. I think somewhere along the way, I realized that there was more out there for me—something bigger and better—and that happened to be design. So here I am.

Rebecca Hay: Oh my goodness, I love your story. I love that you come from a CPA background—like, what? Everyone’s looking to hire CPAs because they don’t even want to touch the numbers. People don’t even want to do their own spreadsheets. So I think that’s a huge asset to you. I’m sure you’re already seeing that inside your design firm. A lot of designers do not enjoy that side of it or even have the skillset to do it.

And I love that you moved—like we talked about in the short episode—this idea of why you wanted to start your own design firm. Guys, you can go back and listen to the short episode; we’ll link that in our show notes. But what I’m really interested in is more of that story: working full-time in what was likely a very demanding career, I imagine, and raising a family of four, then deciding you wanted to do a design business as a side hustle. From my memory, you took Power of Process for the first time in 2023. You were still doing the side hustle then, correct?

Andrea Krill: Yes, that’s correct. It was still a side hustle.

Rebecca Hay: And after taking the course and moving into that year, you really started to implement all the things you learned in your business. But it was still a side hustle for a little while, right?

Andrea Krill: That’s correct, yep.

Rebecca Hay: And I think since taking Power of Process, what I’ve seen is you’ve just blossomed and exploded. It’s amazing. I can’t wait to talk about all the details. In the spring, I don’t know if I asked you or if you offered, but you emailed me the most beautiful email. It was a testimonial, and I was thinking I would get a few sentences of someone saying, “The course was great; I loved it.” But it was like—I think I maybe even cried. I’m not going to lie. I printed it. It was like a love note of love notes.
You talked about how Power of Process truly changed your business and how it built confidence for you. I’m so excited to hear more about that transition from side hustle to full-time interior design firm owner with employees. A few things you mentioned, just so people can perk up: after taking the course and deciding to make this design thing work, because it was a side hustle for three years, you quit your day job, right? You took it to a full-time profitable business. You hired your first part-time design associate. We talked about this a little in the short episode—how you doubled your leads. The total number of leads you had in 2023 was 25. And then, in the first quarter of 2024 alone, you got 44 leads.

You achieved a nearly 70% lead conversion rate from a discovery call to a booked consult. I love that you’re tracking that. You sent out proposals for design fees you could only dream of people accepting. You also took Pricing with Confidence, my course where I teach you how to price your services. And you said, “Trust me, there are still a lot of no’s due to price objections, but the clients that are signing on trust me and the process, and are a joy to work with.” You said, “I am truly living my dream. I know it’s just the beginning. Power of Process has given me the framework to scale my business to the next level.” And I am witnessing all of this happen in under a year.
Let’s talk about this: how did you go from side hustle to full-time interior design firm owner?

Andrea Krill: I’m so glad you read that because everyone should know how influential your course is for designers. I remember drafting that email the night before I left for High Point Market because I knew I would see you, and I knew there was no way I could just tell you in person how impactful your course and resources have been to me. So I was like, “I need to get this out on paper before I see you.” That was the impetus for sending it. But yes, moving from side hustle to full-time—I’d love to share a little about that.

It definitely was not overnight. As you mentioned, Rebecca, I worked both jobs for over three years. There were some key things I did while running my design business as a side hustle that ultimately set me up for success. They might go against the grain of some of the traditional advice you get from people. But the first thing I would say I did—and this is very ironic coming from an accountant—that I really ignored the numbers.

I know that sounds very odd, especially coming from an accountant. But at the beginning of running my side hustle, I had the luxury of not worrying about making money, right? I wasn’t paying myself. So what I focused on was gaining experience, really serving my clients well, and getting finished portfolio photos. I wasn’t always worried about getting the highest design fees or making the most margin on products. I bid lower on some projects to get the experience. The first time someone came to me, and I had the opportunity to do a full room from start to finish—an empty space—I bid really low on that and over-delivered on what my clients paid. The same thing happened when I had my first opportunity to work on a renovation. I had done my own renovation, but I’d never done one for a client. So I bid low on that.

