EPISODE SUMMARY
Bookkeeping is not as hard as you think. The moment you decide to make money from your art, you’re a business owner.
You might not think about it that way, but the very fact that you’re trying to make money from the thing that makes you happy means that you are already an entrepreneur.
The good news is, there are a lot of resources available for people like us—people who want to turn their passion into profit without sacrificing their creativity.
In this episode, Mica interviews Aaron, from The Accountable Artist. In this interview, Aaron shares why bookkeeping is not as hard as you think and why he’s passionate about helping artists and other creatives take control of their bank accounts and learn the basics of accounting.
About Aaron
Aaron is a musician who also happens to be great at accounting. In addition to pursuing a career as a vocalist and songwriter, Aaron has spent 20 years managing the finances for companies of all sizes. His many years of experience in both the creative and corporate worlds have presented Aaron with every conceivable business challenge – whether it be single-handedly planning travel for a 4-person rock band plus string quartet across the United States for a music festival or managing the finances for a multi-million-dollar corporation as it grew from 20 to 20,000 employees. As Aaron’s creative colleagues got word that he had not only mastered accounting but could explain it in a way that made sense to creative people, they began asking him if he could help them understand their finances. Aaron created The Accountable Artist in 2019 to respond to the demand. Aaron’s goal with The Accountable Artist is to build a world in which creatives aren’t daunted by accounting.
Episode Breakdown
- Why Aaron started The Accountable Artist.
- Aaron breaks down why creatives struggle so much with accounting.
- Why bookkeeping is not as hard as you think.
- How Aaron’s background in music helped him in his role as an accountant.
- The first and most important thing creatives should do the moment they decide to be a creative entrepreneur.
- Aaron explicates his experience working with artists and helping them manage their business finances.
- Why he chose to specialize with artists.
- How to determine the health of your business.
- Aaron talks about his course, Accounting For Creatives, and explains who this course is for and why they should take it.
Resources
- Accounting For Creatives
- Quickbooks
- Quickbooks For Dummies
- Xero Accounting Software
- Freshbooks
- University Federal Credit Union
Make sure you listen to Episode 002: The Power of Saying No