Stop stressing about money—build your financial savvy so you can live a sustainable life and get back to your work.
do you…
Have a vague feeling of dread: that you’re not tracking things right, that you have no idea what tax you owe (or why), that you’re at risk for audit? That you'll never figure out the big-picture money stuff or be able to retire? Is the fear causing a tightness in your chest, and distracting you from your work?
Feel treated like a child when you speak with your accountant, despite all your many professional accomplishments? Your palms sweat when you consider all the dangers in what you don’t know, yet you feel shame asking the basic questions that would help you understand your own situation?
Feel embarrassed by your money situation (unfiled taxes, disorganization, trauma around money/self worth) and it’s stopping you from moving forward? You’ve got a gorgeous brand, professional accomplishments that everyone is jealous of, yet you feel mortified by your messy money situation?
Know you’re missing out on ways to save for your retirement & get financially organized, but you don’t want to take the time out of your important work to stop and learn when it feels so big and overwhelming?
It’s time to get organized and savvy so you can live sustainably and focus on having an impact
And you don’t have to do it alone
Imagine…
Knowing how much you owe before you owe it, so you can plan, adjust, and feel calm. Planning a big year-end equipment investment that lowers your taxes.
Looking over your books and your investments, snapping your laptop shut with a smile, and heading to a laser-focused work session, because your books are organized, you’re on track with your investment plan, and all that headspace of vague dread has cleared.
Taking your creative practice/business more seriously: Feeling confident in your systems (invoicing, receipts, bookkeeping, even funding your IRA) knowing your real costs and having a plan to meet your long-term goals.
Feeling seen and valued for the work you do. Being able to focus on your impact on the world, because you’ve got the system in place that you need to stop worrying all the time about your money.
What if
Instead of letting money drag you down
You used it to propel you forward
How big could your impact on the world be?
introducing
Money Bootcamp
Money Bootcamp is a comprehensive course and annual membership for creators and solopreneurs to get you set up right and tracking all the right things without wasting your time. It’s made for creators (writers, designers, wellness professionals, artists, & entrepreneurs) who make income as sole proprietors, freelancers, solopreneurs or single-member LLCs (as long as you file a Schedule C).
You’ll learn basic financial skills and tax savvy so you’ll not only stop spending unnecessary time on the wrong things, but you’ll get organized, set up on a system that works, and get the knowledge you need to feel confident about your finances. It’s an creative/tax expert-led, self-motivated path to fixing your tax and financial life, and taking advantage of all the tax-advantaged accounts, deductions and incentives along the way. It’s designed to give you maximum creator-specific empowerment at a group learning price.
And if you want personalized guidance, you can choose the 1:1 Tax Plus Membership package, that includes Sunlight Tax filing your personal income taxes, which comes with a one-on-one hour of personalized guidance including a tax projection, so you can see what your taxes might be based on changes in your income, setup of your estimated quarterly payment amounts for the next year so you know how to stay ahead for the next year, guidance on your IRA/retirement options, so you know you’re maximizing your savings, and counseling on losses in your creative practice, so you choose the best course of action for your career. It also includes an additional non-tax-season 1:1 coaching session with a freelance tax expert to give you an after-tax check-in and adjustment.
“Once I finally decided to figure out my money and taxes, I couldn’t believe how much more time I had for my art.”
Ryan Roi, Founder of Dukkha Tattoo Studio
Do you?
Want to stop stressing about your money so you can focus on your work?
Feel curious about how to invest ethically, so your money aligns with your values?
Want to know what steps to take to make your business “official?”
Want to shed the toxic money attitudes that keep you underpaid and overworked?
Want targeted courses that walk you through all the hard & scary stuff from an expert who is warm, accessible, and gets you?
Feel ready to quit being so financially shitty to yourself?
Think it’s time to build a giant pile of F***-You money, so you have power to say no?
“I am feeling calmer now that things are in process. Actually taking action can be scary. and it can feel easier to not take action, but having taken the action feels GREAT!!!”
Becky Jane Rosen”
“I knew that Bootcamp itself would be valuable in that it would give me access to all kinds of topics I probably hadn’t even realized I needed.”