So that would be my first piece of advice, even though it’s counterintuitive: focus on gaining experience, having happy clients who will refer you, and getting those finished portfolio photos.

Rebecca Hay: Wow. I think that’s actually good advice. Not that I would ever suggest someone ignore the numbers—it is helpful to track them. But you are the type of person who was always going to be tracking the numbers because that’s who you are. But there’s so much value in building your portfolio. And there are two ways to do it. The first way is to do your own house, right? Some people have the means to do what they want in their own home, and then they can showcase their talent that way and start bringing in jobs.

Or the second way is, like you said, you take on whatever projects come your way, do things for friends and family, do things for free, offer your services for a charity, or whatever it might be, just to get some examples that you need as proof that you can do what you say you can do. So I love that you’ve shared that. It’s against the grain in the sense that we want you making money eventually.

Andrea Krill: Yes, absolutely. Being profitable now is super important. But at the beginning, when I had another full-time job to fall back on, I didn’t worry about that part so much.

Rebecca Hay: I love that advice. What else?

Andrea Krill: This goes back to Power of Process and casting your vision, but I think from the beginning, I got very clear about the services I wanted to offer, the level of design work I wanted to be doing, and the clients I wanted to serve. I know a lot of people will tell you to say yes to everything from the beginning, but I had to have the fortitude to say no to many projects or clients that didn’t serve the vision I had for my business. I needed to create the space and opportunity to say yes to the right clients. I really had to protect my time and energy because it was a side hustle.

Of course, I said yes to the very first clients that came through the door. But once I had some experience and had started to build that portfolio, I only said yes to the projects that were full-service design projects with a healthy budget, so I could do the level of work I wanted to do and get those professional photographs. That was important to me because I was doing this on nights and weekends, taking time away from my family and kids. I had to protect that space and energy so that when the right projects came along, I could say yes.

Rebecca Hay: That’s great. That is probably one of the scariest things a business owner ever goes through—saying no to a client. Sometimes it’s not directly saying no; it’s setting your business up in a way that deters some people. They might say you’re too expensive or your timeline is too long, whatever it might be. It’s almost like a boundary you’re putting in place to only let the right people in.

That can be scary because there’s the fear of, “What if I say no to them and then don’t get another job?” What I’m hearing you say is that you were able to do that because you still had the revenue or income from your day job, so you could wait it out and see if another client came. But it sounds like even if you hadn’t had the day job, that was the right choice to make because it quickly opened you up to opportunities with the right people.

Andrea Krill: Yeah, you’re absolutely right. How you described that as well—you’re not saying no to people. You’re exactly right. I never just said, “No, I’m not going to take your job.” It was more about explaining what I offer, the level of investment that requires, and how I serve my clients. People would self-select themselves out after that: “Oh, I’m not looking for someone for procurement or to do project management. I can handle that.” I’d say, “Okay,” and explain that that’s not the level of service I like to bring to my clients, but I’m happy to refer them to a fellow designer in the area who would be perfect for them. So yeah, you’re exactly right. It wasn’t always about saying no. I always took the time to help set those different leads up for success by referring them to different people or giving them resources to use.

Rebecca Hay: Yeah, and that speaks to your integrity too, right? It’s like, ultimately, you’re not going to be served very well if I try to tweak and acquiesce and do things the way you think they should be done. It’s just not going to serve either of us. So let me find someone who’s a better fit, and then you can both go on your way. I love it. What else?

Andrea Krill: Offer procurement services. I knew from the beginning, just from listening to thousands of hours of podcasts and reading all about the interior design business, that I would not eventually be able to do this full-time and be profitable if I didn’t offer procurement. I know that my design firm cannot sustain itself on design fees alone.

So for my very first paying client, I was literally only selecting a light fixture and a rug for their dining room. But even then, I sourced via trade-only vendors and handled the procurement. It was a great way to tiptoe into that scary world of trade-only vendors and purchasing. It set me in motion for the next project, where I was purchasing a little bit more. And then eventually, I was doing a full room for clients. So I would say that was key to my success—doing that early on as well.

