You’ll hear a lot of people say, “Take my course and I’ll help you make 10K a month.” What’s usually missing from that statement is context. Is that company revenue? Profit? Before expenses, contractors, and taxes? Because those numbers tell very different stories. At one point, my company was grossing around $180K a year. Sounds great on paper. But once everything was paid out, what remained was far more modest. Like… uncomfortably more modest. (Someone please help me be less modest by the end of 2026 😅) This isn’t a warning—it’s an explanation. And honestly, something I’m still learning and refining nearly 10 years into business. Gross revenue makes for good marketing. Net income is what actually sustains you. Understanding the difference changes how you build. And how you charge. Tap in — what’s one financial lesson you’ve learned while growing your creative business? . . . #CreativeBusiness #CreativeEntrepreneur #IndieFilmmaker #skoolcommunity

Back in 2016, fresh out of college, I landed my first “big” film client. I sent over a Google Form because I hated asking about money (still do, honestly). When it came back and the client checked the $1,000+ budget box, I was hyped. At that point, anything over $50 felt like a win. I took the project—and in hindsight, the budget should’ve been $15K minimum. I charged $1,500 for a feature-length documentary.I did the filming, audio, editing, and traveled across the South to make it happen. Why? Because I didn’t know any better.I didn’t understand my costs.I spent too much time feeling “bad” for charging “so much” and didn’t want to push higher. Based on my limited experience and gear at the time, $1,500 felt reasonable. It wasn’t. That project taught me more than any course ever could—but the tuition was brutal. When I zoomed out and accounted for the hours spent driving, filming, editing, refining… I realized I made less than minimum wage. Here’s why this matters:When you’re pricing yourself, ask for input. Ask people you trust. Hell, ask ChatGPT nowadays. Even if you’re new, your time still has value. What you’re doing is still a service. You might come in cheaper than more established companies—and that’s okay.But you should never walk away from a paid project feeling like you had to pay to take it on. What’s the lowest you’ve ever charged for something you should’ve 10x’d?(No judgment. We’ve all been there.) Let’s discuss...

What’s good fam! 👋🏾 I created this community because I truly believe a lot of us jump into filmmaking before understanding the business side of things. And I get it—storytelling is the passion. But if we want to keep creating (and not burn out or go broke doing it), we’ve got to bridge that gap between the creative and the logistics. This space is here to do just that. 🎬 I’ll be offering courses on specific filmmaking topics—like sound (my specialty) and editing—but also on how to run a creative business: - How to price your services - How to structure your business - How to scale smart and sustainably - How to get real clients without selling your soul I’ve been in business for almost 10 years, but I’ve been a filmmaker since I was 7. What I bring is real-world, indie-level experience. I’ve made the mistakes, I’ve booked the jobs, I’ve worked the 16-hour days... and I’m here to help you fast-track your journey. I’m not a Hollywood pro—but I’m deep in these indie film skreets (see what I did there, Skool? 😏). I can break down what you should be charging based on your skill level, what the industry standard is, and what small shifts can help you level up in just a few weeks. 🎤 Tap in! Introduce yourself below. Let me know: 1. Where you’re at in your creative journey 2. What you’re hoping to get out of this community I’ll be dropping more updates and course info as we head into 2026. Let’s GOOOOO!!! 🚀