Thanks for putting this together again Anoosha! I'm curious about your decision to go from a corporation to a sole proprietorship, as I'm trying to figure out if I should stay a sole proprietor or get an LLC. I'd love to hear your thoughts behind your decision!
Important to note that we don't have LLC's in Canada; it's sole prop or Corp. I decided to incorporate in 2018 to take advantage of the tax benefits (lower taxes when you pay yourself a salary.)
Incorporation only makes sense once you are earning a certain amount per year ($60-80k+) otherwise with all the fees and extra work associated with corps, it ends up not being worth it.
Moving to the US, I had to close down my corp. Now that I'm here, I have to decide if I want to do corp again, or a 'single-member LLC' or sole prop. LLC's only big benefit over sole prop is the liability protection (if someone sues you, they can only take whats in the business, not everything YOU own like your house.) I don't forsee liability to be a huge issue for my type of career (unless I go more into education, then I might make the switch.)
I could do corp again, but since I'm not working as much I don't know if I'll reach the same income I used to. And more importantly, since I'm in Texas, I don't think the tax benefits are as needed as they were in heavily taxed Canada. So to save myself a head-ache, I am sticking to sole-prop for now.
Once I understand the system in the US and my finances better, I might upgrade later!
I have been an S Corp (in Colorado) for 4 years and it’s beneficial when you make over 60,000 a year. I too am dropping the s Corp and going back to an LLC because the logistics (quarterly paperwork) is much easier and I’ll be making less now that I’m also a full time mom.
Thanks for your input! Do you ever foresee yourself going back to SCorp in the future when things change or do you think LLC is the best fit for your business and needs?
I’m hoping when my son goes to school I can grow my business in which case I would become an S Corp again. Technically when I revoke my S Corp status I have to wait 5 years to get it again, which coincides well with this plan. If I grow before then, I’ll work with my accountant on a new plan 😝
You are a superstar. I’m in awe of your drive and ability to navigate all the twists and turns of this crazy career- and momming is hard! ✨Wishing you the best in 2025
Always enjoy this breakdown so much! Gracias for your hard work doing it!
I'm curious if thought about keeping your patreon going during mat leave, and being honest about not being able to provide content those months? Just because I've heard the argument before that supporting artists should not always mean getting something in return. Also, I feel like some of your supporters would have been happy to support you without content as they would know they're supporting you through your Mat leave. ❤️
And welcome to Texas! I live in Austin!!
I'll be at TLA in Dallas, and there's definitely a really wonderful illustration community there.
This post is SO generous and helpful. You are not only a great creator, you are an amazing business woman and you inspire me! Cheering you on in 2025 :)
I resonate with SO much of this! While you are much further in your artist career I too had my first child this year and figuring out the balance of working for my marketing clients (I’m a freelance marketing consultant while I grow my art based business) and making time for art. Digital art has been a REAL struggle for me but I feel like I’m starting to get a feel for it, talk about a learning curve. I love how much you shared here and especially about your experience as a person of color and your activist views. As a white woman, I’m still so naïve about so many things and always appreciate when new education is brought to my attention!
Two questions: how old is your child? My son is 8 months and just about to crawl. I don’t know what I’m going to do when that happens 😳
2. Could you share a post on some of the art competitions you enter and possibly the benefits of doing competitions? I’ve been hearing about this more lately and think it’s something I should try to break into!
I have mixed feelings about art competitions! So many of them have fees (which can be a tax write off) and it’s mostly just for clout. I usually apply to the Society of Illustrators shows, World Illustration Awards and Bologna (though the latter two I’ve never been long listed lol).
I’m so glad it was a bit helpful! I always find it so reassuring to hear how other moms do it. My baby just turned 6 months! I’m sure once he’s mobile it’s going to be even more difficult so I’m trying to get as much done now while I can haha
Thanks so much for this! I've recently stumbled across several of your write-ups on Notes and I wanted to say they're some of the most transparent discussions of working in children's illustration I've found online. I'm interested in getting into picture books myself, and they're an invaluable resource!
Thanks so much for your transparency and willingness to take the time to share your breakdown! As someone who's been working in animation, last year was definitely tough, and I feel like so many of us have had to pivot and consider other ways to bring in revenue. Seeing info like this is definitely helpful for me. Thanks!
