Episode 239

full
Published on:

4th Sep 2025

Do You Really Need Big Systems to Make Six Figures? (The Bare Bones Version)

You don’t actually need big, complicated systems to make money in your business — and yes, I’m the Systems Professor saying that out loud. Hitting six figures and building a sustainable, ease-filled business are two very different things. In this episode, I’m breaking down what I call “bare bones systems”: the absolute minimum setup every creative business needs to book clients.

I’ll walk you through the anchor activities that matter most at each stage of the client journey, the three non-negotiables every business should have in place, and when it’s time to go beyond bare bones into a full client experience glow-up.

If you’ve been stuck thinking you need to do everything before you can feel legit — let this episode give you permission to start small and still move forward.

Linked Mentioned

Systems in Session (done-WITH-you systems setup)

5-minute booking proposal (FREE training)

How to Create a 5-Minute Booking Process (podcast episode)

5 Workflows Every Creative Needs (podcast episode)

Show artwork for Business-First Creatives

About the Podcast

Business-First Creatives

Every creative deserves to turn their craft into a business that brings them joy and profit. Here you'll find a no-BS approach to what it takes to put the business first, prioritizing the systems and strategies that will actually move the needle and ensure your creative business is profitable rather than an expensive side-hustle. Your host is Colie James, a Disney-loving family photographer, and filmmaker turned Workflow and Automations Guru who helps creative service providers automate their sh*t, reclaim their time and get back to living!