Foundations
For artists, coaches and creators who need to get organized
Books you trust, and a clear answer to “am I actually making money?”
What's included →
What I do
You didn't start a creative business to become an accountant.
You became an artist because you love making. A coach because you love helping people change. A course creator because you had something worth teaching. Somewhere along the way you also became responsible for sales tax, profit margins and tax season, and no one handed you a manual.
That's where I come in. I work only with creative entrepreneurs and arts organizations, because your income doesn't look like a 9-to-5 paycheque and your bookkeeper shouldn't expect it to.
I keep your books clean every month, then help you use them: to price with confidence, plan for quiet months and walk into tax season calm.
Does any of this sound familiar?
- Your income comes in waves: a big sale or launch, then a long quiet stretch
- You don't know if you're profitable, or you're guessing
- Business and personal money share one account
- You dread tax season because you're never sure what you owe, or why
- You've priced your work by gut feeling, not by knowing your real costs
- You've outgrown the spreadsheet (or shoebox of receipts) you started with
- A past accountant made you feel small, or didn't understand how your business works
- Your board, funders or sponsors expect clear reports, and pulling them together is always a scramble
If even one of those hit home, this practice was built for you.
Who I serve
Bookkeeping for six kinds of creative work
Different income patterns, different reporting needs, one shared goal: understand your business so you can charge what you're worth and grow it.
Professional artists
Painters, sculptors, makers and fine artists selling through galleries, fairs, commissions or online.
How I help professional artists →
Course creators & digital product sellers
Courses, memberships, templates and digital offers on Kajabi, Teachable, Podia and more.
How I help course creators →
Coaches & consultants
Life, business, health and creative coaches building 1:1, group and leveraged income.
How I help coaches →
Art collectives & creative collaboratives
Shared studios, co-ops and multi-member creative partnerships handling money together.
How I help art collectives →
Arts councils & community associations
Nonprofit and community arts organizations managing grants, memberships and funder reporting.
How I help arts councils →
Artist events & competitions
Art fairs, juried shows, festivals and competitions handling entry fees, sponsors and prize payouts.
How I help artist events →How I solve it
What changes when your books finally make sense
This isn't someone to enter your receipts. It's an advisory relationship built around your creative business, so bookkeeping becomes the thing that helps you grow.
Clarity, not just compliance
Know what you earned, what it cost and what's profitable, down to the collection, the launch or the offer.
Pricing with confidence
Once you know your true costs, you can price your work, programs or commissions on reality instead of fear.
Smoother cash flow
A system that evens out the feast-and-famine cycle, so a slow month doesn't become a panicked one.
No more tax-season dread
Quarterly check-ins and tax set-asides mean no surprise bills and no April scramble.
Someone who speaks your language
No jargon and no judgment about the shoebox. Advice that fits how creative income works.
Room to grow
Clean books open doors to grants, funding, higher prices and bigger opportunities.
How we'll work together
Four steps from shoebox to clarity
Free discovery call
We talk about where your business is right now. No pressure, no obligation.
An honest look at your numbers
A simple review of your current financial picture. No shame, just clarity.
A plan built for your business
Your industry, your income pattern, your goals, in a fixed monthly package.
Ongoing advisory support
Regular check-ins all year, not a once-a-year scramble.
Services
Three packages, matched to where you are
Growth Advisory
For creative businesses ready to price and plan with confidence
Prices set on real numbers, steadier cash flow and no surprise tax bills.
What's included →Organizations
For collectives, arts councils and art events
One source of financial truth that outlasts board turnover and opens doors to funding.
What's included →Client results
Clearer books, measurable results
Sample client stories from across the creative sectors I serve.
Kind words
What creative clients say
“I used to guess at prices and hope. Now I know what every painting costs me before it leaves the studio.”
“Ellen explained my numbers in the same way I'd explain a breakthrough to a client: clearly and without judgment.”
“Our board finally reads the financial report, because it answers the questions they actually ask.”
Questions
Common questions about bookkeeping for creatives
Am I too small to need a bookkeeper?
No. You don't need a perfect system, a clean spreadsheet or six figures in revenue. Irregular income is the best reason to start early, because the earlier the books are clear, the sooner you can price, plan and save with confidence.
What is the difference between a bookkeeper, an accountant and a tax preparer?
A bookkeeper records and organizes your income and expenses every month. A tax preparer or accountant files your return once a year. Advisory bookkeeping adds regular conversations about what the numbers mean: pricing, cash flow, tax set-asides and growth. I work alongside your tax preparer and hand them clean books.
Can you handle income from Kajabi, Stripe, PayPal, Etsy and Square?
Yes. Consolidating income from several platforms and processors into one clear monthly picture is one of the most common things I do for creative businesses.
Do you work with nonprofits, arts councils and collectives?
Yes. I set up fund accounting for restricted grants, build board and funder reports, and design revenue-split systems for multi-member groups. Organizations are quoted per month or per member per month.
How much does advisory bookkeeping cost?
Each package is a fixed monthly fee based on your transaction volume and the advice you need, never an hourly meter. You'll get a clear quote after the free discovery call.
You don't have to be “big enough” to start.
You don't need a perfect system, a clean spreadsheet or six figures in revenue. You just need to be ready to stop guessing. Let's talk about what's possible once the numbers make sense.
Book a free discovery call