StarBox specialises in providing tailored financial and business solutions for digital creators, influencers, and content producers. With expertise in managing invoicing for sponsorship deals, tax planning, and navigating the complexities of multi-platform income streams, StarBox supports creators in achieving financial stability while focusing on their craft. In this blog, Trainee Amelia Kusmierek shares her unique insights into the rapidly evolving digital creator industry, based on her experiences at StarBox.

What’s something interesting or surprising that you’ve learned about the digital creator industry since joining StarBox?

Working with content and digital creators almost every day has made me realise just how many individuals are part of this growing industry. I was already aware of how saturated the market was, especially with easily accessible platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, used by millions of users globally. However, I underestimated the sheer number of creators, how unique each one is in their own way, and how in demand they remain despite the rapidly changing trends and emerging revenue streams.

The creator industry offers vast opportunities and a variety of marketing strategies to help creators promote themselves and reach the largest possible audience. StarBox has built a substantial clientele in this sector, emphasising the importance of trust and tailored financial provisions to cater to creators'niche goals, interests, and varied financial requirements. We have an amazing team of enthusiastic professionals who share a genuine interest in this industry, which is crucial as it allows us to adopt a realistic, flexible, and personalised approach to managing our clients’ finances.

Something interesting I have found is that often, fashion & beauty social media influencers have a broader range of brands to work with as opposed to our other clients such as gaming creators or variety streamers. This is because the fashion and beauty industry is extremely competitive, with easier access to millions of emerging as well as established brands offering a variety of products, from cosmetics and skincare to clothing and accessories, sometimes all at different price and quality ranges. This provides room for more brand partnership opportunities which are far less reliant on high-tech filming equipment to create their content, with lots of influencers being able to use their phones for creating and uploading content. There are less product options to choose from for gamers and streamers, especially with high-quality equipment such as PCs, consoles,speakers etc. which can be very costly. This means they often have significantly higher direct costs and overheads on top of a smaller choice of sponsorships and lack of niche brands available for partnerships to cover these costs. From an accountant’s perspective, this means the fashion & beauty influencer may often require additional attention to detail due to the increased variations of direct costs such as clothing or makeup brands.Sometimes it's not as obvious when identifying which costs are business related or personal, which can often imply a ‘benefit in kind’ if not analysed properly or confirmed by the client themselves. 

Can you share one experience so far that made you realise how unique this line of work is?

One of the most fascinating aspects of this job is how closely we need to follow trends and changes in the use of different platforms. For example, our clients’revenue streams, such as YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook often vary depending on contract types, renewals, current trends, and the volume of workflow during specific periods. These factors are significantly influenced by ever-changing consumer preferences, which are often shaped and"advertised" by some of our high-profile clients.

Despite the abundance of creators and influencers in the market, each has unique methods and attitudes towards their work style, financial management, and the handling of business deals and contracts. These differences significantly impact their profiles and overall success. Accountants in this field must not only understand the numbers but also how clients capitalise on their content through ads, merchandise, and sponsorships, all while aligning with their personal goals.

Working in this industry also requires a deep understanding of the various tax implications tied to client activities, especially when a client has multiple sources of income or makes significant purchases, such as event outfits,vehicles, or furniture. These all have to be taken into consideration and dealt with correctly, not only within our personalised, flexible approach but also in line with multiple laws, regulations and complications in place.

Want to know more about becoming a Trainee with StarBox?

Amelia, a StarBox trainee based in our Worthing office, undoubtedly enjoys the varied and evolving digital creator landscape. To find out more about working at StarBox you can check out our website, or you can contact us or a member of the team on 01903 234094.