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.

Joseph Roche Iv

In the fashion industry, particularly for independent brands like my own, profitability presents several challenges: 1. **Brand Recognition vs. Over-Saturation:** The fashion market is saturated with established players and numerous emerging brands. Standing out requires a distinctive aesthetic and consistent branding. 2. **High Marketing Costs:** Effective campaigns on platforms such as Instagram or TikTok are crucial for visibility, but they can be resource-intensive. Without substantial reach, sales remain stagnant. Read more>>

Kyler Beal

The biggest challenge to profitability in our industry is actually.. the people! Salaried employees are few and far between in the commercial video space, and really the entire creative space on the west coast – and for good reason. Salaries are consistent, and benefits are expensive while client work can fluctuate heavily on a seasonal basis typically without larger retainer contracts. We have quarters that feel like we need double the workforce while others feel like 2 people could handle the entire workload. That has led most production companies to employ as few people as possible and utilize the freelance and union networks to source crew.. which totally makes sense! Read more>>

Kristen Ibarra And Celeste Cadena Of Vinilious

We’ve learned a lot about the music industry since dabbling in music booking and promoting and what we’ve learned is that it’s extremely hard to profit when you support the kind of artists we support, especially when you’re more of a people person than a business person. We have heard time and time again from independent artists that it’s really tough to get paid as a musician unless you are selling out concerts and have a huge following, so part of our mission at Vinilious is to pay the artists we book a fair guarantee. However, when an artist is not very well known, you have to spend more money on promoting in addition to the offer made, so costs add up QUICKLY. When you don’t sell enough tickets to break even— or cover all of the costs you’ve put into producing a live music event, it gets challenging to continue offering artists everything you’d like to offer them. Read more>>

Janessa Prawer

The speed of life is the #1 challenge. We are all so busy that we look for the most convenient solutions to address our needs.  This means, shopping at only a few stores and having things shipped directly and as fast as possible.  I cannot begin to think how many times I have thought “I don’t have time for this,” when really I am just overwhelmed with too many tasks coming at me. The thought of slowing down and thoughtfully purchasing handmade and locally made goods seems out of reach.  Read more>>

Timashion Jones

As an independent filmmaker, I’ve always had a passion for creating beautiful, heartfelt movies. Some of these films have even generated multiple Emmy Awards, but even with that recognition, making money from these award-winning films remains a constant challenge. I began producing films around 2013-2014, right as DVDs were phasing out and Blu-rays were coming in, and then streaming completely changed the landscape. The way people consume media has evolved, with mobile devices now being the primary way viewers watch content. Streaming has opened up great opportunities, but the biggest hurdle to profitability in our industry remains marketing. Read more>>

Roksolana Lebid

As a professional photographer and business owner for nearly five years, I constantly challenge myself to meet the evolving expectations of my clients. They are always seeking fresh and exclusive ideas, which pushes me to innovate continuously. With so many photographers in New York, standing out in such a competitive market is my biggest challenge, and it can be quite difficult at times. Read more>>

Marnie Kunz

In the blogging world, ai is the biggest challenge as people are increasingly likely to ask ai for information and ai pulls content from blogs and articles across the web, rarely crediting the original source. This makes blogs get less traffic from search engines and have lower ad revenue. Read more>>