Creative Outcomes – Details, episodes & analysis

“How much should I be paying myself?”

If you’re an agency owner or partner, you’ve probably asked that question more than once. In this episode of Creative Outcomes, Upsourced partners Ryan Watson and Craig Baldwin break down what partner compensation should look like in a modern agency.

We get into:

- How to think about “the maximum you can pay yourself” without starving the business

- Why cash reserves and forecasting are critical before you touch distributions

- The difference between S corps and partnerships when it comes to salary vs. distributions

- How often to run profit distribution calculations (monthly vs. quarterly vs. annually)

- Why borrowing from client prepayments or lines of credit to “pay yourself” is a huge red flag

- The tough question: “At what point am I better off just getting a job?”

- What it really means to be a partner and why sloppy equity promises are so dangerous

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re paying yourself enough, too much, or in the wrong way, this episode is for you.

Subscribe for more conversations on agency finance, profitability, and building a business that actually pays you what you’re worth.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Intro

1:10 – What do we mean by “partner compensation”?

3:45 – How much should I actually pay myself?

7:00 – Cash reserves and distributions

9:30 – S corp vs. partnership: how structure changes comp

17:20 – How often should I take profit distributions?

19:40 – Basis, loans, and why “extra cash” might not be profit

28:00 – When your business isn’t paying you enough

34:30 – Partner dynamics, equity, and bad cap tables

Most agencies say they want “value-based pricing.” Few actually do it—fewer do it well.

In this episode, Craig Baldwin, Partner at Upsourced, breaks down the real-world pricing models agencies use (time & materials, fixed fee, retainers/subscriptions, outcome/value-based, hybrids) and how to choose what protects margin and manages risk. The goal isn’t a perfect model; it’s a consistent 50%+ project/client margin and a healthier mix of recurring revenue so you’re not living project-to-project.

You’ll learn:

- The core pricing models and when they shine (or sink you)

- Why true value-based pricing is rare—and risky—without data

- Hybrid structures that share upside while capping downside

- How recurring revenue creates a floor (and why projects set your ceiling)

- The only metric Craig cares about: reliable margin

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro

01:00 The big three: time, deliverable, or outcome

04:10 Time & Materials (incl. cost-plus)

05:54 Fixed-fee/project pricing—scope risk & expectation creep

08:14 Retainers & “subscription” models (what’s the real difference?)

09:46 What strict value-based pricing actually means

12:00 Hybrid pricing (base + performance)

13:00 Other models: barter, equity—why they usually disappoint

17:24 Productized vs. bespoke retainers

19:24 Project vs. recurring revenue (floor vs. ceiling)

20:55 The hype vs. the practice of “value-based”

24:54 Yes, you’ll still estimate time under the hood

26:45 Choosing what fits your strengths

28:37 Margin targets and diagnosing shortfalls

29:40 Wrap & how to get in touch

Links:

Work with Upsourced: www.upsourcedaccounting.com

Email Craig: cbaldwin@upsourcedaccounting.com

If this helped, hit Subscribe—new episodes on building durable, profitable agencies.

In this episode of the Creative Outcomes podcast, host Craig Baldwin speaks with Garrett, Spencer, and Tucker, the partners behind Alright Studio.

They share their journey from freelancers to running a 10-person creative agency in Brooklyn, discussing the evolution of their business model, their approach to team building, financial challenges, and how they've learned to trust their intuition while building something meaningful.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - 01:10 - Introduction to the podcast and Alright Studio partners

01:10 - 06:00 - The genesis of Alright Studio and partnership formation

06:00 - 10:30 - Current state of Alright Studio and their service offerings

10:30 - 14:30 - What makes Alright distinctive and their unique approach

14:30 - 19:00 - Financial management challenges and finding upsource

19:00 - 26:45 - How accounting partnership changed their business approach

26:45 - 33:40 - Team growth, studio culture, and organizational philosophy

33:40 - 41:00 - Business ownership challenges and finding validation

41:00 - 48:30 - Long-term perspective, future outlook, and closing thoughts

For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=Alright_Podcast

🔍 M&A Secrets: 10 Surprising Truths from Two-Time Sellers

From shocking valuation differences to the truth about strategic acquisitions, discover what really happens when selling your business.

Key revelations:

- Valuations aren't as scientific as you think

- Even big companies are figuring it out as they go

- Your negotiating power is stronger than you realize

- How net working capital can shift your final payout

- The reality of working under new ownership

Whether you're considering selling your business or just curious about M&A, this candid discussion pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind closed doors.

Learn from those who've been through it twice!

Want help navigating your M&A journey? Connect with our experienced team at Upsourced. https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=M&A_Podcast

Learn the 5 financial metrics your agency should be tracking to unlock profitable growth.

