Profits differ from net income, and no where is there clearer than for small business owner-operators, artists, and creatives. Just because you have a certain amount of money left over after covering expenses doesn’t mean you’ve made profits. Why? Because you have to factor in the cost of your labor and the risk you took and so after factoring that in, millions of small businesses and artists and creatives are operating with little to no profit. However, it doesn’t have to be this way and so we wanted to create a space where sharp entrepreneurs and creatives could come together and discuss the challenges to profitability and potential solutions. If you have something valuable to add to this conversation that can help others achieve profitability, please reach out to us as we want to get your ideas in front of our readers.
Bryan Duffy
The biggest challenge is hard copy sales and downloads compared to streaming music.
That accompanied with the fact that there is more interest in an artists social
Media lives rather than the actual music itself Read more>>
Kelly Settle
Running a profitable studio takes more than creating stunning imagery for clients. With the rise of affordable cameras, quality cell phones, stock image and AI, businesses often opt for cheaper DIY options. This requires photographers to be able to educate their clients regarding the importance of quality custom imagery that will make them stand out from their competition. Utilizing the knowledge and skill to create original high-end images is what they are paying for, not just a place holder photo. Knowing your gear, industry trades and your cost of doing business is essential to be profitable. Photography is a highly competitive and often undervalued industry. With the influx of less experienced photographers offering bargain rates. While they may offer lower rates to attract clients, this often results in subpar work that doesn’t meet the demands of high-level commercial photography. Unfortunately, many businesses prioritize cost over quality, only to realize later that cutting corners on professional imagery can harm their brand’s credibility and marketing effectiveness. On many occasions I have bid on projects only to be undercut by another photographer and the client will come back to me later and have me redo the work resulting in the client essentially paying double for a job that could have been done correctly in the first place. Read more>>
Niccolo Fraschetti
People look at the food and beverage industry and see successful brands on grocery shelves with premium prices, assuming those margins are flowing to the makers or retailers. Read more>>
Jennifer Kassidy
The biggest challenge to profitability in my industry is the shift toward mass production over craftsmanship.
Real estate photography has become increasingly saturated with large-scale companies that prioritize volume over quality. Many of these companies hire independent contractors they’ve never met, with no guarantee of consistency or skill. The result is often generic, cookie-cutter images that may check a box, but don’t tell the story of the property. Read more>>
Shamika Rucker
On the surface, the wellness industry looks like a goldmine. But behind the glow of self-care and clean beauty is a constant balancing act between accessibility, authenticity, and operational cost. Read more>>
Kelly Zegalia
Profitability in the pecan industry is influenced by several dynamic factors, both domestic and international. While demand for pecans remains strong—particularly from health-conscious consumers and export markets—profit margins can fluctuate significantly due to the following key factors: Read more>>
Rolanda Pyle
I think as a self published author the biggest challenge is marketing. I had no idea where to start and how to get the word out about my books as they were published. Most big companies only want to publish celebrities books as they know they will be popular, have a large following and yield a large profit.Read more>>