Creative Minds, Smart Money: Finance ...
Creative Minds, Smart Money is the go-to podcast for creative entrepreneurs who are ready to stop treating their finances like a side character in their business story. Hosted by Samantha Eck, bookkeeper and fractional CFO, this show breaks down the financial side of running a creative business into actionable steps that actually make sense.
Each week, we tackle everything from pricing strategies and cash flow management to making smart business decisions that keep your creative business thriving (yes, even during those slow months). You'll get real, practical advice on managing your money and growing your business while still having time and funds to enjoy what you love.
Beyond the numbers, we explore the full picture of creative business success - from marketing strategies to efficient systems - because building a sustainable business requires more than just good bookkeeping. And occasionally, I bring in industry experts to share their insights on taking your creative business to the next level.
Ready to turn your creative talents into a thriving business that actually pays you what you're worth? Hit subscribe and let's make it happen.
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AI for Creatives: Your New Digital Assistant wi...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!On today's episode of Creative Minds Smart Money, we’re diving into the world of AI for creative entrepreneurs! Whether you're a solopreneur, freelancer, or small business owner, AI can help you level up your business without the overwhelm. Our guest today, Nikki, founder of The Creative Copilot, breaks down how to integrate AI into your workflow and use it as your personal assistant (not a replacement) to save...
29 min
77
The Financial Reports Every Creative Needs
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to the Creative Minds Smart Money Podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and in today’s episode, we’re talking about something every creative entrepreneur needs but most tend to avoid—financial reports. Whether you're running a thriving creative business or just getting started, knowing your numbers can be the difference between growing and struggling.Today, I’m breaking down the three essential fin...
11 min
78
Simplified Invoicing: Get Paid On Time, Every Time
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to the Creative Minds, Smart Money podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today, we’re diving into one of the most crucial yet often dreaded parts of running a business: invoicing. Whether you're a freelancer, small business owner, or creative entrepreneur, getting paid should be the smoothest part of your business.In this episode, we’ll cover the key strategies to simplify your invoicing proces...
15 min
79
The Art of Creative Leadership with Tomasha Suber
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to Creative Minds Smart Money! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the power of leadership and why blending creativity with strong management is the secret sauce for building a successful business. I’m thrilled to have Tomasha Suber, founder of T28 Consulting and a leadership coach, as our guest.Together, we explore her journey from the corporate grind to coaching business leaders on how to lead ...
37 min
80
Elevate Your Business Operations with Lauren Glynn
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to the Creative Minds Smart Money Podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today’s episode is all about taking your creative business to the next level with smarter, more efficient operations. I’m joined by systems and operations consultant Lauren Glynn, who shares her insights on streamlining business processes to cut the chaos and boost your bottom line.Lauren breaks down the importance of defin...
31 min
81
Protect Your Brand: Essential Legal Steps for C...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at! In this episode of the Creative Minds, Smart Money Podcast, I’m chatting with trademark lawyer Kelly Jones, who’s here to drop some serious knowledge on how to protect your creative business legally (don’t worry, we’re keeping it jargon-free). From the basics of trademarks vs. copyrights to the importance of securing your intellectual property before it’s too late, Kelly walks us through the essential leg...
26 min
82
Unlocking the Power of Email Marketing with Sha...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at! Welcome back to another episode of the Creative Minds Smart Money Podcast! This time, we’re diving deep into the world of email marketing with special guest Shannon—an email marketing pro who turned her burnout as a wedding photographer into a thriving, profitable business. Shannon breaks down everything from choosing the right email platform to growing and nurturing your list, all while keeping your mess...
32 min
83
Building Resilience: Staying Strong and Motivat...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to the Creative Minds, Smart Money Podcast, where we blend creativity and financial know-how to help you build a thriving business. Today, I’m excited to have Josie Dumont, a certified leadership and mindset coach, join me to talk all about building resilience and staying motivated on your entrepreneurial journey.Josie’s story is truly inspiring—from facing corporate burnout and redundancy to now e...
28 min
84
Mindset Matters: Breaking Mental Barriers for F...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to another episode of the Creative Minds, Smart Money Podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today I’m joined by Melissa Nguyen, a mindset and embodiment coach who’s all about helping creative entrepreneurs break through their mental blocks—especially when it comes to money.In this episode, Melissa opens up about her own journey with mental health and how it led her to a more holistic, mind-body...
37 min
85
Proven Strategies for Successful Business Growt...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to the Creative Minds, Smart Money Podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and in today’s episode, I’m thrilled to welcome Ambrosia Carey—business consultant, speaker, and a seven-figure salon owner. Together, we’re diving into the must-know strategies for creative entrepreneurs who are ready to scale their businesses and achieve long-term success.Ambrosia shares her secrets for sustainable business ...
34 min
86
Why SEO is a Great Long-Term Investment with Je...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to the Creative Minds, Smart Money Podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and in this episode, I’m chatting with the amazing Jessica Freeman from Jess Creatives. We’re diving deep into something that’s a total game-changer for creative entrepreneurs: SEO (aka Search Engine Optimization). If you’ve ever wondered how to get your website seen by more people (without breaking the bank on ads), this one’...
42 min
87
Choosing the Best Accounting Software for Your ...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome back to Creative Minds, Smart Money—where we turn creativity into cash flow without losing your creative spark! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today we’re diving into a topic every creative entrepreneur needs to tackle: choosing the best accounting software for your business.We’re breaking down the pros and cons of all the big hitters—Wave, QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks. I'll walk you through their...
14 min
88
Why You Need to Separate Business and Personal ...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome to Creative Minds, Smart Money—the go-to podcast for creative entrepreneurs looking to thrive financially without losing their creative edge! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and in today’s episode, we’re tackling one of the biggest financial musts for any creative business owner: separating your business and personal finances.I’ll explain why keeping your finances separate is a game-changer, from avoiding ...
10 min
89
How to Find the Perfect Bank for Your Creative ...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!In this episode of the Creative Minds, Smart Money Podcast, I’m here to help you nail down the perfect bank for your creative business. Let’s break it down: from the pros and cons of traditional banks vs. online banks to the nitty-gritty on fees, customer service, and interest rates. We’re also talking about how to find a bank that plays nice with your accounting software, because, let’s be real, that’s a must!...
23 min
90
When is the Right Time to Hire a Bookkeeper for...
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Welcome to another episode of Creative Minds, Smart Money, where we blend creative passion with financial savvy! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today we’re talking about something every creative entrepreneur wonders at some point: When should you hire a bookkeeper?In this episode, I’ll break down the tell-tale signs that it’s time to bring in a professional to handle your books (because we all know creative e...
13 min
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Creative Minds, Smart Money Trailer
Send us a text! If you want us to contact you leave an email we can contact you at!Ever wondered how to keep your creativity flowing and your bank account growing? Join bookkeeper-turned-podcast-host Samantha Eck as we explore the art of making money in the creative world.From solo deep-dives into finance to expert guest insights, we're here to prove that "starving artist" is just a myth. Whether you're a designer, photographer, or any creative entrepreneur, get ready to transform your passio...
1 min