Accounting for Creative Agencies in the PNW
Top Pains We See:
- • Hard to track project profitability in real-time
- • Retainer vs. project billing gets confusing
- • Cash flow is unpredictable with lumpy client payments
How We Help
Project-Based Accounting
Track labor, expenses, and profitability per project or client so you know which work makes money.
Client Billing & AR Management
Clean invoicing workflows, retainer tracking, and AR aging to get paid faster.
Profitability by Service Line
Understand which services (design, dev, strategy, etc.) are most profitable.
Contractor vs. Employee Planning
Tax-efficient planning for 1099 contractors, W-2 employees, and owner compensation.
Cash Flow Forecasting
Predict cash needs based on project pipeline and client payment terms.
Portland Design Agency: 15% margin discovery
A 10-person agency thought they were doing great, but had no project-level visibility. We implemented client and project tracking in QuickBooks. Result: Discovered one "anchor client" was actually losing money (15% negative margin), while smaller projects were highly profitable. They adjusted pricing and focus, improving overall margins by 12 points.
Suggested Package
Monthly Accounting + Project Profitability Tracking
Starting at $1,100/mo
Includes project-based accounting, client profitability reports, billing support, and monthly review calls.
Learn more about monthly accounting →Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to see which projects are profitable?
Book a 20-minute intro call to discuss your agency's financial needs.