Anoosha, this blogpost is top-notch, like all of your content. I honestly can’t watch any other artist/illustrator on YouTube after watching your videos, because you’ve set the bar so high. I found the courses scam remark particularly relatable. Also expressing my sincere gratitude for your attention to detail and things that really matter and not watering down your texts/scripts for your posts, like so many others do it. Would love to know where to start with the Dallas illustration community myself and excited to see how you navigate through it!
Totally agree with the course scams! I usually encourage people not to take courses unless they’re super cheap since I rarely find them to be super useful. The surface pattern course I took was good, a lot of illustrator knowledge but still probably not worth what I paid!
Thank you for this Anoosha! I always appreciate your transparency 🫶🏽 For the decrease in book offers, do you think it’s that publishers are purposefully taking on less projects / seeking human illustrators? Or that less authors are writing books and going the traditional publishing route so there are just less books out there for illustrators to illustrate?
Because if it’s the latter, my hope is that author/illustrator projects will be just as sought out if not easier to land a deal on because publishers are still wanting books to publish there’s just a surplus of illustrators compared to the amount of authors they have wanting to publish a book.
this is so amazing Anoosha, thank for sharing such an in-depth analysis! as someone earlier in their illustration career, it's helpful to see such an honest and organized breakdown. hope you have a lovely year with your family!
Hi Anoosha! Thank you for sharing all of these details. It’s impressive what you’ve accomplished and it’s cool getting a peek into your process and planning. Welcome to Dallas! I’m also in Dallas. I don’t have local kid lit friends and would love to meet up for coffee if you’re interested!
Thank you for a very useful and informative newsletter, super interesting as usual!
I'm convinced that you could make a great online course that would attract a lot of people! There is so much interest in courses. If it is not a live (but with a pre-registered lessons), it could be another source of passive income, and the major one.
About your motherhood, you'll see: it might be difficult to find enough time and energy for drawing sometimes BUT you will have a load of new ideas by watching your child doing things, discovering the world in his own way, or seeing what books he is interested in and how, what he pays attention to, it will change your views on what is important in picture books and perhaps your tastes will change, new horizons will open up!
Thanks for putting this together again Anoosha! I'm curious about your decision to go from a corporation to a sole proprietorship, as I'm trying to figure out if I should stay a sole proprietor or get an LLC. I'd love to hear your thoughts behind your decision!
Important to note that we don't have LLC's in Canada; it's sole prop or Corp. I decided to incorporate in 2018 to take advantage of the tax benefits (lower taxes when you pay yourself a salary.)
Incorporation only makes sense once you are earning a certain amount per year ($60-80k+) otherwise with all the fees and extra work associated with corps, it ends up not being worth it.
Moving to the US, I had to close down my corp. Now that I'm here, I have to decide if I want to do corp again, or a 'single-member LLC' or sole prop. LLC's only big benefit over sole prop is the liability protection (if someone sues you, they can only take whats in the business, not everything YOU own like your house.) I don't forsee liability to be a huge issue for my type of career (unless I go more into education, then I might make the switch.)
I could do corp again, but since I'm not working as much I don't know if I'll reach the same income I used to. And more importantly, since I'm in Texas, I don't think the tax benefits are as needed as they were in heavily taxed Canada. So to save myself a head-ache, I am sticking to sole-prop for now.
Once I understand the system in the US and my finances better, I might upgrade later!
I have been an S Corp (in Colorado) for 4 years and it’s beneficial when you make over 60,000 a year. I too am dropping the s Corp and going back to an LLC because the logistics (quarterly paperwork) is much easier and I’ll be making less now that I’m also a full time mom.
Thanks for your input! Do you ever foresee yourself going back to SCorp in the future when things change or do you think LLC is the best fit for your business and needs?
I’m hoping when my son goes to school I can grow my business in which case I would become an S Corp again. Technically when I revoke my S Corp status I have to wait 5 years to get it again, which coincides well with this plan. If I grow before then, I’ll work with my accountant on a new plan 😝
That’s interesting to know! And sounds like a plan :)
Yes also curious about this!
Just replied!
You are a superstar. I’m in awe of your drive and ability to navigate all the twists and turns of this crazy career- and momming is hard! ✨Wishing you the best in 2025
Thank you so much
Always enjoy this breakdown so much! Gracias for your hard work doing it!
I'm curious if thought about keeping your patreon going during mat leave, and being honest about not being able to provide content those months? Just because I've heard the argument before that supporting artists should not always mean getting something in return. Also, I feel like some of your supporters would have been happy to support you without content as they would know they're supporting you through your Mat leave. ❤️
And welcome to Texas! I live in Austin!!
