This is the monthly blog income and expense report for April 2017. It’s time I pried myself away from the launch of my new book, Marketing Playbook: Scale Your Online Business to Outrageous Success, to tell you how I earned $20,998.82 last month (working from home, running my online business). Because this year, I’m going to drop real numbers in your lap to show you exactly what can happen if you stick with it.
Income Goal
As of right now, I’m officially dropping income goals and challenges for awhile. It’s a great practice for any sole proprietor looking to stretch themselves, but I’m now an S-Corp (see this post, topic #2 for more info). Therefore, the structure of my business has changed. Right now, I’m accepting the challenge to make an extremely reliable profit for the business, and it’s something I work on daily.
In short, it was stressing me out. I’ll bring this back when I’m not already pushing myself so close to the ledge.
Income report – April 2017
- Luminaries Club Membership Dues: $10,139
- Marketing Playbook: $6,284.64
- Complete Copywriting: $4,078
- Amazon royalties (YBY2017): $0 (they didn’t arrive until May 1)
- Direct sales Your Best Year 2017 : $497.18
The Luminaries Club is currently closed to new members (with exception to those signing up for Complete Copywriting), but in April, I ran an exclusive 3-month trial offer for email subscribers (to this blog, Marketing Creativity) who wanted to try the club. That created a surge of income for the membership program.
My new book, Marketing Playbook: Scale Your Online Business to Outrageous Success launched on April 25.
Complete Copywriting is my signature course, and it re-opened for enrollment back in January. It continues to perform well, and I’m still welcoming new students.
Your Best Year 2017 earned $497.18 at its end-of-season rate.
Total income for April 2017: $20,998.82
Y•T•D Total: $92,341.33
Business Expenses
- Staff, salary, and contractors: $14,020
- Payment, host, and shipping fees: $1047.64
- Infusionsoft: $299
- Office Supplies: $86.75
- Home Office Remodel: $2,287.94
- Education + Training: $120.25
- Web hosting + software: $662.57
- Meals, accommodations, travel: $1,324.92
Total expenses this month: $19,849.07
Y•T•D Total: $58,369.90
*Phew* I’m in the black this month, but just barely! This year has been expensive. Behind-the-scenes, I’ve been working on new photography, a total website redesign, a home office remodel, and rebranding Marketing Creativity. It’s keeping me on my toes—that’s for sure.
As with most months, staff, salary (mine), and contractors were my biggest expense in April. I’ve talked about hiring for your business before, and I thought it might be useful to list all the things I’ve outsourced in my business should you be considering adding staff to yours. My hires help with …
- shipping and handling (physical books)
- video editing and production
- webinar moderation
- accounting
- customer support
- text editing
- product creation
- photography
- transcription
- tax preparation
- branding, website design, and development (coming soon)
- office organization and cleaning
- business management
Etsy fees and shipping take up the bulk of the second line, but I’ve also included Paypal and credit card processing fees there.
Infusionsoft is my email and customer management software, as well as the host of my private membership and training programs.
Office supplies cover everything from pens and notebooks to office equipment (computers, tablets, etc.).
Home office remodel isn’t an expense I have on here every month, but I’ve recently moved and I’m in the process of finishing my new home office. It was included as an expense category last month, this month, and possibly next month. See sneak peeks of the new design on Instagram. Big reveal coming next week.
My web hosting is by Pagely, and my bill is only $24/month (sadly, that amazing price is no longer available to new customers; I love this service). This month also includes my LeadPages annual fee, which was a pretty hefty bill at $577. I use it sometimes, but I may look into development services so that I’m able to work around this expense next year.
Meals, accommodations, and travel is a rare category for me, but it does happen occasionally. This month, I took a quick getaway for some team-building. I also flew my favorite photographer to my home to take all-new photographs for my site, booked her stay, and bought meals during our workdays.
Marketing Playbook is Here!
Marketing Playbook: How to Scale Your Business to Outrageous Success is the most comprehensive + affordable package I’ve ever put together for online business owners, and I can hardly wait to deliver your copy to you. I took my six-figure earning strategies and packaged them into a revolutionary system that anybody can use.
>> Click here to learn more about Marketing Playbook <<<
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Until next time and all the best xx
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