Money Confident Podcast: Finance Tips, Budgeting, and Cash Flow for Small Business Owners · October 23, 2026 · 38 min

Money Happy Hour: This Designer Closed her Agency and Went Solo Instead

What happens when the business you've worked so hard to build isn't actually giving you the life you want? Welcome back to Happy Hour, the bonus series where Jillian sits down with fellow creative entrepreneurs for honest conversations about business, money, creativity, and building a life you actually enjoy. In this episode, Jillian is joined by Katie Costa , an Atlanta-based freelance designer and former owner of Blynk Social, a social media and creative agency she spent six years building. After growing her agency, hiring a team, and finding herself spending more time managing people and invoices than actually designing, Katie realized something had to change. So she made a big decision: she closed her agency and went back to being an independent designer. Now she's creating bold, colorful work for nonprofits and community organizations, enjoying more creative freedom, and building a freelance business that supports her lifestyle instead of draining her energy. And she's sharing what that transition taught her about burnout, money, pricing, and redefining success on her own terms. Inside This Episode, You'll Learn: Why Katie decided to close her successful creative agency and return to freelancing How growing a business can sometimes pull you further away from the work you actually love Why scaling and hiring a team aren't the only definitions of business success How Katie learned to price her creative services around her lifestyle, values, and financial needs The importance of setting client boundaries, enforcing contracts, and charging appropriately for your work Why creating your own freelance schedule doesn't mean you're working any less How long-term contracts and recurring income can create more financial stability for freelancers Why consistently marketing your creative business helps keep new clients coming How building a portfolio around the work you want to do can attract more aligned projects Why community, flexibility, and creative fulfillment matter just as much as revenue Your Happy Hour Reminder You don't have to keep growing a business in a direction you don't actually want to go. Sometimes the next level isn't a bigger team, more clients, or a million-dollar agency. Sometimes it's simplifying your business, protecting your creative energy, and making enough money to enjoy the life you've built. Connect with Katie Costa Want to see Katie's colorful design work or collaborate on your next creative project? Find Katie at @KatieCostaDesign on Instagram and TikTok. She specializes in branding, logos, websites, packaging, and creative campaigns for businesses and community-centered organizations, including projects in Atlanta's Virginia Highland District and Oakland Cemetery. Join Jillian at Happy Hour Love conversations about money, business, and building a creative career on your own terms? Jillian hosts in-person Happy Hours in Atlanta , bringing creative entrepreneurs together to connect, talk business, and build community. Follow @_JillianTodd on Instagram for upcoming events, more Money Confident Podcast episodes, and your regular dose of Money Mom encouragement.