Finance in a design studio
Many designers are confident presenting to clients, but intimidated talking to their accountant.
An advanced guide to bridge the knowledge gap and give designers the financial literacy needed to run a strategic creative business.
Creative vs business
Many successful designers hit a wall when their business grows beyond a certain point when the financial conversations become more complex. Accountant meetings, cashflow discussions, grant applications – suddenly you need to speak a different language.
We wrote this book because we’ve sat in those uncomfortable meetings. We know what it’s like to feel brilliant in the creative room and out of your depth in the boardroom. This isn’t about becoming an accountant, it’s about gaining the financial confidence to make informed business decisions.
This ebook shares the financial knowledge we wish we’d had earlier. It’s written by designer practitioners for designers ready to think strategically about growth, profitability, and long-term success.
What we cover...
Finance in a design studio explains why these topics are important:
✅ interpreting a profit & loss statement (and why it’s important)
✅ understanding ‘real’ hourly costing vs pricing
✅ business cost structures and revenue models
✅ cash flow forecasting and management
✅ debtor management strategies
✅ identifying and solving profitability challenges
✅ capital financing options for growth
✅ financial benchmarking and fiscal fitness measures.
Financial strategy
This isn’t about data entry or invoicing – it’s about financial strategy. While bookkeeping tracks what happened, finance strategy helps you understand why it happened and what to do next.
You’ll learn to spot trends in your profit and loss statements, understand the difference between cash flow and profitability, and most importantly, how to have confident conversations with accountants, bank managers, and potential investors.
The goal isn’t to replace your financial advisors, but to work with them as an informed business owner who understands the numbers behind the creative decisions
This ebook is strategic, detailed and proven.
An ebook written by designers for designers to help them build confidence and knowledge about financial strategy.
Strategic
This goes beyond day-to-day financial management to help you understand business models, growth strategies, and long-term financial planning. It’s about seeing the bigger picture, not just balancing the books.
Detailed
We don’t just tell you what to measure – we show you how to interpret the results and what actions to take. Real examples, actual statements, and step-by-step analysis from working design studios.
Relevant
These aren’t theoretical concepts, they’re battle-tested strategies from designers who’ve built profitable, sustainable businesses through economic ups and downs, industry changes, and business growth.
Who is this ebook for?
Bookkeeping for Designers is perfect for:
✅ designers who want to understand, not just track numbers
✅ studio owners ready to think strategically about growth
✅ creative directors preparing for finance meetings
✅ designers wanting confident conversations with accountants
✅ business owners wanting to take more control of their business
✅ creative leaders building long-term financial strategies
✅ designers wanting more confidence talking financials
✅ founders preparing for partnerships or acquisitions
✅ those ready for advanced financial management.