HOW IT WORKS:
Financial Transparency
Share Your Revenue
01
Through a very simple Google Sheet (linked below), please make a copy of the sheet and then fill out the appropriate tab with your monthly income that covers the last 12 months.
Verify Your Baseline
02
Send screenshots of the last 12 months of trailing revenue to prove the income and to help ensure (for both of us) that you are using the correct number so there is absolutely zero confusion moving forward. We do not need to see every transaction.
Start Growing Together
03
Once your baseline is approved, your agreement is finalized, and we have everything needed to begin, we'll start implementing your customized growth strategy. Your 18-month partnership term begins when your initial buildout goes live.
Common FAQs About Getting Started
Q: What financial information do I need to provide & Where?
A: We'll ask for documentation showing the photography revenue your business collected during the 12 months preceding your agreed baseline cutoff date. This typically includes revenue reports from your CRM or accounting software, payment processor transaction histories, and relevant bank deposit records. You don't need to prepare formal financial statements specifically for us. The goal is simply to verify how much photography revenue your business actually collected.
Q: What if I use HoneyBook, Dubsado, 17hats, or another CRM?
A: That's perfectly fine! Most photography CRMs provide payment histories, invoices, or transaction reports that can help us establish your revenue. We'll review the information available through your existing system and let you know if any additional documentation is needed. If you also accept payments outside your CRM (like Venmo, PayPal, etc), those payments will need to be included.
Q: What if I use QuickBooks or another accounting platform?
A: You can provide your existing financial reports and transaction records. We'll use those reports to identify the photography revenue your business actually collected during the baseline period. Depending on how your accounts are configured, we may also request supporting payment processor or bank transaction records to confirm the totals.
Q: What if I track my income using spreadsheets or handwritten records?
A: That's completely okay. You don't need sophisticated bookkeeping software to qualify for our program. We can work with your existing records, provided there is enough supporting documentation to verify the payments you've received. This might include bank deposits, payment processor histories, invoices, receipts, or other transaction records.
Q: What if my personal and business finances are mixed together?
A: We understand that some photographers use the same bank account for personal and business transactions. If that's your situation, we'll work with you to identify the deposits related to your photography business. You may be asked to provide transaction records and identify which payments were business-related. You can redact unrelated personal spending where appropriate, as long as the information needed to verify business revenue remains visible. Moving forward, we'll ask you to use a dedicated business account to make reporting easier and more accurate.
Q: How is my monthly revenue baseline calculated, again?
A: Your baseline is calculated by taking the total covered photography revenue your business collected during the agreed 12-month period and dividing it by 12. For example:
Total photography revenue collected: $60,000
Monthly revenue baseline: $5,000
Your baseline is then locked for your initial 18-month partnership. This allows us to measure revenue growth against a consistent starting point.
Q: What if I receive payments through multiple platforms?
A: That's completely normal. If you accept payments through a CRM, Stripe, PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, checks, cash, or other methods, we'll simply need to account for each source. The important thing is that all covered photography revenue is included without counting the same payment twice.
Q: Will I need to share access to my bank accounts?
A: You will not be asked to provide your online banking passwords. We may request relevant bank statements or transaction exports to verify your revenue. Where appropriate, you can redact unrelated personal information, provided the necessary business transaction details remain available for verification. Any financial documentation you provide will be treated as confidential and used for partnership verification and reporting purposes.
Q: Will I need to purchase accounting software?
A: No. You can continue using your existing CRM, accounting platform, or bookkeeping method. We'll provide a standardized reporting process so your revenue can be tracked consistently without requiring another paid subscription.
Q: How will revenue be tracked after our partnership begins?
A: Each month, you'll provide a report in a simple Google Sheet showing the photography revenue your business collected during the previous month. We'll use a standardized tracking system to compare that revenue against your established monthly baseline. You'll be able to review the calculations used to determine your revenue-share payment. We may also periodically reconcile the reported amounts against supporting financial records to ensure everything remains accurate.
Q: What happens after I submit my financial information?
A: We'll review your documentation, reconcile your revenue information, and contact you if anything needs clarification. Once we've established your baseline, we'll provide the final calculation for your review and approval. After your baseline and partnership agreement are finalized, we'll coordinate the next steps for your onboarding and initial buildout.
Submit screenshots or reports from your CRM, payment processors, or bank records that support the numbers you entered. One report covering the full 12 months per source is preferred, if available.
2. Let's Verify Your Revenue
This is the final step before we send the agreement to you. After all, we only get paid a percentage above your average baseline. So it is incredibly important that we both know the true average baseline.
