Creative Coach Studio

Financial and business coaching for creative minds

Money mentoring, business planning and life planning for content creators, YouTubers, artists, makers, yoga teachers, healers and other creative people. Get on top of your money and build a business, and a life, that it properly supports.

Who I work with

You're great at what you do. The money side is harder.

Most of the people I work with didn't start a business to do bookkeeping. They started it to make things, teach things or help people. Then the tax returns pile up, prices stay too low, and money becomes something to avoid.

I'm here to change that, gently and practically, in a way that fits how you think and what you care about.

ArtistsDesignersMakersMusicians Content creatorsYouTubersPodcastersWritersPhotographersYoga teachersPilates instructors HealersHolistic practitionersWellness coachesTherapists TeachersSmall studios
The money cycle

The loop so many creatives get stuck in

It isn't a lack of talent or effort. It's a cycle, and each part feeds the next. Once you can see it, you can break it.

  1. UnderchargingPrices set by guesswork or fear
  2. Taking on too muchMore work just to get by
  3. No time for moneyRecords, tax and admin slip
  4. Stress and avoidanceMoney feels scary, so it's ignored
  5. Saying yes to anythingAny job, any price, any terms

How we break it

  • Price with confidence. Work out what you need to earn and set prices that cover it.
  • Choose your work. Know which jobs are worth taking, so you can say no to the rest.
  • Make money simple. A light routine for records, savings and tax that takes minutes, not weekends.
  • Take the fear out. Understand your numbers, so money stops being something to avoid.
  • Plan ahead. Build a safety net and a plan, so you're never forced into snap decisions.
How I help

Your money, your business and your life, joined up

This isn't just accounts and tax. We look at the whole picture: how you earn, how you live, and what you want your money to make possible.

01

Money mentoring

Regular one-to-one sessions to build your confidence with money. We untangle old habits, make sense of the numbers and turn money into something you feel in control of.

02

Life planning around money

Taking time off to create, buying a home, starting a family, moving country. We map out what you want your life to look like and build a money plan that gets you there.

03

Setting up your business

Sole trader or company, separate bank accounts, what to register and where, contracts and record keeping. We set things up properly from the start, or tidy up what you already have.

04

Pricing and growth

Charging what your work is worth, building offers people want to buy, and planning new income streams like brand deals, teaching, products or workshops.

05

Cash flow and budgeting

Simple systems for irregular income: what to pay yourself, how to build a safety net, and how to stop quiet months turning into stressful ones.

06

Bookkeeping and tax planning

I review your bookkeeping, tell you what needs fixing and help you plan for tax, so you always know what to set aside. I can work alongside your accountant, wherever you're based.

Wherever you are

From your first commission to the boardroom

I work with creative people at every stage. The questions change as you grow, but the need for clear, confident money decisions never goes away.

Starting out

Career starters

Graduates, new freelancers and creators, newly qualified teachers and practitioners.

  • Setting up the right way
  • Your first real prices
  • Simple money habits
Building

Independent creatives

Established freelancers, content creators, artists, makers, yoga teachers and healers.

  • Steadier income
  • Raising your prices
  • New income streams
Growing

Studio and business owners

Studios, small brands, retreat and workshop businesses, creatives with a team.

  • Company structure
  • Cash flow and hiring
  • Paying yourself well
Leading

Senior creatives and executives

Creative directors, founders and senior leaders in creative businesses.

  • Personal wealth planning
  • Equity, bonuses and big moves
  • Commercial confidence
Working together

Simple, personal and at your pace

There's no one-size-fits-all package. We start with a conversation, then work together in whatever way suits you and where you are right now.

One session

A single session

One focused conversation about whatever is on your mind: your prices, a big decision, a money worry you keep putting off. You leave with clarity and a few clear next steps.

A reset

Getting back on track

If things have got into a muddle, we spend a few focused weeks untangling it: records, money owed, what comes in and what goes out. Then you start again from solid ground.

Everything starts with a free intro call, where we talk about what you need and what it would cost. Book a call.

Why I started

I'm a creative who speaks fluent finance

Creative friends, clients and people I'd worked with kept coming to me with the same questions: how do I price my work, should I set up a company, how do I stop dreading tax time? I was approached so many times that I decided to make it official.

Creative Coach Studio is the result: honest, practical help with money from someone who has made creative work, built a creative business and spends every day in the numbers.

Zai Joud
About me

Hi, I'm Zai Joud

My career has sat right where creativity and money meet. I've worked in the creative industry with fashion houses, coaches and writers, so I know how creative businesses actually run, and how often the money side gets pushed to the bottom of the list.

