Claire Van Holland
Q What do you do?
“Accounting, bookkeeping & data analytics for Type A creatives & entrepreneurs.”
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I built my career in corporate media doing strategic planning & financial analysis, but wanted to make a bigger impact by providing creatives & small business owners the same wealth of knowledge that will allow them to thrive.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Financial folks are often hard to relate to and understand. I focus on working specifically with creatives & creative business because I know how to communicate complex financial ideas into digestible chunks of information that is visually stimulating and easy to understand.
It also helps to have a business with my husband, because I truly understand from a creative's vantage point the frustrations of dealing with company financials while growing the business.
Q What are you working on right now?
Creating real time, automated dashboard analytics that connects all data touch points across each clients' business which will allow them to make more informed decisions.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
If I weren’t such a rational personality I would have become a choreographer. As a classically trained dancer, it’s incredibly important that I find ways to creatively express myself and get out of my head every once in awhile. I want to find more time to create the shapes and movement that I visualize whenever I hear music.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
There is literally not enough time in the day to do all the things that need to get done or to do the things I want to do.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Data entry - all day, everyday :-)
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Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Stay patient! You will hit your goals and you will learn a lot, even if it isn't exactly how you originally envisioned, it will be amazing nonetheless.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would like to have a roundtable discussion with Esther Perel & Christopher Ryan on the evolution of human sexuality.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
Creative based small businesses, entrepreneurs & digital startups! Many of my current clients fall into the design realm and includes art direction, branding, furniture & home goods, apparel & accessories, and sound design & record manufacturing. It is my goal to become the go-to financial expert for these industries.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
Type A creatives and entrepreneurs who have outgrown the ability to maintain their company's finances and can no longer afford to sacrifice their valuable time & energy.
Q What is your hourly rate, retainer or salary range?
My monthly retainer starts at $400 and includes daily financial transaction management, budgeting, financial reconciliation, custom monthly financial reporting, accounting software subscription & set-up & document management software subscription & set up. We will connect monthly to discuss the state of their finances and walk through everything step by step.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Emailing me is always a great way to get in contact, but filling out this form is even better! It helps me get to know who you are and what you do so when we do connect, I have a better sense of how we can best work together.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Visualize it, music translated to form, movement makes music.
This member profile was originally published in October 2016.