Creative Outcomes

Join host Ryan Watson for an inspiring conversation with David Shultz, founder of Sans Serif, as he shares his remarkable entrepreneurial journey from near-bankruptcy to building a thriving design and marketing strategy firm. This episode dives deep into the realities of agency ownership, the psychology of entrepreneurial optimism, and the key decisions that transformed a struggling startup into a successful business. Key Themes: - Entrepreneurial Psychology: The blessing and curse of being an eternal optimist - Crisis Management: How to navigate financial struggles and dark moments as a founder - Team Building & Leadership Evolution: Learning to delegate and trust your team - Client Relationships: The power of treating clients as partners, not just customers - Industry Adaptation: Embracing AI and new technologies while maintaining human value - Specialization Strategy: Finding your blue ocean through niche expertise Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and guest background 01:58 - Founding story: From employee to entrepreneur 03:22 - The motivation to leave a safe job 04:42 - Taking the leap without guaranteed clients 07:33 - Early financial struggles and dark moments 12:35 - The conversation with his wife about quitting 15:56 - Understanding entrepreneurial optimism and its dangers 22:26 - Evolution of leadership role and delegation 29:07 - The secret to Sans Serif's success 34:00 - Lessons learned and what he'd do differently 35:43 - AI's impact on the creative industry 40:34 - Advice for starting an agency in 2025 This episode is essential listening for current and aspiring agency owners who want to understand both the challenges and rewards of building a creative business from the ground up. Subscribe to our channel for more insights!

In this episode of Creative Outcomes, we tackle a challenge many businesses face: the dreaded mid-year sales lull. If your pipeline is looking empty and your revenue targets seem increasingly out of reach, this episode is for you. Our host, Craig Baldwin, Partner at Upsourced, shares practical, actionable strategies to jumpstart your sales pipeline, including: - Proven tactics to motivate your sales team when they need it most - How to approach price increase conversations effectively - What to do when deals keep getting pushed or budgets get pulled - Where to find quick wins when your back is against the wall - How to distinguish between market problems vs. internal issues Remember: outcome lags effort by about three months. What you do today will impact your results in August, so don't wait until you're desperate to take action! Subscribe to our channel for more insights. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and episode overview 01:31 - Controlling what you can in sales 03:20 - Strategies to motivate your sales team 05:00 - The three-month lag principle 06:35 - Three sources for quick revenue wins 11:00 - Why marketing campaigns aren't the quick answer 15:53 - Navigating price increase conversations 17:26 - What to do when deals stall or budgets get pulled 19:39 - Moving beyond "hope and pray" strategies 23:13 - Finding your path forward 24:42 - Closing thoughts and contact information

In this episode of Creative Outcomes, Craig Baldwin sits down with Prentice Howe, owner of Door No. 3, for a candid conversation about the realities of running a creative agency. Prentice shares a pivotal moment in his career - sneaking into his own office at midnight to steal his own financial records - that became a turning point in how he approached business leadership. From his transition from award-winning creative director to agency owner, Prentice reveals the challenges of managing a team, maintaining motivation, and staying true to your values even when it means walking away from money. This conversation tackles: 0:00 - Introduction and background 13:35 - The financial breaking point that changed everything 17:20 - Building and empowering a leadership team 21:50 - Maintaining motivation after a decade of ownership 30:10 - Embracing AI in the agency model 36:15 - The value of outside perspective 40:25 - Standing by your values when money is on the line If you're an agency owner or creative leader feeling the weight of responsibility, this conversation offers both practical insights and the comfort of knowing you're not alone in your struggles. Subscribe to our channel for more insights!

In this episode of the Creative Outcomes podcast, host Craig Baldwin speaks with Garrett, Spencer, and Tucker, the partners behind Alright Studio. They share their journey from freelancers to running a 10-person creative agency in Brooklyn, discussing the evolution of their business model, their approach to team building, financial challenges, and how they've learned to trust their intuition while building something meaningful. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - 01:10 - Introduction to the podcast and Alright Studio partners 01:10 - 06:00 - The genesis of Alright Studio and partnership formation 06:00 - 10:30 - Current state of Alright Studio and their service offerings 10:30 - 14:30 - What makes Alright distinctive and their unique approach 14:30 - 19:00 - Financial management challenges and finding upsource 19:00 - 26:45 - How accounting partnership changed their business approach 26:45 - 33:40 - Team growth, studio culture, and organizational philosophy 33:40 - 41:00 - Business ownership challenges and finding validation 41:00 - 48:30 - Long-term perspective, future outlook, and closing thoughts For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=Alright_Podcast

