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.

Lida Mehrabi

The beauty and hair industry, particularly high-end hair coloring and hair services in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, might seem highly profitable from the outside. However, maintaining profitability comes with significant challenges. Read more>>

Chrilz

A career in visual art is naturally very feast-and-famine—it naturally oscillates between both extremes. Some seasons will tend to be more fruitful than others with sales, and others will be incredibly lean, often spanning several months and possibly even years before the next sizable return arrives. For work like mine that is specifically created to be exhibited, viewed, and purchased for private or public collections, one sort of business structure revolves around an exhibition schedule. In this case, an artist will receive an opportunity from a gallery to exhibit in several months time. During the intervening period, the artist will sometimes prepare and organize existing pieces for the show, but will more likely be expected to produce new work. A financial stipend is sometimes provided, but oftentimes the artist must rely upon his or her present means. Once the show occurs, an artist’s coffers are ideally replenished through sales, but this is never guarantee. To the contrary, this is part of what makes profitability so difficult at times—there is never certitude that the effort expended will amount to net income. Thankfully, independent sales between an artist and his or her collectors is one means of spreading the gap, but connecting with art buyers is in and of itself no simply task—I would argue it’s near impossible without Providential intervention, truly. What often becomes the case is visual artists maintaining small side hustles or side projects to keep their heads above water financially when sales or opportunities to exhibit are most scarce. My journey resembles this, and it is often a lean and uncertain walk month after month until the next sale arises. It is for this reason that I must operate on faith and trust if I ever hope to stay the course. April 2025 marks 8 years that I’ve been pursuing this career, and it’s only thanks to my meager efforts in surrendering all I have and all I do to the loving care of Our Father in Heaven. Read more>>

Keri Kruspe

I’ve been an indie publisher of SciFi romance since I released my first book at the end of 2018. Now, seven years and thirteen books later, I find my biggest challenge is marketing those books. The fairytale of simply uploading a novel and waiting for the bucks to roll in is as elusive as a Cinderella myth. Read more>>

Stigs Stigliano

The biggest challenge to profiting in the sfx makeup world is finding organizations and people who are willing to pay. It’s all about marketing yourself and proving that you are worth a certain rate for the quality of work you provide. You have to ask for what you need and know your worth while majority of employers will ask you to put out the same effort for a less costly price. Materials are a factor in everything we do and in order to have the best quality work you need high quality materials. I find that most employers want you to find short cuts and make props and character makeups the best without being too expensive. This goes for artists who are starting and working their way into bigger films and productions, but it’s hard to show you can do these professional jobs if all you have to show for it is you working on a budget. Read more>>

Sahej Singh Nandrajog

The film industry faces numerous external challenges, such as the rise of streaming services impacting movie theaters and the shift toward short-form content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which has reduced audiences’ attention spans and made it harder to engage them with films. However, an even more significant threat to profitability lies in the short-term profit focus of major movie studios. Rather than recognizing the long-term potential of a well-made film, which can generate continuous revenue over time, studios prioritize big opening weekend box office numbers. This leads to investments in fast, time-sensitive products that may lack longevity or lasting cultural impact, ultimately undermining long-term profitability. Read more>>

 Yekta Khaghani

In my field, and particularly in the type of theater I’ve chosen to practice, grow, and create in, establishing profitability is not even an option. As an independent playwright and theater maker without institutional support, I constantly rely on the different communities I belong to-BIPOC, SWANA, women, Iranian-American, and immigrant communities-for visibility and resources. Read more>>

Kayla Bernstein

There are a lot of other boutiques in the area so I try my best to set myself apart. It’s challenging to find new vendors and keep up with the trends. I strive to find quality items at an affordable price. Read more>>