NWA Creatives: Your Work is Beautiful — But Are Your Finances Just as Clear?
If you're a photographer, videographer, graphic designer, or content creator here in Northwest Arkansas — whether you're based in Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers, or Springdale — you’re probably busy creating incredible work that speaks for itself.
But behind the camera, screen, or sketchpad… are your finances just as well-composed?
Let’s be honest. Most creatives didn’t get into business to manage books. You got into this work to tell stories, capture emotion, and build something meaningful. But if your financial systems are all over the place, it can seriously hold you back from growing with confidence.
Here’s one tip that can help both creatively and financially:
Start networking with other entrepreneurs — not just clients.
Here in NWA, collaboration is key. Second-shoot for another photographer. Co-brand a project with a fellow designer. Partner with a content creator for mutual promotion. When creatives support each other, we all grow — and you open up more opportunities for referrals, community, and shared knowledge.
That said, networking won’t fix what’s happening behind the scenes. Ask yourself:
Are your receipts stuffed in bags or buried in your inbox?
Are you accepting payments from five different apps with no tracking system?
Is your financial “system” a spreadsheet titled something like 2023-Final-Final-Maybe-v3.xlsx?
If so, you’re not alone.
I’m Dr. Bryan Raya, founder of DBR Bookkeeping — and I’m right here in Northwest Arkansas. I work with local creatives to organize their finances, discover hidden tax savings, and finally feel confident running the business side of their craft.
Inside the DBR Bookkeeping Online Community, I teach easy-to-follow systems made specifically for service-based creatives.
Ready to get your books as polished as your edits?
Schedule a free tax savings call:
https://calendly.com/dbr_bookkeeping/30-minute-zoom-consultation-call
Or email me at bryan@dbrbookkeeping.com — let’s grab coffee and talk business.
Let’s start Doing Business Right — right here in NWA.