HoneyBook’s 2025 Growth Guide highlights insights about the strategies top earners from creative fields apply to earn six figures. The research shows ways by which creative professionals are increasing their income, clients and profits of their businesses. This research is meaningful for you if you are a social media manager, content creator, digital marketer or own a small agency.
Thousands of top creative professionals were surveyed who have successfully grown their business to six figures and more. The findings of the survey showed that the highest earners in creative fields earn 25% of their income from passive sources. The passive sources allow the small agency owners to increase their income without increasing their workload. This way they can focus on other parts of their business too while maintaining consistency.
The study also found that top earners in creative fields are efficient with their time and just use 25% of their time to earn 50% of revenue. This is possible when you can generate long term clients and ensure your income, without wasting time on finding new clients. Many successful creative businesses earn an average of $45,000 from client retainers. They rely heavily on retainer-based projects which allow them to focus on delivering quality content.
There was also a new revelation that 73% of the top earners in creative fields have solid reasons for working other than to earn money. 44% surveyed said that they started the business because of their passion, 16% said that they liked the flexibility of their profession and 12% pursued this field because of autonomy over career. Many creative professionals also said that their passion leads them to financial success and satisfaction with their profession.
Read next: Survey Shows What Creators Think of Using GenAI in Content Creation and If They Are Satisfied With It or Not
Thousands of top creative professionals were surveyed who have successfully grown their business to six figures and more. The findings of the survey showed that the highest earners in creative fields earn 25% of their income from passive sources. The passive sources allow the small agency owners to increase their income without increasing their workload. This way they can focus on other parts of their business too while maintaining consistency.
The study also found that top earners in creative fields are efficient with their time and just use 25% of their time to earn 50% of revenue. This is possible when you can generate long term clients and ensure your income, without wasting time on finding new clients. Many successful creative businesses earn an average of $45,000 from client retainers. They rely heavily on retainer-based projects which allow them to focus on delivering quality content.
There was also a new revelation that 73% of the top earners in creative fields have solid reasons for working other than to earn money. 44% surveyed said that they started the business because of their passion, 16% said that they liked the flexibility of their profession and 12% pursued this field because of autonomy over career. Many creative professionals also said that their passion leads them to financial success and satisfaction with their profession.
Read next: Survey Shows What Creators Think of Using GenAI in Content Creation and If They Are Satisfied With It or Not
