Business Mentoring for Designers

Q: What's the outcome of this process?

It depends on what you intend to get out of it! The nuts and bolts, however, include three or six months of business coaching from Sarah.

Coaching, Consulting, & Strategy for Creatives That Fits just Right

Frustrated by well-meaning business coaches & strategists who just don't understand the realities of creative business life?

I’ve been there. Nothing is more frustrating than investing in support for your business growth only to spend half your time working together educating the person you’re paying about how website design, branding, and creative business flows.

Our industry has unique processes and challenges—and I’d love to help you negotiate all of that. After over nearly 15 years in business and growing SM&Co into a flourishing company, I’ve seen it all.

Let’s make your design business more joyful, with ease baked in.

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Wondering if your design business can be, well, easier?

The existing paradigm for design business makes it difficult for solo and micro agencies to scale profitably and ethically.

Most coaching and consulting for creative businesses focuses on profit margins, clients, and projects for large agencies or simply scales down those models to small, boutique companies.

And friction, stress, and unhappy clients—and unhappy creatives—are the result.

Businesses like ours need to say goodbye to the exploitative vendor model we’ve borrowed from large agencies and creative something uniquely ours that creates incredible impact for our clients.

That’s what I’ve done at SM&Co—and, using our propriety Aligned Authority™ facilitation system, what I help a handful of creatives do each year.

Truth #1: Your creative Business Should be Joyful

You didn’t start your design business to be stressed out and overwhelmed—just like when you worked for a boss.

And yet, all too many creatives tell me they’re ready to “burn it all down” on a regular basis. Somethings amiss in our industry—and there’s more to it than just raising your prices or getting better clients.

Truth #2: Your Design Work Has Massive Impact

Have you ever really sat down and calculated the lifetime value of your creative work on your clients’ businesses?

Chances are you haven’t (creatives are notorious for not taking create for their impact) and it’s time to really get serious about believing in yourself and the results you create.

Truth #3: You Are a Thought Leader

You are not just a set of hired hands. Your vision matters.

And you have so much to bring to the table with your creative business. And it all starts with believing in you authority and owning your point view.

"Every time we meet, it’s invaluable and eye-opening. I’ve now jokingly (but not) said that our time together is like an annual gut check that I need to make sure my thinking and my marketing strategy is on point. Having her perspective saves me time and energy so I can make sure I’m working on the things that bring me joy and gift me a sense of purpose."

"I've been a very happy recipient of Sarah's consulting services for designers for years now. Sarah's business mentoring is an essential part of my process and always helps to give me clarity when I'm stuck in the weeds or overwhelmed."

"I am so, so thankful I found Sarah Moon on the interwebs and if you have made it this far, just hire her already. She is a gift."

"Sarah will always be the expert I go to for guidance."

The solution for solo designers looking to streamline and scale—on their own terms.

This three-month long process includes:

My signature Spark Sessions consulting program (3x 2.5 hour workshops);
Framework development (a co-creative process);
Three additional sessions to build your business strategy (a total of six one on ones with Sarah);
Access to me (and my team) via Voxer, email, or Slack; and
All sorts of great resources, templates, and workshops we have at our disposal.

During our first session, we’ll set tailored goals for you and your business. This means that while this is the general framework for our work, I’ll use the various tools in my toolbox to collaborate with you to develop the right plan of action.

$5,500 flat fee; monthly payment plans available without penalty upon request.

Six Month Mentorship

The solution if you’re ready to grow a team, diversify your revenue, and create leverage in your business.

This six-month long process includes:

My signature Spark Sessions consulting program (3x 2.5 hour workshops);
Framework development (a co-creative process);
Org chart and other organizational planning;
Marketing strategy development;
Nine additional 2x monthly sessions to build your business strategy (a total of 12 one on ones with Sarah);
Access to me (and my team) via Voxer, email, or Slack; and
All sorts of great resources, templates, and workshops we have at our disposal.

$10,000 flat fee; monthly payment plans available without penalty upon request.

360º Deep Dive

Once we’ve agreed to team up, you’ll receive a deep dive workbook that will peel back the layers of your business—and your dreams for it—so we’re all on the same page. This is challenging, introspective work, but it’s so important. Many of our clients have uncovered assets and unique angles on their businesses they’d never considered as part of this exploration.

3 or six months 1:1 with Sarah

This is a more expansive version of our Spark Sessions program, lasting three or six months with access between our twice monthly sessions. During this time, we’ll set our goals together and create a framework for your business. In addition to recordings of our sessions, we’ll provide you with access to supporting resources, and a private podcast feed to keep and revisit.