Alex Mancini”
In Money Bootcamp, we believe that creative people are doing the empathy-building work that will change our world.
what you get when you join money bootcamp
INTRO TO FREELANCE TAXES |
THE SCHEDULE C: HOW TO REPORT SELF-EMPLOYMENT INCOME |
ESTIMATED QUARTERLY TAXES: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW |
LOSSES IN YOUR CREATIVE PRACTICE |
SETTING UP YOUR YEAR FOR TAXES |
ALL ABOUT 1099s |
ARTISTS' DEDUCTIONS DEEP-DIVE |
SECRETS OF THE 1%: YEAR-END TAX PLANNING |
LEGAL & TAX SETUP FOR YOUR BUSINESS |
PERSONAL FINANCE: NET WORTH & UNEVEN CASH FLOW |
BUSINESS NUMBERS YOU NEED TO KNOW |
SAVE LIKE A MILLIONAIRE: IRAs, SOLO 401ks & OTHER TAX-SAVERS |
INVESTING: MAKE A PLAN, KEEP IT SIMPLE, GROW YOUR WEALTH |
HABITS TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD |
INTRO TO BOOKKEEPING & ACCOUNTING BASICS |
SIMPLE SPREADSHEET BOOKKEEPING TRAINING |
QUICKBOOKS SELF-EMPLOYED TUTORIAL |
Plus you get these bonuses:
Join The MEmbership TOday and also get these Bonuses:
Join the 1:1 Tax Plus Membership package to get:
As an ethically-centered change-maker, putting money in your hands means you have more power, wider reach, and bigger impact.
You May be Wondering…
What if my creative practice/business is new? Can this help me?
Yes! If your practice is new, you’re in the ideal place, because you can set up correctly from the start.
What if I’ve had my business for a while? Will I benefit?
If you’ve had your business for a while, you may need more tailored information that only an arts specialist accountant can deliver, and that’s where Hannah’s expertise comes in. Money Bootcamp trainings are not general-purpose; they are tailored to freelancers in the creative world.
Why do other people join Bootcamp?
Financial: a windfall grant, marriage, divorce, building a studio, starting a new business, moving to full-time freelance, quitting your day job
Historic: to change old habits, to recover from a bad situation, or from money shame and paralysis
Alignment: A community of like-minded peers, the respect of a fellow artist, feminist and anti-racist
What if I’m not an artist? Is this still for me?
If you’re not an artist, you will still benefit if you file a Schedule C (sole proprietors, freelancers, single-member LLCs), and if you feel kinship with an ethics-centered, non-conformist creative group. FYI, there are a lot of healers and witches in Bootcamp
Money Bootcamp is not for you if…
You have a separate corporate tax return: aka S Corp, a C Corp or a Partnership return. LLCs are totally fine as long as you have a Schedule C
You need a full-service accounting firm
You aren’t willing to do the coursework
You don’t have 2-4 hours/month to dedicate to watching videos/doing the work
You feel that tax laws don’t apply to you
You have international taxes (we love you, but international taxes are out of scope)
You need your accountant to be neutral or you’re not on board with feminist, anti-racist, progressive politics
What creative people are saying about working with sunlight tax and Money Bootcamp
Choose The money bootcamp option that fits your needs:
| Basic Training | Membership | 1:1 Tax & Membership | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 in-depth money trainings tailored to creative people ($5,000 value) | |||
| Simple Spreadsheet bookkeeping system ($795 value) | |||
| Additional QuickBooks Self-Employed tutorial ($325 value) | |||
| Quizzes to help you master each concept ($350 value) | |||
| Action Guide to track your progress ($250 value) | |||
| Tax-deductible (if you have a profit motive)(average savings of 25% of course cost) | |||
| Monthly live training ($1500 value) | |||
| Timely tax updates when new legislation is passed ($1200 value) | |||
| Quarterly bookkeeping co-work sessions to build your $$ muscle ($950 value) | |||
| Year-end tax planning co-work session ($500 value) | |||
| Monthly accountability checklists ($800 value) | |||
| Goal-setting app that nudges you to success ($900 value) | |||
| BONUS: Monthly session recordings ($800 value) | |||
| YOUR TAX FILING (up to $2500 value), including: | |||
| Tax preparation for your 1040 personal income taxes (federal and state), which includes your Schedule C business | |||
| 1:1 Personalized Tax Guidance Session ($450 value) | |||
| Two-for-one inclusion of your spouse, if you file jointly | |||
| Personalized tax projection ($500 value) | |||
| Setup of estimated quarterly tax payment amounts for the next year ($800 value) | |||
| Personalized IRA guidance ($800 value) | |||
| Personalized guidance on losses in your Schedule C creative business ($500 value) | |||
| A 30 minute 1-on-1 coaching session ($200 value) | |||
| Guaranteed spot on our tax calendar (details when you apply) |
“I think it’s a great value. I’m surprised
it doesn’t cost more.”
