Book a free call

Featured projects Samples

Six creative businesses, six measurable outcomes

Illustration for the Marisol Vega Studio project
Professional artist

A painter who finally knows her price per piece

+18% average price per piece

Marisol Vega Studio Sample

Illustration for the The Brightline Method project
Course creator

One clear monthly report from five revenue sources

+22% net margin in two launches

The Brightline Method Sample

Illustration for the Tidewater Coaching project
Coach & consultant

No more surprise tax bills for a growing coaching practice

Invoices paid in 9 days, down from 31

Tidewater Coaching Sample

Illustration for the Foundry Lane Studios project
Creative collective

A nine-member studio that stopped arguing about money

First $25K grant awarded

Foundry Lane Studios Sample

Illustration for the Riverbend Arts Council project
Arts council

Board reports in two hours instead of two days

7 restricted grants tracked cleanly

Riverbend Arts Council Sample

Illustration for the Harbourlight Juried Art Fair project
Art event & competition

A juried fair that can prove its value to sponsors

+30% sponsor renewals

Harbourlight Juried Art Fair Sample

Professional artist

Marisol Vega Studio: a painter who finally knows her price per piece

Challenge

Marisol sold through two galleries, four art fairs and commissions. Everything ran through one personal account, and she had filed late for three years.

Approach

We separated business and personal accounts, built an artist chart of accounts and tracked materials, framing and gallery commission against each piece.

Solution

A per-collection profit report, sales tax guidance for out-of-province fairs and a reserve plan that sets aside 30% of every large sale.

Results

  • +18%average price per piece after a cost review
  • 4 monthsof expenses now held in reserve
  • On timetax filing for the first time in three years

“I used to guess at prices and hope. Now I know what every painting costs me before it leaves the studio.”

Marisol Vega, Painter, Studio owner Sample
Get results like these
Course creator

The Brightline Method: one clear monthly report from five revenue sources

Challenge

Revenue arrived through Kajabi, Stripe, PayPal, an affiliate network and a YouTube payout. The founder couldn't tell whether launches made money after ads.

Approach

We consolidated every platform into one set of books and built a launch report that includes ad spend, contractor costs and platform fees.

Solution

Launch ROI reports delivered within 10 days of each cart close, plus margin by product. Two low-margin offers were retired.

Results

  • 5 → 1revenue sources rolled into one monthly report
  • 10 daysfrom cart close to launch ROI report
  • +22%net margin after retiring two offers

“I stopped measuring launches by revenue and started measuring them by what I kept. It changed every decision.”

Jordan Lee, Founder, The Brightline Method Sample
Get results like these
Coach & consultant

Tidewater Coaching: no more surprise tax bills for a growing coaching practice

Challenge

A solo leadership coach with retainers, a group program and speaking fees. Prepaid retainers made income look higher than it was, and the last tax bill came as a shock.

Approach

We recorded retainers across the months they cover, split 1:1 and program income, and set up quarterly tax instalment planning.

Solution

An invoicing and reminder routine, a quarterly tax set-aside and profit per offer, which showed the group program was priced below cost.

Results

  • 31 → 9average days to get an invoice paid
  • $0surprise tax owing at year end
  • +35%group program price, set from real delivery costs

“Ellen explained my numbers in the same way I'd explain a breakthrough to a client: clearly and without judgment.”

Priya Nand, Leadership coach, Tidewater Coaching Sample
Get results like these
Creative collective

Foundry Lane Studios: a nine-member studio that stopped arguing about money

Challenge

Nine makers shared rent, supplies and group show sales with no written agreement. Whoever had cash paid, and tension was building.

Approach

We facilitated a revenue-split and expense-sharing agreement, set up a shared account and moved tracking out of the group chat.

Solution

Monthly member statements, a cleaner structure under a fiscal sponsor and grant-ready financial statements.

Results

  • 9members on one documented split agreement
  • $25Kfirst grant, which required clean books
  • $38monthly bookkeeping cost per member

“For the first time everyone can see where the money goes. The trust that came back was worth more than the grant.”

Sam Okafor, Founding member, Foundry Lane Studios Sample
Get results like these
Arts council

Riverbend Arts Council: board reports in two hours instead of two days

Challenge

A regional arts council with seven active grants, membership dues and an annual gala, all in one account. The volunteer treasurer was stepping down.

Approach

We set up fund accounting to separate restricted and unrestricted money and built reusable funder report templates.

Solution

A one-page monthly board summary and a documented treasurer handoff, so the incoming treasurer started with clean books.

Results

  • 7restricted grants tracked separately
  • 2 days → 2 hrsto prepare the board report
  • 1 handoffthrough a treasurer change with no lost records

“Our board finally reads the financial report, because it answers the questions they actually ask.”

Dana Whitford, Board Chair, Riverbend Arts Council Sample
Get results like these
Art event & competition

Harbourlight Juried Art Fair: a juried fair that can prove its value to sponsors

Challenge

An annual fair with 140 exhibitors, entry fees through two platforms, sponsor cheques, cash at the door and prize money paid to winners without slips issued.

Approach

We built an event-cycle plan with heavy support for eight weeks around the fair and light monthly upkeep the rest of the year.

Solution

Prize and contractor slip tracking, a cash capture routine for the door and sponsor reports showing attendance and sales.

Results

  • 140prize, juror and vendor payments documented for year-end slips
  • +30%sponsor renewals with return-on-sponsorship reports
  • 3 weeksafter close to know the event's true profit

“Walking into sponsor meetings with real numbers changed the conversation. Three sponsors increased their support.”

Luis Ortega, Director, Harbourlight Juried Art Fair Sample
Get results like these

In their words

More from sample clients

“I stopped measuring launches by revenue and started measuring them by what I kept. It changed every decision.”

Jordan Lee, Founder, The Brightline Method Sample

“For the first time everyone can see where the money goes. The trust that came back was worth more than the grant.”

Sam Okafor, Founding member, Foundry Lane Studios Sample

“Walking into sponsor meetings with real numbers changed the conversation. Three sponsors increased their support.”

Luis Ortega, Director, Harbourlight Juried Art Fair Sample

Your business could be the next story.

Start with a free discovery call. We'll look at where you are and what clearer numbers could change.

Book a free discovery call