Sunlight Tax

Taylor Smalls is a contemporary painter who runs her own studio practice based in California.  

In today's episode, Taylor joins me to chat about how she made the shift from working in architecture to being a full-time artist and what she's learned along the way with pricing and business structure. 

Join us in this episode as we share valuable tips on making the leap from corporate to creative entrepreneur and how you can learn to communicate the value of your art when selling. 

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• What Taylor got a handle on before she took the leap to full-time artist 3:25
• Why getting rid of debt was a motivator 15:15
• Pricing as an energetic exchange 20:31
• Taylor's approach to pricing in the tech space 23:35
• Talking about money in the art world 25:02
• How the art world can be intimidating to the buyer 27:36
• Communicating the value of your art 33:35

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

IG: @Taylor.Smalls

http://www.taylorsmalls.com/

Steal Like an Artist 

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

Today I'm talking about a subject that can trigger people and bring up a lot of emotions: pricing. 

In this follow up to episode 20, where I spoke about my personal pricing journey, I'm sharing the pricing phrases and boundaries that have helped me as a creative entrepreneur.  I'm also giving you some actual wording that I have used in past business interactions that you can use as a template for yourself when you are talking with clients. 

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• The backstory of how I learned to set boundaries and how I learned pricing phrases 3:20
• The importance of speaking in a professional language 7:46
• Negotiating to come to an agreement 10:07
• The phrases that have helped me in my work 16:57
• Responding to people who ask for a discount and scope creep 22:50

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

Year-End Tax Planning Checklist: 2022 Edition

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

As year-end approaches, I'm sharing how you can create a financial end of year strategy for yourself as a creative entrepreneur and how you can plan for your taxes to maximize the amount of cash you make.  

Join me in this value-packed episode to learn how to get a head start on your taxes now.  

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• How you can reduce your taxable income 7:08
• Itemized deductions 9:14
• What you need to do at year end 11:53
• Why you should start planning for your taxes now 13:58
• 1099's and how to get ready for them 18:41
• How to prepare for taxes with W9's 21:20

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

Year-End Tax Planning Checklist: 2022 Edition

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

In today's episode I'm reflecting on my business and some of the lessons I've learned while being a creative entrepreneur including some of the pivots I've made to my flagship program, how my pricing has changed over the years and my reasons behind it.  

Join me in this episode to hear more about the backend of my business and how you can find the perfect pricing that aligns with you.  

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• Taxes are the part of business you can't avoid 5:37
• Why pricing is so difficult to get right as an entrepreneur 11:13
• How raising your price can help get you the perfect clients 14:37
• Why I lowered my prices 20:19
• How I tested new ways of teaching 32:25
• Group coaching sessions vs. live classes 35:00

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

Imagine (Sneha Shrestha) is an artist, educator and social entrepreneur from Kathmandu, Nepal. She established Nepal's first Children's Art Museum and worked at Artists for Humanity. Sneha recently graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Master's degree in Education.  

Sneha is also known as IMAGINE in the art world and has established herself as Nepali street artist meshing the Nepali alphabet and the Boston graffiti scene. Imagine has redefined the Nepali alphabet and given it a new identity through graffiti. Being the first to mesh American Graffiti with Nepali Alphabets, she has shown her work in several exhibitions, commissioned works and public walls around the world including Boston, San Francisco, Bali, Istanbul, Geneva and Copenhagen. 

On today's episode, Imagine joins me to talk about her art and her entrepreneurial journey including managing her money as an artist and creative entrepreneur. We talk about being real, what savings opens up for your creativity, and what success actually looks like.

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• Imagine's background 1:10
• Learning fast and failing fast for success 8:17
• Perfectionism and why it's holding you back 20:13
• How street art is different than gallery art 26:24
• What Sneha has found most useful when managing her money as an artist 32:04

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

https://www.imagine876.com/

https://www.instagram.com/imagine876/

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

Gretchen Carder is the owner of Good Quilt and a member of Money Bootcamp. Gretchen has a background in graphic design and now works with textiles as a quilter.  

On today's episode, Gretchen joins me to talk about her experience transitioning from corporate to working with textiles as a creative entrepreneur, how her decision to join Money Bootcamp helped her gain clarity and confidence in her finances, and why bookkeeping is such an essential part of entrepreneurship.    

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• Gretchen's background 1:48
• Her decision to join Money Bootcamp and what made her join 2:25
• What Gretchen's business looked like prior to joining Money Bootcamp 5:38
• How bookkeeping can be considered self-care 10:15
• How Money Bootcamp has helped Gretchen gain sustainable income 12:51

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

https://www.goodquilt.store/

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

In today's final episode of the Money School Bonus Series, I'm sharing why waiting costs you money when it comes to building financial security and how you can start investing to grow your wealth today. 

Join me to learn how you can push past your perfectionism, take action and start growing your money to gain financial freedom. 

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• Why waiting costs you money 2:15
• Why perfectionism is holding you back 2:40
• Why financial security is so important 6:25
• What is a cost curve? 7:47
• Why investing is a long term game 9:25
• The power of compounding 12:03

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

Don't Hustle, Don't compromise, Just Maximize: Money School bonus series

Today, I'm rounding out the Money School Bonus Series by sharing how you can maximize the money you already have and get your money to work for you. 

Join me in this episode to learn a 5 minute rundown of exactly what money buckets you need and what order to fund them, plus what I call the "Power Triangle." It's the secret sauce behind making your money work for you. I teach you the 3 parts of the Power Triangle, plus action steps, so you can build generational wealth for your family and your future.

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• Why you should have a plan for your money 2:14
• The magic benefits of capitalism 6:45
• The major buckets of money you should be funding, and in what order 11:05
• The Power Triangle of maximizing your money 22:35

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it.

Links:

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

In today's episode of the Money School Bonus Series, I'm explaining what self-employment tax is, why tax deductions are so important as a creative entrepreneur and how they save you more money than you may think. 

Join me in this informative episode to learn the details about self-employment tax and how you can make sure you're getting the most out of your deductions each year. 

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• Understanding self-employment taxes 1:23
• Tax brackets and what they actually mean 3:44
• The average tax rate for self-employed people 6:16
• Self-employment taxes explained 10:52
• Why you need to be tracking all of your expenses 13:02
• Getting the most out of your deductions 22:11

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! 

Links:

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

Receipts. Your tax return. Bookkeeping. In this week's episode and part of the Money School series, I'm sharing three different systems that you need for your business when it comes to managing taxes so you can get more organized and be less stressed. When you understand the difference between these three things, you will stop wasting time, and you will instantly feel more organized.

I'm also explaining why you might be getting confused as a creative entrepreneur during tax time and how you can take control of your finances with some actionable steps and tools. 

Also mentioned in today's episode: 

• What are receipts and why are they so important 5:14
• Third party verification 8:00
• Why bookkeeping is so critical if you're self-employed 12:35
• The difference between bookkeeping and taxes 14:45
• Building your own tax spreadsheet 23:00
• Understanding the why behind your bookkeeping 25:20

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it.

Links:

https://go.sunlighttax.com/register

https://www.sunlighttax.com/deductionsguide