Rebecca Hay: This is a really important point, and I do want us to take a moment for this point because you come from a financial background. It’s so interesting because there are still designers out there who don’t make money from products. Just before I go there, I’m assuming you do not share your discounts with your clients or your markups, right? You are making a profit on each item in addition to your design fee. Just to be clear, in case anyone’s wondering what you mean by that.

I talk about this all the time because I noticed for myself that I was leaving a lot of money on the table. I’ve had lots of conversations on the podcast about it, but I think it’s really interesting, especially when I speak to others like yourself who come from a numbers background and an accounting/financial background. It’s so clear to you that that is the way to a profitable business. So can we just take a moment there? From your expertise—because you have expertise in this area—can you share with designers why that is important and how that helps you?

Andrea Krill: Absolutely. You only have so many hours in the day, and they’re not all billable, whether you’re working a flat fee or hourly. There’s only so much you can do. So really, you’re just on a perpetual hamster wheel, trying to bill enough hours to make enough money to cover your overhead, your team, their salaries, and paying yourself.

For me, the design fees cover my operating expenses—paying my salary, my team members, and all of the overhead that I have. Then, the margin on the products gives me a buffer. I call it my retained earnings. It’s just kind of its own special account in my banking records where I keep that as my retained earnings to pay for things like marketing, professional photography, or investing in your home office like I just did.

Rebecca Hay: I really love this. Can we just take another second? Wow. So the money that you collect for your design services—your fees, your time—covers all your expenses. We’re talking about a perfect scenario here, right? So you are not exceeding your operating expenses—meaning not the extra things but the ongoing expenses, like if you had rent, people working for you, your computer, your internet, your hosting platform for your website, those ongoing expenses.

Then, what I think I’m understanding is any money that you make off of products goes into a separate bank account. That is, in some ways, your profit or your whatever you called it—retained earnings, such an accounting term. I love it. I’m like, “I don’t fully understand that, but sure, we’ll go with it.” And so that is your bonus cash to grow your business or pay yourself a bonus or all the things.

Andrea Krill: Exactly. And I love my team with a bonus, hopefully, at the end of the year. If I one day get a space outside of my home—that sort of thing. Yeah, I came from a world where I did get an annual bonus. So now I have to create my own.

Rebecca Hay: Oh my God, I love that. What else?

Andrea Krill: Build community and network. Again, this goes back to Power of Process, but I can’t stress the power. I know you talk about this all the time, Rebecca, but the power of community—you just never know what going to a networking event, who you’re going to meet, and how that will impact your business, how it can be mutually beneficial.

For me, Power of Process, I met so many lovely designers that have helped me with my business—a few that became accountability partners. We would hop on Zoom calls. I would call, text, or email and say, “Hey, I have this huge proposal. Shout out to Lauren Windsor, a House of Windsor. She was my accountability partner.” I was so nervous about sending out this proposal. I sent it to her, she reviewed it for me, and she gave me the most amazing, constructive feedback before I sent it off to a client. And I got the job. So things like that—going to a networking event and meeting a contractor you really get along with and think you can work well together, and you become referral partners for each other. Building your community, building your network, was just huge, and I think Power of Process gave me the confidence to go out and network and do that as well.

Rebecca Hay: I love how you’re giving us such concrete, actionable items. Guys, I hope you’re taking notes. And if you’re driving, you’re going to want to re-listen to this episode. Okay, is there anything else you want to share with us that helped you turn your business from a side hustle into the full meal deal?

Andrea Krill: Yeah, I guess the last thing I would say is, you know, all that money you haven’t been paying yourself because it’s a side hustle, you need to reinvest that back into your business. For me, that looked like investing in courses like Power of Process, investing in professional photography— From the very beginning, I used a really reputable and talented interiors photographer in our area. It meant going to High Point Market. It meant outsourcing things that aren’t my zone of genius, like Asana setup and creating those client-facing documents, and then reinvesting in employees to propel my business forward.

Rebecca Hay: I think that’s really great. And what would you say to the designer who is like, “Why would I pay thousands of dollars to a professional photographer when I’m just starting out? I don’t have the capital. I don’t have the cash. Or if I have it, I don’t see the value in spending it. I’m just going to take my own pictures.” What would you say to that designer?

