Accelerator
Beta

Your creative business- with clients on repeat.

52-week roadmap
weekly coaching
Lead-gen Cycles

Welcome to Accelerator: The step-by-step blueprint and coaching program designed to get your creative business off the ground over the course of one year.

Half instruction. Half coaching. Everything you need.

Welcome to a year-long blueprint and coaching program designed to get your creative business off the ground.

Launch your business. Find clients that you love to work with. Spend time being creative. All on your own terms.

Over the course of twelve months, you’ll refine and improve every aspect of your creative business.

M01_Foundation
Welcome

Get your course workspace set up, become familiar with the community and course, and set goals for the coming year.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Show your work

Get feedback so you know whether or not you should make some new work or are ready to roll into your first case study.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Build your portfolio

Determine the focus of your portfolio, write creative briefs, and create personal projects geared towards dream clients.

3-4 weeks
M01_Foundation
Bake your bricks

Develop project case studies that are not only visually impactful, but are written in a way that highlights your impact.

1-2 weeks
M01_Foundation
Reflect and decide

Choose a starting point for your business that is financially viable and passion-fueled by analyzing your market.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Bake a few more bricks

Put together 2-3 more case studies for your chosen focus to showcase a cohesive body of work for lead gen.

1-2 Weeks
M01_Foundation
Plot your pricing

Understand your costs and develop your rates in a way that ensures you’re building a thriving practice.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Claim your capabilities

Craft a capabilities deck that will set the stage for future lead generation and website building.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Perfect your proposal

Design professional proposals that sell your services and let clients know you ain’t selling five-dollar designs.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Contracts & payments

Get ready to make that cheddar by setting up your contracts, invoices, payment system, and terms.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Whip up a website

Develop a site plan and build version 1.0 of your website that showcases your work in the best light.

3-4 weeks
M01_Foundation
Plan your process

Establish how you’ll work, rules of engagements, and setup your templates and systems in a CRM.

1-2 weeks
M01_Foundation
Plan your pipeline

Create your playbook for sales calls, from initial inquiry to signing contracts, in a way that makes sense for your service.

1-2 weeks
M02_Alpha Cycle
Lead gen: Phase One

Organize and engage with your network and conduct email outreach in a way that is strategic and anything but sleazy.

7-8 weeks
M02_Alpha Cycle
Reflect and revise

Reflect on the progress you’ve made with lead generation and make changes to your marketing materials and website.

3-4 weeks
M03_Bravo cycle
Lead gen: Phase Two

Kick content creation into gear, extend your outreach plan, and attend in-person events with fresh marketing materials.

7-8 weeks
M02_Bravo Cycle
Reflect and revise

Bring home more of the clients you’ve always dreamed of by running targeted experiments to generate leads.

1-2 weeks
M03_Charlie Cycle
Lead gen: Phase Three

Build awareness with further content creation, outreach, networking, and public speaking opportunities.

7-8 weeks
M04_Growth
What’s next?

Plan your growth by setting new goals, determining new hires, and exploring alternative income streams.

2-3 weeks
M01_Foundation
Welcome

Get your course workspace set up, become familiar with the community and course, and set goals for the coming year.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Show your work

Get feedback so you know whether or not you should make some new work or are ready to roll into your first case study.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Build your portfolio

Determine the focus of your portfolio, write creative briefs, and create personal projects geared towards dream clients.

3-4 weeks
M01_Foundation
Bake your bricks

Develop project case studies that are not only visually impactful, but are written in a way that highlights your impact.

1-2 weeks
M01_Foundation
Reflect and decide

Choose a starting point for your business that is financially viable and passion-fueled by analyzing your market.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Bake a few more bricks

Put together 2-3 more case studies for your chosen focus to showcase a cohesive body of work for lead gen.

1-2 Weeks
M01_Foundation
Plot your pricing

Understand your costs and develop your rates in a way that ensures you’re building a thriving practice.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Claim your capabilities

Craft a capabilities deck that will set the stage for future lead generation and website building.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Perfect your proposal

Design professional proposals that sell your services and let clients know you ain’t selling five-dollar designs.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Contracts & payments

Get ready to make that cheddar by setting up your contracts, invoices, payment system, and terms.

1 Week
M01_Foundation
Whip up a website

Develop a site plan and build version 1.0 of your website that showcases your work in the best light.

