There was no big plan or corporate machine behind HB Studios when it first opened—just a “big why.” That “why” came when Hannah Lerner, a creative producer, left her secure agency job to try freelancing, determined to turn years of production experience into something personal and unique.

Today, HB Studios helps tell stories with visually striking, authentic video, photo, and digital content—from branded campaigns to documentary-style stories—designed to cut through the noise and connect with audiences and a suite of tools working hard behind the scenes. 

But delivering that quality takes more than creativity; it requires steady cash flow.

That’s why Hannah uses QuickBooks behind the scenes to streamline accounting and automate invoices, while Ownr helped her register her business and set up the systems she needed to start strong. Between managing finances, tracking projects, and building HB Studios from the ground up, these tools give her the freedom to focus on her work.

Behind the lens at HB Studios

Hannah Lerner founded HB Studios after years of heading production projects for clients in sports, technology, fashion, and entertainment. Even with that experience, leaving the security of agency life was daunting. She wasn’t sure she had the right connections, skills, or courage to take the leap.

Opportunities came quickly, though, despite Hannah’s doubts. Just days after leaving her full-time agency position, she landed her first contract through friends in the industry. The learning curve was steep, but so were the rewards of taking the reins of her own business.

Becoming an independent creative producer, like a freelance photographer, videographer or digital creator of any kind, can be overwhelming at times. For Hannah, it has—but it’s also been incredibly empowering. She has learned something new at every turn.

“I’ve had to teach myself things I never thought about before,” Hannah explains. “It’s been a crash course in figuring out what it really means to build and run a business.

Along the way, what has most surprised—and emboldened—Hannah is the discovery that many new business owners, like herself, are just finding their way as they go. 

“I’ve had so many honest conversations with freelancers and small business owners, and I’ve realized that most don’t have all the answers either,” she says.

At first, Hannah’s toughest challenges weren’t creative but practical—registering her business, tracking expenses, sending invoices, and managing taxes without a company structure in place. That’s when she found the solutions: Ownr to register and set up her business, and QuickBooks to streamline accounting and automate her finances.

With QuickBooks, Hannah could handle her day-to-day bookkeeping and focus more on what matters most to her: delivering premium-quality creative content to her clients.

Keeping creativity in focus 

Creative projects demand attention to detail, but so does running a company. While Hannah is still finding her footing in business, tools like QuickBooks keep her on track. 

“One of the best decisions I made was setting up QuickBooks and registering my business through Ownr,” she explains. “Knowing that my invoicing and finances were in order gave me peace of mind.”

For Hannah, turning the everyday tasks of running HB Studios into something more manageable gives her more freedom to focus on the creative side of the business. Here are some of the ways she does this:

• Invoice automation: QuickBooks automatically sends invoices, tracks sales tax, and sends payment reminders, so Hannah doesn't have to chase any paperwork.
• Business registration made easy: Ownr guided Hannah through registering her business and setting up the legal foundation she needed to start confidently.
• Peace of mind from the start: Setting up her business through Ownr and QuickBooks early on means less admin stress and more creative energy for her clients.
• Hours back for production: QuickBooks automation cuts down on the manual tasks Hannah has to do, giving her more time for shoots and edits.
• Planning ahead is easier: QuickBooks reports give her a clear snapshot of her business growth, which makes planning for the future so much easier.

For Hannah, these little time-savers add up to more bandwidth for storyboarding, editing, and working closely with clients.

Snapshot of early wins

Hannah’s early successes prove that striking a balance between creative freedom and streamlined finances helps HB Studios thrive in a competitive industry. 

Every “client win” reinforces Hannah’s decision to set up smart business systems right from the start. With QuickBooks handling her bookkeeping, she can focus on building client relationships and delivering high-quality creative work—instead of getting buried in admin. 

Those early wins also gave Hannah the confidence to pay it forward. After proving herself with clients, she looked for ways to give back to the creative community. One of her first big milestones on that front was Think Like a Business, a workshop series designed to help creatives become successful freelancers. 

“I said to a friend that we should organize something where freelancers can learn how to handle their money,” says Hannah. “Six weeks later, we hosted the first session of our Think Like a Business series, which helps creatives build strong foundations for self-employment.” 

Together with her friend, Hannah set up these sessions to walk freelancers through the business side of self-employment, covering essentials like tracking expenses, knowing when to incorporate, and using QuickBooks to stay organized. Not bad for someone who only launched her business 6 months ago.

According to a recent survey from Ownr: Most solopreneurs feel unprepared to “develop a long-term plan and navigate the changing market trends impacting their business.” Entrepreneurs with a business plan are nearly 20% more likely to feel optimistic about their growth—compared to those without one.

For solopreneurs like Hannah, tools like QuickBooks take care of the critical day-to-day tasks—like invoicing, expenses, and taxes—but it was a clear plan that helped her see the bigger picture in the early days of her business. That’s where Ownr’s Blueprint Business Plan Generator proved invaluable. 

Together with QuickBooks, this free business plan template tool has helped map out her finances, customers, competitors, and long-term goals, taking some of the uncertainty out of planning.

“I’m still exploring everything QuickBooks and Ownr can do, but having those systems in place from the start has made a huge difference,” she adds.

Tips for balancing creativity and business

Hannah quickly realized that she had to wear many hats running her own business. So when asked her best advice for anybody just starting out:

• Treat yourself like a business: From the start, keep your finances in order and your company running smoothly with a solid small business accounting checklist.
• Don’t overlook the business side: It’s easy to get caught up in creative work, but setting up the right accounting software, creating systems to track projects, and building solid work habits early reduces the stress of managing your business later.
• Choose work tools that save you time: Opting for QuickBooks paid off for Hannah right away. For her, automating invoices and tracking taxes was “such a relief.” One of the best features is automated reminders for overdue payments—no more chasing clients.
• Show the real business journey: Hannah stresses building a presence outside of the work itself. Sharing behind-the-scenes moments—from long nights of editing to celebrating client milestones—helps people understand the ups and downs of freelancing.

The results of her business know-how and creativity are clear. Hannah has seen HB Studios grow steadily without losing sight of her original vision, keeping her creative and financial focus in sync to succeed on both business fronts.

Power your next chapter with QuickBooks

Hannah’s story shows how important it is to build a strong business foundation early on. With QuickBooks and Ownr, solopreneurs like her have the tools to spend less time on admin and more time bringing their ideas to life.

QuickBooks grows with your business, supporting payroll accounting, expense tracking, and other important features as you need them. The right accounting software can make all the difference. To get started, explore different plan options today.