Andrea Krill: I think you can’t afford to not take the pictures. You really can’t. I don’t know how you would attract clients without professional photographs showing what you can do. It’s a visual business. I just can’t even imagine. For me, I started with my own home. That was my very first portfolio photograph, and I invested. I would not have had clients who would have hired me without those. I really think it’s a matter of you can’t afford not to do it.

Rebecca Hay: Yeah, I do think so too. And similarly to you, I mean, for me, it wasn’t a side hustle; it was a full-time gig from the get-go. But I remember—oh my God—my first project on my own was a pretty big project, actually. It was a condo—a complete gut renovation and decorating. I did pretty well, but in my mind, I was like, “Was it very expensive?” And at the time, I look back on how much the photography cost and I laugh. I’m like, “Oh my God, that was expensive,” because prices have gone up so much. But I think it was, I don’t know, probably 1,500 dollars, or maybe it was 900. It was hovering in that range for the day.

I remember thinking, “I am going to do this, and I’m going to maximize it.” I went to HomeSense, I went to every store where I could buy anything that I could return from accessories. I brought in my own area rugs because there were things that, in the end, we did for the client that weren’t necessarily how I wanted to project my brand. I came in with intentionality and hired an assistant just for the day. She helped me unpack and style. I did most of the styling so I could capture as many shots as I could that day because this was going to be my marketing for a year.

In the meantime, while I was styling and working with the photographer on the shots, the assistant was packing everything back up, putting things in the HomeSense bags. We had to take pictures of the client’s house because it wasn’t my house. So we knew exactly where to put all the little tchotchkes back.

Right? Because it’s a lot of work. Back then, I waited too long to do my photo shoots. Now, I do them immediately, right when we finish the project, even if there’s a couple of things missing. I’m like, “I don’t care,” because I learned the hard way that once clients are living in their space for a few months, they make it theirs, which is great for them but not always great for photography.

It was an investment. I remember feeling stretched to do it, but I used those pictures for social media, my website, internal marketing. I used them for years—years—for my business.

Andrea Krill: The return on that investment for that 1,000 or 1,500 dollars—you can’t even quantify how much work that brought in for you. Absolutely. And I know how much work that is. I did the same thing. I photographed my own house. I think I sent my kids and my husband away for four days to my in-laws so I could stage, prep, and have the space to myself.

But the same thing—the HomeGoods shopping and the returns. Even my first few photo shoots for clients were the same thing. I was pretty much just styling their home for free. And that goes back to my first point: they weren’t paying me to do it, but I offered to style it, saying, “You’re not obligated to keep anything, but I’d love to style it for you and see if you like it. I’d love the opportunity to photograph your home.” They were like, “Sure, there’s no risk to them.” They weren’t paying for me. They weren’t paying ahead of time for the styling pieces. Honestly, they ended up keeping everything, and the photographs came out great. So it’s worth that investment of time, energy, and money to help propel your business forward.

Rebecca Hay: So let’s talk about what your business looks like today. We’re talking about turning a side hustle into a full-time gig. When did you quit your day job or dedicate your time to your business full-time?

Andrea Krill: Early 2024 is when I decided to go full-time. I brought on, very quickly, I realized, to be scalable and profitable, I would need to bring someone on. So I brought on my first associate designer, Riley. She’s amazing. There’s a really funny story about how I hired her. We sat together on the PTO board at our children’s school. I had no idea, but she majored in interior design. Once I found that out, I asked her to coffee and asked her if she would be willing to come on board on a part-time, contract basis. She happened to be looking for something as well, so the stars aligned, and it’s been fantastic.

She’s been on board for a few months now. I quickly realized, once I was full-time, that due to the process, Riley is handling phase one, the leads. Riley and I are in phase two together, but it’s really hard to onboard someone when you’re still doing phase three, project implementation. So I realized I needed help on the purchasing side. My second hire was a part-time employee whose title is operations and procurement associate. She focuses on project management, project implementation, and tracking orders to make phase three a wonderful experience for our clients as well.

