Today we’d like to introduce you to Venus Michael.
Hi Venus, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started as a bookkeeper. I was proficient in QuickBooks, spreadsheets, and cash flow management. I built my business and career by staying behind the scenes, helping companies organize their finances and determine where their money was going. Like many service providers, I believed doing good work and staying consistent would eventually lead to stability. But the more I worked with entrepreneurs, the more I noticed a pattern I didn’t like. Even the most talented entrepreneurs were still living “paycheck to paycheck”. From the outside, they appeared successful, but inside, it was a state of stress and chaos – a consistent hustle. Even when there was more revenue, there was no corresponding profit. Nothing to show for the hard work.
When I looked at my own numbers, my own money, I realized I, too, was in the same trap. Despite my years of managing other people’s money, I was still operating in “barely” survival mode. I made sure everyone else got paid while ignoring the fact that I wasn’t. I confused “busy” with “profitable” and was drowning in debt, depression, and financial fog. The irony of it stung! I knew how to run the books, but I didn’t know how to make the system profitable. I was running a business that looked “OK” on paper… until I had to write myself a paycheck and there was nothing in the bank.
I was stuck in a cycle of working hard and barely making ends meet financially. Then there was my wake-up call, when things hit rock bottom. Soon after that, I discovered the Profit First system, a method that inverts traditional accounting formulas and prioritizes paying yourself first. Everything clicked. I tried it on my business. It worked. I tried it on my client’s business. It worked for them, too. Especially the creatives… the ones who were always told they “weren’t numbers people”. The ones who were running full businesses often had nothing to show for it.
That’s when everything changed. I stopped looking for a band-aid solution and started building a real foundation. I didn’t just want to fix my own books; I wanted to understand why so many business owners, especially the creative-minded ones, were working so hard yet still feeling financially strained. I got certified as a Profit First Professional, Mastery Level, not to add a badge to my bio, but to master the system from the inside out. I didn’t want to be another bookkeeper handing out advice; I wanted to become the translator between financial strategy and real-world businesses. The kind of advisor my clients needed.
That certification didn’t just change my business; it changed my entire philosophy. I no longer believed profit was a lucky outcome. It is a choice, a behavior, a habit. And I knew I needed to teach other entrepreneurs how to make that choice too.
My clients didn’t have a money problem; they had a system problem, and it wasn’t their fault. No one had ever taught them a simple, doable way to take control of their finances without drowning in accounting jargon. That’s when I rebranded to One21 Account-Ability to serve creative entrepreneurs, especially photographers, and eventually wrote the book ‘Profit First for Photographers’ to speak directly to their experience.
Now I spend my days helping artists, service providers, and visionaries stop spinning and finally start profiting, without burning out, raising prices every five minutes, or giving up what they love. Profit isn’t a reward at the end of the year; it’s a result of hard work. It’s a habit you build week by week. And once you experience that shift, you never go back.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Was it a smooth road? Absolutely not!
From the outside, it might seem like I had it all figured out – a bookkeeping background, financial certifications, and a published book. But the truth? I built all of this while navigating some severe storms.
There were seasons when I was helping everyone else get profitable… and still skipping my own paycheck. There were months when I knew the numbers down to the penny, but I felt like a fraud behind the scenes, tired, stretched, and unsure how long I could keep pushing.
One of the most complex parts wasn’t the math – it was the mindset. As women, especially in service-based businesses, we’re taught to pour into others, to prove ourselves, and to keep saying “yes.” I had to unlearn that. I had to set boundaries, prioritize profitability, and stop playing the martyr in my own business.
There was also the emotional toll of building a business that doesn’t fit the mold. I wasn’t chasing six-figure months or private jets. I was chasing freedom in all aspects: creative, financial, and personal. That meant tuning out a lot of loud voices in the industry and trusting my own strategy.
Every step came with a lesson. Burnout taught me to build margins. Scarcity taught me the importance of automating my savings. Doubt taught me to double down on service, not hustle harder. And the messy middle? That’s where I built the muscle that keeps me grounded today.
It hasn’t been smooth
But it’s been worth it.
As you know, we’re big fans of One21 Account-Ability. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
One21 Account-Ability, a financial consulting practice designed for creative entrepreneurs who want to stop spinning and finally start profiting on purpose. I’m a Certified Profit First Professional, a Certified Bookkeeper, and the author of Profit First for Photographers. I specialize in translating complex cash flow into clear, confident decisions.
At its core, my business helps photographers, service providers, and small business owners shift from “barely scraping by” to “strategically building wealth.” I blend practical systems, mindset coaching, and a whole lot of real talk to help clients pay themselves, ditch financial fog, and create businesses that actually support their lives, not drain them.
But here’s the truth: this isn’t just accounting. Its accountability
We don’t just send reports. We sit in the (virtual) trenches with our clients, helping them break bad money habits, navigate significant transitions, and finally get honest about what’s working (and what’s not). My clients often say I’m part of CFO, part sounding board, and part tough-loving business bestie.
What sets One21 apart?
We don’t believe in shame-based finance. We believe in the process over perfection, profit with purpose, and systems that actually fit the creative brain. The Profit First method isn’t about cutting your favorite lattes or starving the business. It’s about creating margins so the business owner can think, breathe, and grow.
I’m most proud of the ripple effect when a client starts paying themselves consistently for the first time, shifting from debt panic to a savings strategy. When they realize they are capable of running a real business. Not just a passion project. That’s the win!
So whether you’re making six figures but feel financially strained, or just starting and want to do it differently this time, One21 is built for you. The brand is smart, sassy, and serious about our clients’ success. We don’t do fluff. We do facts, freedom, and financial empowerment. One bank account at a time.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you’re a creative entrepreneur — especially a photographer, service provider, or big-hearted business owner — and you are tired of making money but never feeling like you are keeping it. We should talk!
The best way to work with me is through One21 Account-Ability, where I offer:
1. Profit First coaching and implementation (so you can finally pay yourself first without the overwhelm)
2. Bookkeeping with brains (real-time number and strategic insights)
3. Fractional CFO support (for businesses ready to grow with clarity and ditch the chaos)
You can also grab my book, Profit First for Photographers, on Amazon. It is written specifically for those who want to stop guessing and start building a business that actually supports their life. It’s a significant first step if you are curious but not quite ready to dive into full-on consulting.
Looking to collaborate? I’m always open to guest podcast interviews, speaking gigs, workshops, or content partnerships that align with my mission: making financial clarity accessible (and even fun !). If your audience needs a reset or a system that finally sticks, I’m here for you.
Want to support my work?
Share the book
Book me to speak
Send over your photographer or creative friends who need financial peace of mind.
Or drop by – venusmichael.com or one21accountability.com
Whether it’s through a Zoom call, a podcast mic, or the pages of my book… I’m here to help entrepreneurs get their money working for them, not the other way around.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.one21accountability.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/one21accountability/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/one21accountability and facebook.com/VenusMichaelAuthor
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/venusmichael/
- Other: https://www.venusmichael.com