I'll be at TLA in Dallas, and there's definitely a really wonderful illustration community there.
You went above and beyond in this edition, Anoosha! I appreciate your transparency to the utmost.
Thank you!
This post is SO generous and helpful. You are not only a great creator, you are an amazing business woman and you inspire me! Cheering you on in 2025 :)
I resonate with SO much of this! While you are much further in your artist career I too had my first child this year and figuring out the balance of working for my marketing clients (I’m a freelance marketing consultant while I grow my art based business) and making time for art. Digital art has been a REAL struggle for me but I feel like I’m starting to get a feel for it, talk about a learning curve. I love how much you shared here and especially about your experience as a person of color and your activist views. As a white woman, I’m still so naïve about so many things and always appreciate when new education is brought to my attention!
Two questions: how old is your child? My son is 8 months and just about to crawl. I don’t know what I’m going to do when that happens 😳
2. Could you share a post on some of the art competitions you enter and possibly the benefits of doing competitions? I’ve been hearing about this more lately and think it’s something I should try to break into!
I have mixed feelings about art competitions! So many of them have fees (which can be a tax write off) and it’s mostly just for clout. I usually apply to the Society of Illustrators shows, World Illustration Awards and Bologna (though the latter two I’ve never been long listed lol).
I’m so glad it was a bit helpful! I always find it so reassuring to hear how other moms do it. My baby just turned 6 months! I’m sure once he’s mobile it’s going to be even more difficult so I’m trying to get as much done now while I can haha
Thanks so much for this! I've recently stumbled across several of your write-ups on Notes and I wanted to say they're some of the most transparent discussions of working in children's illustration I've found online. I'm interested in getting into picture books myself, and they're an invaluable resource!
Thanks so much for your transparency and willingness to take the time to share your breakdown! As someone who's been working in animation, last year was definitely tough, and I feel like so many of us have had to pivot and consider other ways to bring in revenue. Seeing info like this is definitely helpful for me. Thanks!
Anoosha, this blogpost is top-notch, like all of your content. I honestly can’t watch any other artist/illustrator on YouTube after watching your videos, because you’ve set the bar so high. I found the courses scam remark particularly relatable. Also expressing my sincere gratitude for your attention to detail and things that really matter and not watering down your texts/scripts for your posts, like so many others do it. Would love to know where to start with the Dallas illustration community myself and excited to see how you navigate through it!
Your fan, Victoria
Totally agree with the course scams! I usually encourage people not to take courses unless they’re super cheap since I rarely find them to be super useful. The surface pattern course I took was good, a lot of illustrator knowledge but still probably not worth what I paid!
Thank you for this Anoosha! I always appreciate your transparency 🫶🏽 For the decrease in book offers, do you think it’s that publishers are purposefully taking on less projects / seeking human illustrators? Or that less authors are writing books and going the traditional publishing route so there are just less books out there for illustrators to illustrate?
Because if it’s the latter, my hope is that author/illustrator projects will be just as sought out if not easier to land a deal on because publishers are still wanting books to publish there’s just a surplus of illustrators compared to the amount of authors they have wanting to publish a book.
this is so amazing Anoosha, thank for sharing such an in-depth analysis! as someone earlier in their illustration career, it's helpful to see such an honest and organized breakdown. hope you have a lovely year with your family!
Hi Anoosha! Thank you for sharing all of these details. It’s impressive what you’ve accomplished and it’s cool getting a peek into your process and planning. Welcome to Dallas! I’m also in Dallas. I don’t have local kid lit friends and would love to meet up for coffee if you’re interested!
Thank you for a very useful and informative newsletter, super interesting as usual!
I'm convinced that you could make a great online course that would attract a lot of people! There is so much interest in courses. If it is not a live (but with a pre-registered lessons), it could be another source of passive income, and the major one.
About your motherhood, you'll see: it might be difficult to find enough time and energy for drawing sometimes BUT you will have a load of new ideas by watching your child doing things, discovering the world in his own way, or seeing what books he is interested in and how, what he pays attention to, it will change your views on what is important in picture books and perhaps your tastes will change, new horizons will open up!
Love this breakdown so much! All of this is very encouraging! Thank you for standing by your values and for continuing to make art!
Thanks for sharing! Excited to see the new website 😊
Thanks for the breakdown! Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!!