In this session with Upsourced's Ryan Watson and Agency Builders' Logan Lyles, you'll learn:

- The 5 financial metrics successful agencies get right (from Upsourced’s analysis of dozens of agency clients)

- The Hierarchy of Financial Needs to identify the right financial metric to prioritize at your agency's current stage

- The 3-part framework known as the Margin Triangle (key to getting a handle on your agency’s gross margin)

If you have questions, please contact us for more: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=ABWebinar

Join us in this episode of Creative Outcomes as Natalie from Fifth Third Bank's Provide division breaks down everything you need to know about SBA loans.

In this must-watch podcast, discover:

✅ When to consider an SBA loan

✅ Key qualification requirements

✅ How to use SBA loans for business growth

✅ Acquisition financing strategies

✅ Avoiding common loan application mistakes

Perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, and anyone looking to understand business financing options!

For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=SBALoanPodcast

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction

1:00 - When to Consider an SBA Loan

2:20 - Documentation Requirements for SBA Loans

3:30 - Types of SBA Loan Use Cases

5:15 - SBA Loans: Strategic Growth vs Immediate Cash Needs

6:40 - SBA Loan Qualification Criteria

8:00 - Risks and Personal Guarantees in SBA Lending

9:25 - Handling EIDL Loan Repayment Challenges

12:15 - What to Avoid with SBA Loans

13:40 - SBA Loans for Business Acquisition

15:35 - SBA Loan Benefits Compared to Conventional Financing

17:05 - Steps to Explore SBA Loan Options

19:05 - Current Lending and M&A Market Trends

21:50 - Importance of Banker Relationships

23:50 - Closing Remarks

In this episode, Anthony Armendariz, co-founder of Funsize, shares:

- The origin story of Funsize

- Inside look at Method Week

- their innovative quarterly program bringing teams together

- How they've built a lasting design agency while balancing family business dynamics

- Their evolution from a 4-day workweek to a thriving two-division studio

- The power of reinvention and authentic company culture in agency life

- Anthony's vision for the future of design consulting and creative work

Perfect for agency owners, designers, and anyone interested in building sustainable creative businesses that put people first!

For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=FunsizePodcast

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction & Funsize Overview

3:42 - Working with Spouse/Family Business

6:31 - Previous Agency Experience & Lessons Learned

9:37 - Leadership Role & Company Culture

15:48 - Method Week Deep Dive

24:42 - Future Vision & Dreams for Funsize

In this episode, former agency CEO and current consultant Chris DuBois shares his insights on developing the leadership skills needed to build high-performing, motivated teams.

Drawing from his experiences transitioning from an operator role to a consultancy, Chris discusses strategies for hiring the right people, managing through challenges, and fostering a dynamic agency culture that employees are excited to be a part of.

Learn how to become the type of leader your team wants to follow. For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=ChrisPodcast

In this episode, Craig Baldwin interviews Karl Sakas, agency advisor and author of "Work Less, Earn More".

Karl shares insights on helping agency owners find balance, delegate effectively, and increase profitability.

Key topics include:

- The inspiration behind Karl's new book

- Frameworks for reducing owner involvement

- Balancing work reduction with agency growth

- Strategies for high-value time management

- Overcoming challenges in delegating responsibilities

- Using the "advanced retrospective" tool for goal-setting

Learn practical advice for optimizing your agency and achieving both personal and professional success.

Whether you're looking to scale, sell, or simply enjoy running your agency more, this episode offers valuable takeaways for creative business owners.

Book: Work Less, Earn More: How to Escape the Daily Grind of Agency Ownership (https://sakasandcompany.com/lp/work-less-earn-more-book/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes)

Resources: Free agency advice from Karl Sakas (https://sakasandcompany.com/free-resources-for-agencies/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes)

Free Template: Visualizing your ideal agency with an Advance Retrospective (https://sakasandcompany.com/using-advance-retrospectives/?utm_campaign=CreativeOutcomes)

LinkedIn: Connect with Karl Sakas on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlsakas/)

Proven tips to master your financial and RevGen strategies at each stage of the agency life cycle.

Download The Agency Growth Roadmap: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11KeDnbqa9Z3-pWc37V0zlD--eVEYZ0vL/view?usp=drive_link

In this insightful conversation, we break down the four key stages of agency growth:

- Creating the Business (0-$1M)

- Building the Business ($1M-$3M)

- Growing the Business ($3M+)

- Scaling the Business ($10M+)

We dive deep into the challenges and opportunities at each stage, covering topics like:

- Overcoming the "cobbler's children have no shoes" problem

- Balancing short-term revenue needs with long-term growth

- The importance of time tracking and profitability analysis

- Developing repeatable revenue generation systems

- Creating organizational structures that support growth

- Professionalizing sales and marketing as you scale

Whether you're just starting out or looking to take your agency to the next level, this episode offers valuable insights and practical strategies for success. For more, contact us: https://www.upsourcedaccounting.com/contact-us?utm_campaign=Agency-Growth-Roadmap-Podcast