🔍 M&A Secrets: 10 Surprising Truths from Two-Time Sellers From shocking valuation differences to the truth about strategic acquisitions, discover what really happens when selling your business. Key revelations: - Valuations aren't as scientific as you think - Even big companies are figuring it out as they go - Your negotiating power is stronger than you realize - How net working capital can shift your final payout - The reality of working under new ownership Whether you're considering selling your business or just curious about M&A, this candid discussion pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind closed doors. Learn from those who've been through it twice! Want help navigating your M&A journey? Connect with our experienced team at Upsourced. https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=M&A_Podcast

Learn the 5 financial metrics your agency should be tracking to unlock profitable growth. In this session with Upsourced's Ryan Watson and Agency Builders' Logan Lyles, you'll learn: - The 5 financial metrics successful agencies get right (from Upsourced’s analysis of dozens of agency clients) - The Hierarchy of Financial Needs to identify the right financial metric to prioritize at your agency's current stage - The 3-part framework known as the Margin Triangle (key to getting a handle on your agency’s gross margin) If you have questions, please contact us for more: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=ABWebinar

Join us in this episode of Creative Outcomes as Natalie from Fifth Third Bank's Provide division breaks down everything you need to know about SBA loans. In this must-watch podcast, discover: ✅ When to consider an SBA loan ✅ Key qualification requirements ✅ How to use SBA loans for business growth ✅ Acquisition financing strategies ✅ Avoiding common loan application mistakes Perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone looking to understand business financing options! For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=SBALoanPodcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction 1:00 - When to Consider an SBA Loan 2:20 - Documentation Requirements for SBA Loans 3:30 - Types of SBA Loan Use Cases 5:15 - SBA Loans: Strategic Growth vs Immediate Cash Needs 6:40 - SBA Loan Qualification Criteria 8:00 - Risks and Personal Guarantees in SBA Lending 9:25 - Handling EIDL Loan Repayment Challenges 12:15 - What to Avoid with SBA Loans 13:40 - SBA Loans for Business Acquisition 15:35 - SBA Loan Benefits Compared to Conventional Financing 17:05 - Steps to Explore SBA Loan Options 19:05 - Current Lending and M&A Market Trends 21:50 - Importance of Banker Relationships 23:50 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, Anthony Armendariz, co-founder of Funsize, shares: - The origin story of Funsize - Inside look at Method Week - their innovative quarterly program bringing teams together - How they've built a lasting design agency while balancing family business dynamics - Their evolution from a 4-day workweek to a thriving two-division studio - The power of reinvention and authentic company culture in agency life - Anthony's vision for the future of design consulting and creative workPerfect for agency owners, designers, and anyone interested in building sustainable creative businesses that put people first! For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=FunsizePodcast TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction & Funsize Overview 3:42 - Working with Spouse/Family Business 6:31 - Previous Agency Experience & Lessons Learned 9:37 - Leadership Role & Company Culture 15:48 - Method Week Deep Dive 24:42 - Future Vision & Dreams for Funsize

In this episode, former agency CEO and current consultant Chris DuBois shares his insights on developing the leadership skills needed to build high-performing, motivated teams. Drawing from his experiences transitioning from an operator role to a consultancy, Chris discusses strategies for hiring the right people, managing through challenges, and fostering a dynamic agency culture that employees are excited to be a part of. Learn how to become the type of leader your team wants to follow. For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=ChrisPodcast

In this episode, Craig Baldwin interviews Karl Sakas, agency advisor and author of "Work Less, Earn More". Karl shares insights on helping agency owners find balance, delegate effectively, and increase profitability. Key topics include: - The inspiration behind Karl's new book - Frameworks for reducing owner involvement - Balancing work reduction with agency growth - Strategies for high-value time management - Overcoming challenges in delegating responsibilities - Using the "advanced retrospective" tool for goal-setting Learn practical advice for optimizing your agency and achieving both personal and professional success. Whether you're looking to scale, sell, or simply enjoy running your agency more, this episode offers valuable takeaways for creative business owners. Book: Work Less, Earn More: How to Escape the Daily Grind of Agency Ownership (https://sakasandcompany.com/lp/work-less-earn-more-book/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes) Resources: Free agency advice from Karl Sakas (https://sakasandcompany.com/free-resources-for-agencies/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes) Free Template: Visualizing your ideal agency with an Advance Retrospective (https://sakasandcompany.com/using-advance-retrospectives/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes) LinkedIn: Connect with Karl Sakas on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlsakas/)