3-4 weeks
M01_Foundation
Plan your process

Establish how you’ll work, rules of engagements, and setup your templates and systems in a CRM.

1-2 weeks
M01_Foundation
Plan your pipeline

Create your playbook for sales calls, from initial inquiry to signing contracts, in a way that makes sense for your service.

1-2 weeks
M02_Alpha Cycle
Lead gen: Phase One

Organize and engage with your network and conduct email outreach in a way that is strategic and anything but sleazy.

7-8 weeks
M02_Alpha Cycle
Reflect and revise

Reflect on the progress you’ve made with lead generation and make changes to your marketing materials and website.

3-4 weeks
M03_Bravo cycle
Lead gen: Phase Two

Kick content creation into gear, extend your outreach plan, and attend in-person events with fresh marketing materials.

7-8 weeks
M02_Bravo Cycle
Reflect and revise

Bring home more of the clients you’ve always dreamed of by running targeted experiments to generate leads.

1-2 weeks
M03_Charlie Cycle
Lead gen: Phase Three

Build awareness with further content creation, outreach, networking, and public speaking opportunities.

7-8 weeks
M04_Growth
What’s next?

Plan your growth by setting new goals, determining new hires, and exploring alternative income streams.

2-3 weeks

Get and stay unstuck with action cycles: Consume. Create. Calibrate. Repeat.

Being taught by Ben Burns between his coaching & programs has been wonderful. He has the credibility of being a creative director at a large agency, while not forgetting what it was like just starting out. His magic power is having the heart of a teacher who understands how difficult the process of transitioning to each new level of business is, and helping his students through it.

Chris Giuseppini, Content Creator/Social Media Marketer

This program was crafted by makers for makers who've been where you are. You're in good hands.

But this is not about us. We’re all about you.

Letterer. Musician. Murderino.

Co-founder and studio letterer of Gold Sheep Design, an illustration and design studio in the music and entertainment industries.

She and her husband, Nathan, have worked with brands such as Six Flags, Universal Studios, Doctor Who, and Agatha Christie Ltd. Through their work, they advocate for those who have lost their creative voice in a culture of conformity and algorithms.

Meet Stephanie →
Stephanie Owens
Membership Educational Director, The Futur Co-Founder, Gold Sheep Design
Designer. Dad. Woodworker.

Ben has enjoyed working with brands like DreamWorks, Paramount Pictures, AMC, TBS, (Olympic) Team USA, Laika, and Hyatt among several exciting startups.

Prior to Blind, Ben founded Burnt Creative, a branding agency in Richmond, Virginia. He also served on the executive board of the Richmond AIGA chapter as Vice President. Ben is passionate about helping makers make a living on their own terms.

Meet Ben →
Ben Burns
Chief Operating Officer, The Futur
Founder, Burnt Creative

SO MANY aha moments!

Stephanie’s pricing framework stands out for it’s simplicity and practicality. So easy! And then her project framework is such a great exercise to figure out dream projects that align with your goals.  

SUPER inspiring.

Brianna Reagan, Identity Designer & Artist

Made by creatives. For creatives. Designed for you.

If you are in the business of selling a creative service to clients, Accelerator will help you get started and find traction with your dream clients.

Accelerator
Beta

Pricing designed with beginning businesses in mind.

monthly

$99

/month

$99 every month

Join monthly
Join monthly
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Step-By-Step Video Lessons
Weekly Group Coaching
Online Community
Templates, Worksheets, & Copy
Lead-Gen Experiments

Stephanie’s workshop brought me back to thinking about who I truly am as a designer. If you feel you are always trying to please employers/clients or prospective employers/clients, then this is for you. Get back to what you love doing.

Sheryl Alway, Presentation Designer
Student, Dream Project Workshop

Created by people who literally wrote the book on this stuff.

Accelerator is in live-beta, but it’s powered by these best-selling Futur courses. Peep at these results!

Our first case study is finally ONLINE! Thaaaaank you Ben Burns for the Complete Case Study!

Roxy Velez

Student, The Complete Case Study

I was a hardcore fan of the free YouTube channel for about five months before I bought The Complete Case Study - it literally made my site and social media grow. I saw that the more money I put in The Futur, the better my results became.

Dimitris Lazarou

Student, The Complete Case Study

Made me way more money than it cost.

So worth it.