“I walked away from this tax season with a better understanding of my business because Hannah made the process a learning experience. She guided me through the steps of filing and made sure that I understood every aspect of what we were doing. She took the time to speak to me over the phone to go over areas that I didn’t understand and introduced new practices to insure more success for my growing business.”
“I’ve really grown from simply getting a better understanding of how being self-employed works in terms of taxes, the requirements of tracking and claiming expenses and income, and knowing how critical it is to have an actual system in place for all these things. Having a clearer understanding of what’s an expense, and knowing I have Sunlight Tax on my side to help me figure out the unclear parts of the ongoing process. I love that Bootcamp is truly holistic, in that you don’t just learn how to track how much you’ll owe for taxes, but you learn how to manage your books, develop a savings and retirement plan, and take advantage of all the benefits possible along the way.”
“Each little thing I learn as I go stacks on top of each other so that at the end of it, I do a double take of myself and realize I know a lot more than I used to and feel more comfortable with handling my bookkeeping and taxes.”
FAQs:
Q: I don’t need you to do my taxes. Can I still get the spreadsheet system, work sessions, checklists and trainings?
A: Yes! Taxes and one-on-one coaching are only available in the 1:1 Plus Tax Membership. Your regular Bootcamp membership comes without taxes or one-on-one coaching. Most people do this.
Q: What if I have questions about my taxes?
A: Money Bootcamp is a group program with accounting trainings tailored to creative people, that we’re able to offer at way below the price of one-on-one time with an accountant. The Money Bootcamp program is jam-packed with self-paced course content, plus additional monthly live training sessions (plus all the checklists, the co-work sessions, the bookkeeping setup training, the Simple Spreadsheet System, the SMART goals tracker app, etc etc). There is tons of content, organized well. And we’ve built in lots of ways to keep you accountable to yourself. But it’s your job to do the work. It does not include one-on-one time for your tax/money questions.
You may or may not know that accountants charge between $150-$400+ per hour. At Sunlight Tax, we’re accountants, and while we try to keep our rates accessible ($200/hour if you’re curious), we still have to charge for one on one time. But sometimes, you just need someone’s eyes on your specific situation. You’ve got two options with us. One: if you’re a current member of Bootcamp, and you need to talk to someone about your tax situation, you can book a 30 minute one-on-one call with a Sunlight Tax expert for an additional fee ($100). If you need more, you can book additional one-on-one calls as you go, for $100 each.
If you need your taxes done, you’ll need to join the 1:1 Plus Membership plan, which includes a 30 minute one-on-one coaching session in addition to us doing your tax return, and an hour-long tax consultation session where we walk you through your tax return, explain issues, and answer your questions, do a personalized tax projection, setup estimated quarterly tax payment amounts for the next year, and give you personalized IRA guidance.
Q: My spouse also does creative freelance work. Can they join?
A: Spouses can join for FREE, if you’re married filing jointly. They are welcome to join all trainings and join in on the tax and coaching calls. So married creatives basically get a 2-for-1 deal.
Q: Can I get just the simple spreadsheet system?
A: Yes. It’s called No Fear Taxes. It’s included in Bootcamp, but you can get it on its own. If you’re not sure about committing to a year, it’s a good way to try Hannah’s teaching style and a great system in itself. Although it is included with your purchase of Money Bootcamp, we will not refund the cost of it if you decide later to join Money Bootcamp. And yes, it’s part of what makes Bootcamp an amazing value.
Q: I want to join Bootcamp, but I already use bookkeeping software. Is that ok?
A: That’s fine. Bootcamp includes a QuickBooks Self-Employed tutorial for those who need more than a simple spreadsheet. You need software if you want to run reports, run payroll or track Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) [FYI, independent artists writers and performers are not required to do this, or run payroll.] When we do the quarterly bookkeeping cowork sessions, you can do your books using whatever setup you like—whether that’s the Sunlight Tax simple spreadsheet system, QuickBooks Self-Employed, or another software.
Q: I just want you to do my taxes, without Bootcamp.
A: Sorry. The only new tax work we take on is through enrolled members of 1:1 Plus Tax Bootcamp.
Q: What is included in the One-on-one Tax Plus Membership Bootcamp?