Rebecca Hay: I love that. I love that you have help, and you’ve been really specific about it. There’s help in the design phase, where we’re focusing on making selections, committing it to the drawings, etc. And then there’s a separate type of help. My gosh, I feel like, “Oh, if I’d only done this!” I know so many people have learned from my mistakes, but dang, I tried to have one person do all of it.

What would happen is exactly what you said, Andrea. It was like a bottleneck. We couldn’t start the next design project as well as we wanted to because we were still busy managing the ordering from the previous project. Good problems to have, but those are the growing pains that can hold you back from growth if you’re not specific and strategic about it.

At the time, I think I had a different mentality where I thought I just needed to get—I think people listening can probably relate to this—I just needed to find a mini-me, a design assistant who could do a little bit of everything like me, and I could just delegate everything. They could manage the orders, and it made sense, right? Because then they know what we’ve selected and designed.

But what I’ve learned over time, and what many people coming from corporate already understand, is that there are different skill sets and different people for different roles. So having that split that you have now—though they’re part-time, which is perfect—means that everyone can be working in tandem as opposed to, “What are we going to do today?” If you focus on design with me today, that means those orders aren’t getting followed up on, or that email from the upholsterer asking if we want to do a top stitch gets pushed, and then everyone feels spread thin and stressed. So good for you for recognizing that so early in your business.

Andrea Krill: Thank you. Yes, I appreciate that. I’m really excited by the team I’ve built and hope to invest in and grow them over time as well. I know as my business grows, I’ve hired amazing women who can grow with my business as well. So I feel very fortunate to have found amazing people, and they care about my business as much as I do as well.

Rebecca Hay: So talk to me about your experience going to High Point. Was that your first time in 2024 going to High Point?

Andrea Krill: Yes, it was my first time, and I wish that I had gone years earlier. It was amazing, and I do think it helped propel my business forward as well, for sure.

Rebecca Hay: What do you think about it? Do you wish you’d done it sooner?

Andrea Krill: I mean, trust me, I love to source on the internet, but there is something about getting in front of vendors, making those connections with your reps, and seeing the products in person. I’m really particular about what I source for clients and what I put into their homes. Being able to communicate to my clients that I’ve invested time and money in going to North Carolina, sitting on the best sofas, and testing the best case goods, and that’s what I’ve selected to put in my client’s home—that’s helped from a sales perspective. I can really sell furniture that my clients don’t have the ability to sit in, touch, feel, or see in a local showroom.

That’s been huge. And also, just finding new vendors. There’s only so much you can do on the internet. Walking around a whole city of furniture is such an amazing resource. And then, of course, community. You had your meetup at High Point, so we got to meet so many other fellow designers, Designer Room members, and Power of Process alumni. Making those connections and friendships was great, and I’ve continued to foster those relationships even after leaving High Point.

Rebecca Hay: Yeah, I love that. I agree. I think the community is so important, but what’s really interesting—and I think it’s something for many of you listening who haven’t been to High Point—is yes, you can pick things on the internet. But I almost think that now that the world has gone more digital and showrooms have less product on their floor—not at High Point, but in cities and towns—it’s actually almost more important than ever for a designer to go and see, touch, and feel and get to know the product.
You might be able to order direct in your town from a shop that sells that line, but they’re not carrying inventory anymore. Gone are the days of inventory being in the city where you live. When I first started working for a designer, there were places in Toronto you would go, and what you saw on the floor was what you could order. Now, they have less square footage. They show you a catalog or online.

So it’s such a benefit to your clients to be able to see, touch, and feel. I remember, Andrea, being with you—I don’t remember which showroom it was—I can’t remember. What was the one in that main building across from IHFC?

Andrea Krill: Oh yes, I know the one you’re talking about.

Rebecca Hay: Yes, and you were sitting on a couch, and you were like, “Oh yeah, no, I just ordered this for a client.” Or you were thinking about ordering it?

Andrea Krill: Yes, I think you said that right—the sofa. Yes, I was thinking about it.