Daniel Dukes

Student, The Perfect Proposal

This kit is a killer. A well-structure template to use, just put your information in, add your branding, and you have your own version. As they often mention through their videos, we are not in the proposal building business, so this comes in handy.

Andrea Marchi

Student, The Perfect Proposal

I just wanted to shout out a massive THANKS to The Futur team! I had purchase the Perfect Proposal Kit a few months ago and had the opportunity to put into practice what I have learned... THANK YOU because I have received the approval from a client following my proposal to buy THE ANCHOR PRICE (for those who don’t know, that’s basically the highest price you offer when offering three ranges...)

It’s my highest sale so far and biggest project as well so I’m super thrilled!!!

FUTUR TEAM: YOU ROCK

Lucie Chiocchetti

Student, The Perfect Proposal

The first time I used the Perfect Proposal and capabilities deck, I was able close my first six figure contract for content marketing with a client that is beyond a dream client for me.

The professionalism in my formatting, the ammunition it gave me to articulate my points, and the structure it gave me makes me feel like I stole the secret sauce at the price I paid. I couldn’t recommend the Perfect Proposal enough.

Chris Giuseppini

Student, The Perfect Proposal

The Complete Case Study from Ben Burns is extremely helpful even if it’s for a project without visual deliverables.

The core thinking that I’ve learned from that kit is how to frame the problem and solution, and then how to tell the story of that process through copy and images.

Definitely worth the purchase at some point if you haven’t already

Rachel Nichols

Student, The Complete Case Study

I was apprehensive before I bought it, but the value far exceeds the price.

The Perfect Proposal is a template for a proposal, and the amount of knowledge it contains is beyond helpful. It is professionally designed, obviously, but worth stating. Also, the pages are put in an order to approach the client, address the client’s needs, drop your anchor and assure the client.

Anyways, I use it all the time now. Pull the trigger.

Ryan Olson

Student, The Perfect Proposal

I used the Perfect Proposal last week and landed my highest paying client. I owe Ben Burns a beer for writing it!

Jay Kingman

Student, The Perfect Proposal

Used The Perfect Proposal it to write a proposal for  $78k CAD. Got the deal. It’s totally worth it. Now this deal is turning into something else worth more and open the door to like 7 figures of business. Get it. Do it.

David Triplett

Student, The Perfect Proposal

I spent 4 days perfecting the design to match our agency branding. Sent 2 proposals out the day I finished (couldn’t wait to send it).

2 days later both projects came in. One was £5k and the other £2k GBP.

Tom Rees

Student, The Perfect Proposal

Same story for me. $6k video project landed. It’s really worth it.

Benoit Reixet

Student, The Perfect Proposal

I was quite skeptical before purchasing the Perfect Proposal course. Turns out it humbled me on what I thought I knew about making a proposalI just used it for the first time... and today it already paid for itself. Thank you The Futur!

Razlan Hanafiah

Student, The Perfect Proposal

I bought the Perfect Proposal together with the Complete Case Study, and I must say, it is very complete. The idea of including those case studies is something I hadn’t even thought about. Good idea, and it’s great to show the client something you have done that is similar to what they (really) want/need. The first time I used it for a client, I got a call back in a fraction of the time from my previous proposal.

Anthony Sanchez

Student, The Perfect Proposal

Working with Stephanie has been eye opening to say the least. Not only was she able to help me define my niche within a few minutes, after months of searching, she also gave me the confidence to work and produce meaningful pieces. Most importantly, she's helped me build a system that I can rely on to reach my goals in the coming year.

Xavier Ah-Hot, Brand Designer
Student, Dream Project Workshop

Make sure Accelerator is the right fit for your business.

Still not sure if Accelerator’s the right move? Find the answers to your questions here.

What is Accelerator?

Inside Accelerator you’ll get a year-long, step-by-step roadmap with the exact actions needed to move your business from zero to clients on repeat, including video curriculum, business resources, and weekly live coaching calls to guide you through any challenges you have along the way.

All you need to bring is your drive, dedication, and skill. We’ll deliver the rest.

What does Accelerator cover?

The business world is full of shiny objects and too-good-to-be-true schemes that it can be hard to know what to focus on. We’ve eliminated all of that with our battle-born, business-tested formula for growth: Product, Process, Pursuit, Philosophy, and People.

Product: Get Clear
Design a service that shows off your skills, serves a client need, and leaves you amped to start work each day.