Feedback & Support

During our time together, you get access to our entire team when you need a second set of eyes on a proposal or space to debrief about a project gone sideways. Think of Team SM&Co as your lifeline during this time to support you in those challenging moments we’ve all had.

Meet Your Design BUsiness strategist, Coach, & new #1 fan

I'm Sarah, and I want your creative business to thrive.

Most people know me because I’m on a wild mission to re-envision marketing as an ethical, kind, and impactful discipline.

And I’d like to take your business on that journey too. It will take all of us, reinventing website and brand design in a way that supports both ourselves and our clients—but I know it we can do it. That’s why I’ve quietly offered business coaching and

You should also know that I’m also a dog wrangler, mediocre bicyclist, stand-up paddle boarder, and coffee nerd. After over two decades in the marketing and design biz, I believe in putting people first, and collaborating with empathy and compassion—but that doesn’t mean you won’t get a bit of tough love from me when you most need it.

If you’re ready to spend a few months with me, working towards creating a design business that’s meaningful and distinctive for you and your clients, I’d love to talk to you.

Designer Mentoring Details

Are we a great match?

This program is a yes if you:

Are ready to get laser focused on your positioning in a competitive environment.
Want to increase your profit potential without off-shoring or outsourcing to cheap labor.
Reject the "race to the bottom" nonsense that's dominating the design world.
Know where you want to be but not sure how to get there.
Want to build a purposeful, thoughtful business for the long term.
Are excited about collaboration and are open to feedback.
Can commit the time to working together.
Are committed to inclusion, compassion, curiosity, and kindness.

Business mentoring may not be the right answer now if:

Don't have a business yet (Spark Sessions is the best first step for you).
Want technical support (book a strategy session instead).
Want to copy another business's successes instead of developing your own path.
Believe that success is dependent on who you know, and internet fame.
Your business is only a hobby or a way to earn a bit of extra money.
Want to scale by exploiting cheap labor.
Are too strapped for time to keep our appointments.
Aren't committed to inclusion, compassion, curiosity, and kindness.

"It's hard to find a business consultant who's got the ability to take a big picture view – Sarah's brilliant at this. If you're good at helping your clients' businesses thrive but need a clever person to help you take your own advice, Sarah has the skills, enthusiasm, and tools to do this – she'll help you thrive too!"

— JOANIE GORMAN, JIG CREATIVE —

Creative Business Coaching:
Questions & Answers

Got a question not listed here? Please drop us a line!

What's the outcome of this process?

It depends on what you intend to get out of it!

The nuts and bolts, however, include three or six months of business coaching from Sarah.

Is this a 1:1 service?

Absolutely! You will work primarily with Sarah, but our entire team’s expertise is available.

How long will our work together take?

Three months or six months. Send us a note and we’d be happy to talk timing.

What kind of clients is this right for?

Are you a creative business owner such as a designer, brand strategist, or marketing agency owner? Are you a very small team? Are you struggling to grow in a way that feels good to you?

Then you may be a right fit. Go ahead and apply, and we’ll set you up with a no obligation call if it seems like a good fit.

What's the difference between this and your other offers?

This is a slower, more expansive, tailored version of our Spark Sessions program and a pared down version of our marketing accelerator. We developed precisely for you, our colleagues in creative industries.

If you’re unsure about the three or six month commitment, start with our Spark Sessions program—you can always upgrade to this!

How much does this cost?

Our three month business coaching for designers program is $5,500 and no-penalty payment plans are available. The six month program is $10,000.

All prices are in USD.

Can I pause our three or six month engagement?

Only in a legit emergency, such as illness, injury, bereavement, you get the picture. Or, if we’ve agreed in advance to adjusting the cadence of our work, or if we’ve built our schedule we around things such as your vacation, holidays, etc.

Please do not just disappear—this is stressful and worrisome and it’s not respectful of each others’ time.

Can my business partner/spouse/friend sit in on our calls?

Nope! This is a one to one engagement. You’re welcome to record our sessions and share them, though. (Please don’t publish them on the internet, though—that’s super uncool.)

Can I extend our time working together?

Probably! I don’t want to create one of those toxic relationships that’s common in the coaching world where you’re dependent on me, but if you are continuing to make forward progress and I believe I’m helping you to do so, you can continue to work with me on a monthly basis following our initial engagement.

It's time to Stop going it alone