I built a successful marketing and web design agency of my own, which taught me first-hand what it takes to price creative work, win clients and keep the cash coming in. Today I'm also managing partner at an accounting and tax firm, so the technical side, from bookkeeping to tax planning, is what I do every day.

Creative Coach Studio brings those two worlds together. You get someone who understands your work and speaks your language, with the know-how of an accountant behind every conversation.

I work online with creative clients around the world.

Questions

Things people often ask

Who is this for?

Creative and independent people who run their own business: content creators, YouTubers, artists, designers, makers, musicians, writers, photographers, yoga and Pilates teachers, wellness coaches, therapists, healers and small studios. Whether you're full time or just getting going, if money feels like the part of the business you'd rather not look at, this is for you.

I'm a YouTuber or content creator. Can you help?

Yes. Creator income comes from many places at once: ad revenue, brand deals, sponsorships, affiliate links, memberships and merch, often in different currencies and at unpredictable times. We'll work out what to charge for brand deals, smooth out the ups and downs, plan for tax on every income stream, and decide when it makes sense to set up a company or build a team.

Is this coaching or accounting?

Both. The coaching helps you make better decisions about pricing, spending and growth. The accounting side makes sure your bookkeeping is right and your tax returns are filed. Having both with one person means the advice and the numbers always match.

What is money mentoring?

It's ongoing, one-to-one support with how you think about and manage money. Less about spreadsheets, more about understanding your patterns, setting goals that matter to you and building habits that stick. The numbers come along with it.

Can you help me plan for big life goals?

Yes. Whether it's a sabbatical to focus on your art, buying a home, having children or moving to another country, we work out what it will cost, when it's realistic and what needs to change to get there.

Can you help me set up my business properly?

Yes. We look at whether to work as a sole trader or set up a company, how to separate your business and personal money, what you need to register, and how to keep records from day one. Where local rules matter, I'll work with an accountant or lawyer in your country.

I'm just starting out. Is it too early?

Not at all. Getting the basics right early is much easier than fixing things later. We can look at what you need to register where you live, how to keep simple records from day one, and how to price your work so it's sustainable.

My income goes up and down. Can you help me plan around that?

Yes, this is one of the most common things I work on. We build a simple system for setting money aside for tax, smoothing out quiet months and knowing what you can really afford to pay yourself.

Can you help me work out what to charge?

Yes. Pricing is often where creative people lose the most money. We look at your costs, your time and what your work is worth, and set prices you feel confident saying out loud.

I find money stressful and tend to avoid it. Will you judge me?

Never. Avoiding money is completely normal, especially when it's never been explained in a way that makes sense to you. We go at your pace and start with whatever feels most pressing.

Do I need to be organised before we start?

No. Most people come to me with a messy spreadsheet, a pile of receipts or a bank account that mixes everything together. Sorting that out is part of the work.

I'm behind with my tax. Can you help?

Yes. We'll get your records up to date, work out where you stand and make a plan for anything you owe. I'll work with your local accountant to get any missing returns filed.

Should I set up a company?

It depends on where you live, how much you earn, how you want to pay yourself and where your business is heading. We can weigh it up together and, if it makes sense, plan the switch with your local accountant.

Do you prepare my tax return?

Tax rules are different in every country, so I focus on coaching, your bookkeeping and tax planning. Your return is filed by a local accountant, and I work alongside them so nothing gets missed. If you don't have one, I can help you find one.

What bookkeeping software do I need?

I can work with what you already use. If you don't have anything yet, I'll help you choose something simple that fits how you work.

How do sessions work?

Sessions are 60 minutes on video call. If we work together regularly, you can also get in touch by email or message in between.

Do you work with clients outside the UK?

Yes. Everything is online, so I work with creative people all over the world. We'll find session times that suit your time zone, and if you're planning a move to another country, we can plan for that too.

Do I have to commit for a long time?

No. Some people book a single session, others work with me for months. We'll talk about what makes sense for you on the intro call.

How much does it cost?

It depends on how we work together and on where you are right now. I'll talk you through pricing on a free intro call, with no pressure to sign up.

What happens on the intro call?

We spend 30 minutes talking about your work, where things are with your money and what you'd like to change. I'll tell you honestly whether I can help and how we might work together.

Do you give investment or pension advice?

No. Coaching covers how you manage and plan your money, but I don't recommend specific investments or pensions. If you need that, I can point you to a regulated financial adviser.

Get in touch

Let's have a chat

Book a free 30-minute intro call. Tell me where you are and where you want to be, and I'll tell you honestly whether I can help.

hello@creativecoach.studio +44 7471 932466