EP 422 | Succession Planning: How Interior Designers Build Firms That Can Be Sold with Brad Farris

If you want the option to sell your design firm one day—even if that day feels far off—the decisions you make nowmatter. In this episode, Kimberley Seldon is joined by Brad Farris to break down what actually makes an interior design business valuable, transferable, and attractive to buyers.

Brad shares the key factors that influence a successful sale, including why owner dependency is the biggest obstacle, how recurring work increases valuation, and why growth planning plays a critical role in succession. This conversation isn’t just about exits—it’s about building a stronger, more resilient business that doesn’t rely entirely on you.

Whether you’re years away from selling or simply want a firm that can run without your constant involvement, this episode will help you start thinking like an owner with options.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why a business can’t be sold if the owner is essential to daily operations
• How building a team and stepping away is practice for succession
• Why repeat clients and long-term relationships increase business value
• Why niche, repeatable work is more valuable than one-off projects
• How building relationships with potential buyers early creates opportunity
• Why understanding business valuation math matters long before a sale
• Who your most likely buyers are—and how to position your firm for them

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DESIGN INTERVENTION

Have more conversations with people who can hire you. For most creative services businesses, we don’t need 1000 clients; we need 10 or 20. Instead of reaching out to hundreds of people, focus on reaching one more person and talking with them. Let them experience you, not just your “content.” This process is the fastest and easiest way to land new clients.

About Brad Farris

Brad is known for helping agency and expert firm owners grow through the $1M — 2M barrier to become thriving $3M — $5M agencies. For over twenty years, Brad has worked alongside agency owners to help them sharpen their focus, raise their prices, and hire better people so that their firms can scale.

In his work with hundreds of agency owners, he’s learned that success is driven less by what you do than who you decide to be, and the biggest hurdle to your agency’s growth is between your ears.

www.anchoradvisors.com

blfarris@anchoradvisors.com | LinkedIn

Watch this episode on YouTube