Creative Business Manager
Fractional operations leadership, delivered through consistent monthly hours.
High level operational leadership for creative studios that are ready to grow with support and stability.
Your studio is busy, your clients are happy, and your work is thriving. But behind the scenes, you are managing far too much. You are keeping track of deadlines, coordinating with your team, onboarding clients, reviewing proposals, organizing files, overseeing procurement, managing vendors, responding to messages, and doing the constant mental load of running a creative business.
You do not need more hours in the day. You need an experienced operations partner who can manage the backend of your business with clarity, consistency, and care.
The Creative Business Manager service is a fractional partnership designed for studios that want long term support at a high level. You receive dedicated monthly hours and a built in team that manages systems, operations, communication, project oversight, and internal structure. This lets you stay in your zone of genius while your business runs with more ease and far less stress.
This is not just task support. This is strategic, operational leadership for creative studios.
Who This Is For
Creative studio owners who want:
An experienced operations leader without the cost or commitment of a full time hire
Reliable monthly support that keeps the business organized and moving forward
A partner who can anticipate needs, solve problems, and manage details
Oversight on systems, projects, team communication, and internal workflows
Long term stability and a clear sense of direction
A true right hand who understands the creative industry
This is the ideal fit for established studios, growing teams, and creative founders who are stretched too thin and ready to hand off the operational load.
Creative Business Manager
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Creative Business Manager •
What You Receive
You receive a combination of Kat’s direct support and additional backend support from highly experienced contractors who understand the creative and interior design industries. This gives you the benefit of a small but mighty operations team that plugs into your studio without you needing to train or manage anyone internally.
Services are customized based on your studio’s needs and priorities. The intention is to remove the weight from your shoulders and give you peace of mind that everything behind the scenes is taken care of.
Support can include:
Team management and communication
Project coordination and oversight
Vendor and client communication
Workflow and systems creation
Process refinement and documentation
Studio Designer support
Procurement coordination
Internal organization and digital structure
Calendar and scheduling support
Operations leadership and decision making
Hiring, onboarding, and HR support
General business management
Monthly Support Levels
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Creative Business Manager partnerships are customized based on the level of support your business needs.
Most clients engage kat&co for between 20 and 30 hours of support per month, depending on business needs and team structure.
All partnerships include a combination of strategic leadership, operational oversight, implementation support, and ongoing collaboration tailored to your business.
A minimum three-month commitment is required. Spaces are limited each quarter to ensure high-quality, hands-on support.
What Makes This Service Different
You receive the benefit of an experienced operations professional and an expanded backend team, without the cost, onboarding, training, or oversight required with an employee. You receive a fully functioning operations department that integrates into your studio with care and consistency.
This is a rare level of support for creative studios. It is tailored, personal, and grounded in real industry experience.
Let’s Do the Math
Hiring a full time operations manager or studio manager typically costs:
Salary: 80,000 - 120,000 per year
Payroll taxes and insurance
Employee onboarding expenses
Time spent training and supervising
Ongoing management and performance oversight
Benefits, sick days, paid time off
For many creative studios, that cost simply does not make sense.
Fractional support gives you the expertise without the overhead.
What You Can Expect
Clear, structured communication
Proactive management and reliable follow through
A team that anticipates needs instead of reacting to problems
A smoother studio and less mental load
Systems that support your growth
A partner who understands client dynamics, team needs, and the operational demands of creative work
Peace of mind knowing things are handled consistently and professionally
"As a one person business, I need support in both operations and project deliverables — kat&co gives me the confidence in knowing that the job will be done well and delivered on time, which allows me to give my clients more face to face time. Kat is always reliable, honest, efficient, communicative, collaborative, and working with her is fun!"
– Chelsea Rafferty
Request Pricing
Fill out the form to get our current pricing guide sent straight to your inbox!
FAQs
A few quick answers so you know what to expect before we work together.
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You are not alone in feeling that way.
Most clients begin with either Creative Business Coaching or the Design Business Intensive. Coaching is ideal when you need guidance, accountability, and a trusted thought partner. The Design Business Intensive is best for interior designers who want to improve systems, processes, and business operations through a focused strategy and implementation partnership. Check out the Creative Business Manager service if you’re looking for fractional operations leadership.
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Interior designers are my primary specialty because I have more than a decade of experience inside design firms, but I also support visual designers, brand studios, and other creative service businesses. If you run a studio and want more clarity, structure, or support behind the scenes, we are probably a great match.
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Creative operations is the behind the scenes structure of your studio. This includes your workflows, communication, systems, client processes, team coordination, and all the internal pieces that help your creative work run smoothly. My job is to bring clarity, simplicity, and support to these areas so your business feels lighter and easier to lead.
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Not at all. Your business does not need to be “ready” for support. I meet you exactly where you are, without judgment, and help you make sense of the parts that feel heavy or chaotic. Messiness is normal in creative studios, and fixing it is part of the work we do together.
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You can request my current pricing at any time. Each service page includes a simple button that lets you enter your email, and I will send a clear, easy to read PDF with all package details, inclusions, and pricing straight to your inbox. This keeps everything organized for you and makes it easy to compare options or share details with your team. If you are unsure which service is the best fit, I am always happy to help you choose!