Business + Photography Consultant for Creatives & Small Business Owners
hey, you amazing business , you!
I am so glad you made it, friend! Chances are, you've landed on here with the intention of finding the answers to your most profound business questions in big, bold letters. After celebrating anniversary after anniversary in your business, you're ready to slingshot your growth to the stars and really make a significant impact on your community.
But you hesitate. Why?
Perhaps you've already seen growth in sales, but don't know why it's not translating into more money in your bank account. Or maybe you have a lot of moving parts (several locations, a handful of team members, lots of expensive equipment) and feel a bit too overwhelmed at present to look toward the future. You may even be experiencing "imposter syndrome," and can't believe the success you've had to this point!
I am so glad you made it, friend! Chances are, you've landed on The Colleen Bies Education homepage with the intention of finding the answers to your most profound business questions in big, bold letters. After celebrating anniversary after anniversary in your business, you're ready to slingshot your growth to the stars and really make a significant impact on your community.
But you hesitate. Why?
Here's the thing - you are on an incredible journey, bringing together a talented team, and spending your days (and nights) diving into what sets your heart on fire. Your reach-for-the-stars dream matters!
Because your dream is what is going to make a difference in the lives of others, you need to feel empowered to take control of your business finances. You and I both know setting your finances straight doesn’t require a ton of “mindset” work. You need to roll up your sleeves, retrieve that username and password to your bookkeeping software, and soak it all in.
You will have to be okay with the tough truths that may come out of your reports (the story of your money). Acknowledging excess spending or even underbuying can make a world of difference for many business owners.
Together, we can engineer a strategy for your financial success.
Perhaps you've already seen growth in sales, but don't know why it's not translating into more money in your bank account. Or maybe you have a lot of moving parts (several locations, a handful of team members, lots of expensive equipment) and feel a bit too overwhelmed at present to look toward the future. You may even be experiencing "imposter syndrome," and can't believe the success you've had to this point!
boss
Creative business owners are courageously pursuing their passions, but are struggling to stay afloat due to a lack of working knowledge in business finances.
Most are significantly undercharging for their products and services, spending hard-earned cash in all the wrong places, and setting themselves up for catastrophe. Could this be you, too?
Through one-on-one coaching/mentoring, small-group workshops, and conference-style presentations, I have shared valuable financial resources with hundreds of creative entrepreneurs just like YOU.
Helping creative entrepreneurs build a sustainable business by teaching them how to work smarter, reduce hidden costs, and save for the future is my jam.
How did I get to this point?
hello...
Let me tell you a little story of how I spent the entirety of my twenties switching between combat boots and Jimmy Choos, camouflage and pencil skirts. While enlisted in the Army National Guard for twelve years, I completed my Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Finance and climbed the corporate ladder. I led pricing negotiations, monitored operating expense budgets, and created sales forecasts for a Fortune 500 company.
But there was something BIG missing in this picture and that something was creativity.
Although boxing up my stuff and leaving the cubicle on a whim would have felt SO good (at that moment), I made a plan. With my finance education and years of business experience, I knew I had the backbone needed to operate a creative business. I grabbed my camera and set out to blaze my own trail (at midnight), plan in hand.
A few years into hustling on the side, the time had come to leave the easy bi-
Although boxing up my stuff and leaving the cubicle on a whim would have felt SO good (at that moment), I made a plan. With my finance education and years of business experience, I knew I had the backbone needed to operate a creative business. I grabbed my camera and set out to blaze my own trail (at midnight), plan in hand.
A few years into hustling on the side, the time had come to leave the easy bi-weekly paycheck. It was time to devote every waking moment to continuing my education and growing my photography business.
With an MBA in hand and a well-diversified business with procedures and systems in place today, you would think I could kick back and relax.
There’s no way I can sit back and relax, knowing the truth about what’s really happening in the creative economy.
I would like to invite you to join my (free) email list community, where you will get access to regular biz-building tips and worksheets with actionable steps. If you’re a creative entrepreneur who is ready to push aside the fluff and take the initiative in your own business, this is the place to be.
join the email list
weekly paycheck. It was time to devote every waking moment to continuing my education and growing my photography business.
With an MBA in hand and a well-diversified business with procedures and systems in place today, you would think I could kick back and relax.
There’s no way I can sit back and relax, knowing the truth about what’s really happening in the creative economy.
fresh mangos
designer shoes
norway
tea lattes
world traveling
my family
faves
JUMPSUITS
Colleen was very organized. This was tremendously important to me as I was paying her time, therefore my time was also very valuable. I appreciated that she made the most of the time we had, came prepared for a conversation and brought examples to work from. The information shared was valuable and actionable. I liked the idea of long term goals and short term goals. That way, I feel achieved but still get to set my sights high. I LOVE that she is there for me. She makes me feel important and if all else fails this alone gives me faith in her as a mentor. I 100% know that I will be booking another mentor session and it will be worth every penny. Thank you for the support, advice, and help!
Colleen has served as a leader through Rising Tide for almost 2 years, and we are all the better for it! She jumped right in not only to serve her local chapter, but to educate other chapter leaders as well. During the first leadership retreat she attended, she was selected to speak on how to lead well during tough times and handle conflict or adversity in a community setting. It was such an impactful part of the retreat, covering a tough topic that can feel easier to sweep under the rug. In all that she shares, Colleen is introspective and brings her own experiences to others in a way that is relatable, empowering, and actionable.
I absolutely adored taking the Establish Workshop! Having resources that you can refer to for a new business is so very important and helpful when you are just getting started. I especially appreciated Colleen’s portion on finances. I can tell you that after a couple years with my first business and messy financials, having the basics described and set out for me for my second business has made my launch and first few months run so much smoother. Colleen gave us a basic plan to setup our business finances that was beyond helpful, as well as suggesting multiple other tools, books and resources to help us along the way. Since she has a finance background, she knows the ins and outs of what needs to be done which is super helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire workshop and would suggest it to any fledgling business owners that I know.
office hours
are from 9am - 4pm CST
consultations by appointment only
Thank you for your interest in working with The Tactical Entrepreneur.
Take a moment to fill out the contact form and we will get back to you at the soonest convenience.
hello@colleenbies.com
Your email in sitting in my inbox now. I love technology but it can sometimes be unreliable. If you don't hear from me within 48 hours of your request, please email me directly just to be sure your message didn't get lost in cyberspace. Thank you.
hello@colleenbies.com