A: If you choose One-on-one Plus Tax Package, it includes a one-on-one coaching session with a Sunlight Tax expert, your individual 1040 tax filing, and your individual state filing. This includes your spouse if you file Married Filing Jointly. It includes your Schedule C Profit or Loss from Business Activities. Separate corporate filings (S Corp, Partnership, C Corp or non-profit) are not included. Note that an LLC is fine as long as you file it on your Schedule C, as many sole proprietors do. It also includes an in-depth one hour one-on-one tax session to walk you through your tax return, explain issues, and answer your questions. It includes a personalized tax projection, setup of your estimated quarterly tax payment amounts for the next year, and personalized IRA guidance.
Q: I’ve got tons of questions, and I bought the One-on-One package. Can I email you tax questions anytime?
A: Nope. Tax advice is serious, and we take our professional responsibility seriously. For this reason, we like to be focused when we’re doing it, and we like you to be focused, too. We restrict our answering of tax questions to designated calls. This can be in your 30 minute coaching session(s) or in your one-hour tax consultation when we review and advise you on your tax return. You can always book additional one-on-one coaching calls. And you can save up all your little questions and go through a long list of them in a 30 minute call (we love this!). But we don’t take random questions or scatter them into other places, because we need the full context to be sure we know your scenario and give you the right information.
If you have questions about preparing your tax materials or our process as you work with us, those are fine to email, and our admin team can help you get that stuff sorted so you’re fully ready for your big tax advisory session. And of course, please DO bring your tax questions to that.
Q: Can I hire you to review my old tax return? I know that you “get” artists’ tax issues, and I’m not sure my last accountant did.
A: Yes and no. We don’t offer this as a standalone service. That said, for every new tax client, we review your last tax return - it’s part of our normal tax preparation process. If we find anomalies or things you should be concerned about, we will tell you.
Q: What if I want Sunlight Tax to do my taxes every year?
A: Good question. You are welcome to have Sunlight Tax continue to do your taxes, but you will need to be actively enrolled in Money Bootcamp each year to do so. Note: after your first year in Money Bootcamp, the price drops to a simple membership plan (currently $149/month), and we simply bill you for the cost of your tax return. It’s not a huge commitment, but it’s not for everyone. We are a small tax practice, and we prioritize tax clients who want to be with us for the whole special-sauce of membership, not just the tax return.
Q: What if I want you to be my new accountant?
A: That’s ok, BUT you should know that we’re not like everyone else. We run an awesome membership program with tons of education and resources - but we don’t do some of the traditional services of a more traditional accounting firm. We don’t do your bookkeeping (we focus on teaching you how to do it), we don’t issue your 1099s (again, we empower you to do that), we don’t do sales tax or local franchise taxes, and we don’t provide audited financial statements. If you need those things, you’ll do better with a more traditional accounting firm. That said, you’ll still get a great tax and financial education from Money Bootcamp, and many Bootcampers use Bootcamp to become empowered and learn how to ask better questions of their own accountant and get their money’s worth when they use other accounting firms.
But if you’d like us to do your taxes every year, and you’re on board with staying an active member of Bootcamp, we’re happy to continue to work together.
Q: Does Bootcamp cover sales tax?
A: I have resources to point you to, but I don’t file sales tax returns, or teach in depth about sales tax. Sales tax is a local-based tax, with about 10,000 thousand different jurisdictions, and given Bootcamp members in almost 50 states, I can’t reasonably keep current on the rules in every one. Bootcamp does not include other local tax filings like franchise taxes.
About Your Instructor
I’m Hannah and I’ve been a working artist for over 15 years. And everything good that has happened in my art career has come from my fellow artists.
I started Sunlight Tax to give back to the creative community that is doing the empathy work our culture needs.
In this era of mistrust and breakdown, artists create connections, bridge divides, inspire people and call them to action, and we help people envision a world as it could be. When artists stop making work, the reason is usually financial.
So when I’m able to give other creative people the money tools they need to be financially stable, I’m supporting your important work. And the world needs you right now.
But you need savings, security and the ability to rest. Why? So you can keep showing up in the world doing the brave work you were meant to.
I’m an Enrolled Agent, a tax expert, a speaker, and a writer. And of course, an artist.
I’m a tax and money columnist for Hyperallergic, and formerly for Art F City. And these are some of the arts organizations that have hosted me:
About the Sunlight Tax Team of Tax Experts
Our tax team is incredible. All of our tax advisors have over five years’ experience doing the taxes of freelancers, small businesses and creative people. We specialize in the tricky areas of special concern to small creative businesses: losses, estimated quarterly taxes, audit concerns specific to artists, and the deep cultural value that creative work brings to our world. You can learn more about the members of our team here.