Rebecca Hay: And I was witnessing firsthand the power of that. You were about to place the order for a client based on what specifications and maybe some other things. But there you were sitting in it, testing it, leaning back, turning it into a bed, or reclining it for you.

You were able to do these sit tests, which was a bit overwhelming because at some point, they all start to blend together—all the showrooms. But you take notes, and you take pictures so you can remember. What a benefit to your clients. I think that also adds to your level of professionalism and will help you as you grow and scale quickly.

Andrea Krill: Yeah, we are asking our clients to trust us with a huge investment in their home. It’s emotional; it’s a big financial investment. To be able to say to them, “I’ve invested my time and energy as well to ensure that the money you’re investing is going to wonderful products that I stand behind,” that’s been huge and instrumental. I’m looking forward to going back and making it part of my annual visit.

Rebecca Hay: We’ll meet each other there again for sure. Before we wrap up our time together, I feel like you’ve given so many nuggets; it seems greedy to ask for more. What is the last nugget of wisdom that you would share with our audience today?

Andrea Krill: Yeah, I’d love to share a little nugget. In the beginning of my business, like most people, I absolutely struggled with imposter syndrome, and at various points and situations, I still do. This one I’ve always just carried with me: do not be afraid of what other people think when they see you trying. Put your head down, do the work, and focus on becoming the best at what you do.

Rebecca Hay: Love that. That applies to every human on this planet. And the industry. You know what I like that you highlighted there is when they see you trying. That to me resonated—that’s what matters. You’re trying. Who cares what people are saying? They’re not trying. It’s hard sometimes to tune out the noise, and it’s such a great reminder. So thank you for that.

Thank you so much for being my guest on the podcast. I’m so excited to follow your journey and watch as your business totally explodes because it’s already happening, and you’ve barely been doing this for a hot minute. I love it. Can you please let everybody know where they can find and follow you?

Andrea Krill: Yeah, absolutely. My business name is Andrea Krill Interiors. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook under the same name, and my website is andreakrillinteriors.com as well.

Rebecca Hay: Amazing. Well, thank you so much for being my guest today. I can’t wait. I know this is going to resonate with so many people.

Andrea Krill: Thank you, Rebecca. It’s certainly a pinch-me moment for me in my design journey and career. So thank you so much for having me on today. I really appreciate it.

Rebecca Hay: That was amazing, guys. Isn’t she so smart? Andrea gave us so much information. I hope you took notes. If you didn’t, go back and re-listen to it. She also recorded a short episode with me, which you guys will enjoy. We’ll link that in the show notes. I love this idea that you can move from a side hustle to a full-time profitable business by focusing on a few key elements.

And of course, the money side—she knows her money inside and out. But the idea of, “Okay, I need to focus on procurement. The only way I’m going to be able to grow and scale this to make the revenue I want is by reselling products to clients.” You guys hear me talk about this all the time. I feel like a broken record, but it’s such a great reminder that you need to look at the money.

And thank you, Andrea, for saying that at the beginning you really did ignore the numbers, because there is something to be said for getting some portfolio work so that you can show and prove that you can do what you say you can do. But very quickly, if you’re going to do that, you need to start finding ways to make money.
So thank you for sharing that. Thank you for sharing your bank tidbit. I’m like, “Oh shoot, why haven’t I done that?” It’s such a good idea of separating the revenue you receive for your design fees and services and time from the money you receive for products, like the profit you make off of the products, and seeing that almost as the gravy that you can reinvest in your business.

What a smart cookie. Andrea, you have been such an incredible member of the Power of Process community, always sharing your knowledge, always being in the community. I can’t wait to have you back a year from now or so and see where your business is at. Thank you again for joining me today. I hope you guys enjoyed this episode.

Please let me know if you are liking these episodes where you get to hear from past students and designers that are up and coming, hearing their journey, because I always want to hear from you guys. Leave me a review on iTunes, please, please, please. If you enjoy this podcast, if you’ve been binging it, please leave me a review—five stars if you can—so we can get more eyeballs or eardrums on this. And that’s it. I’ll see you soon. Have a great day.