Illustrative engagement. A representative scenario showing how we approach this kind of work in creative services. It does not describe a specific client; outcomes are described qualitatively.
Industry overview
What is shaping creative services
Design studios and creative agencies need evidence that their work performs, insight into their clients and research that helps them win pitches.
- Clients ask for proof that creative work performs
- Client relationships drive repeat business
- Talent is the main asset
Client background
A branding studio, working in Mumbai. This is an illustrative engagement: a representative scenario showing how we approach this kind of work, not a named client project.
- Organisation
- A branding studio
- Sector
- Creative services
- Team engaged
- Finance & Accounts
- Services
- Accounting & bookkeeping, MIS & financial reporting, GST services
Client challenge
The studio did not know which projects made money because time and costs were not tracked against projects.
Research objectives
- Deliver on the brief: project costing and invoicing for a design studio.
- Establish accurate, reconciled numbers management can rely on.
- Put a reporting and compliance rhythm in place that runs on time.
Target audience
Scope: Monthly.
Audiences we typically reach in creative services
Agency clientsTarget audiences for creative workCreative teamsProspectsFreelancers
Geographic coverage
Coverage: Mumbai. Market: India.
- India
Research methodology
A structured finance engagement: review the current process, set up controls, run the routine and report.
- 1Brief
- 2Timesheet-based costing
- 3Insight
We linked timesheets to projects, set up milestone invoicing and a monthly report of profit by project and client.
Accounting & bookkeepingMIS & financial reportingGST services
Sampling strategy
- Every ledger, entity and transaction stream in scope was covered, with sample-based checks during review.
Data collection
- Source documents, bank statements and ledgers were collected through a secure shared workspace.
Data quality & validation
- Maker-checker review on all entries
- Bank and ledger reconciliations
- Client approval before every filing or report
- Supporting documents kept for every figure
Data analysis
- Variance analysis against budget and prior periods
- Ratio and trend analysis
- Cash-flow view for management
Key findings
- Time is a creative studio's main cost; track it.
Recommendations
- Build on the core insight: time is a creative studio's main cost; track it.
- Re-measure after the changes to confirm the effect.
Business impact
- The founders identified projects that consistently ran over and changed how they quoted them.
What changed in the business as a result of the work. Impact is described qualitatively.
Deliverables & next steps
- Insight report and management presentation
- Monthly MIS pack and reconciled books
- Compliance calendar and filings
- Continue the routine and review results every period.
- A natural follow-on question: how satisfied are our clients?