Process: Get Organized
Take the pain out of running a business and stop reinventing the wheel with repeatable systems and processes.

Pursuit: Get Clients
Experiment with lead-generating activities until you find the perfect recipe for landing clients on repeat.

Philosophy: Get Aligned
The driving force of all your business decisions is knowing what kind of business you want and the problems you want to solve.

People: Get Connected
Whether you need to hire freelancers, make your first hire, or need a connection, a network of fellow creatives is essential.

Is Accelerator right for me?

Are you a creative wanting to offer a service to a client? Are you either just starting or struggling to reach the $100K mark? Are you willing to put in the work? If you answered yes to all three questions, Accelerator is for you!

Over the years, we’ve worked with hundreds of creatives who have struggled to get their service-based businesses started and we’ve created this program to handle those struggles.

If you’re trying to get your business off the ground, aren’t making enough revenue to live comfortably from, or are struggling to find predictable work, Accelerator is right for you.

But are you right for Accelerator? Are you ready to put in the work, build a strong foundation, respond to constructive feedback, and experiment with lead generation methods that push you outside your comfort zone? We’ve created the blueprint, templates, and lead generation methods for you to succeed, but they all require you to show up and put in the work. Just like a workout program won’t do your pushups for you, Accelerator won’t work for you if you don’t work the program. So if you’re ready to to commit, we’ll see you inside.

Accelerator will NOT work if…

❌ You do not offer a creative service to clients that involves implementation (i.e.- you’re a coach, consultant, strategist).

❌ You sell a product or service directly to consumers.

❌ You’re looking for a magic pill that will fix all of your business woes without putting in the work to build a rock-star portfolio, setup your foundations the right way, and experiment with lead generation that will take you out of your comfort zone on a regular basis.

❌ You’re looking for a place to hang out and consume content rather than implement and reflect on what you learned.

❌ You’re still learning the basics of your creative field and need extra time to develop a service clients will give you good money for.

Accelerator WILL work if…

✅ You are a creative service provider who works with businesses and/or agencies.

✅ You’re willing to step outside of your comfort zone to generate leads in unexpected ways on a regular basis.

✅ You’re ready and able to put in the work to gain the type of momentum in your business that will set it up for success for years to come.

✅ You’re open to critical feedback from the Accelerator coaches because you know that some tough-love from a mentor will only help you grow. Your ego is checked at the door.

✅ You have enough skill in your craft to be hired by agencies and/or clients at a rate that won’t starve your bank account.

Why is Accelerator in Beta? What does that mean?

Accelerator… —and Launchpad, which is the curriculum that powers this program—are still in Beta.

So what does this mean?

We’ve been coaching people with creative businesses now for half a decade. The one on one sessions are fantastic because we can answer questions and give tailored advice. The patterns that we’ve recognized from these sessions and the solutions that have worked for me and my coaching clients are what will be powering this program.

Scaling these solutions, and lessons, and activities to a group environment requires a bit of trial and error.

Here’s what we’re going to do:
The first iteration of the curriculum will be shot and recorded live. That means you may have a chance to join the lectures as we record them. This will give you an opportunity to ask questions and get clarification, which will feed our process in return.
Note: we’re not guaranteeing that everyone will be able to attend these recording sessions. Everyone works at different paces, but the curriculum has to keep moving forward.

So, when you access a lecture in the course, you’ll see one of two things:

1.) You’ll either see a video lesson, or...

2.) You’ll see information on when, where and how to access the live lecture recording. There will be a zoom link and all that good stuff for you.Once these recordings are done, we’ll upload them to course.

If you can’t make it to a recording live don’t worry about it. You’ll get the chance to watch the lecture as soon as it’s uploaded. And we’re still going to be doing an open coaching call every week in addition to these recordings. So you’ll still have a chance to ask questions and get help with your action items.

When do the weekly coaching calls take place?

Coaching calls take place each Friday at 12 PM Pacific time, excluding holidays. And yes, we’re human, so you can expect there to be vacation and sick days that happen during the year.

What if I miss a coaching call?

To encourage creation over consumption, coaching calls will not be recorded. But if you miss one, you’re in luck. We host them every Friday, excluding holidays.

How long does this program take?

This program only works if you do. Accelerator is designed to build your business from the ground up, so the more work you put in in the beginning to build your foundations properly, the stronger your business will be. If you don’t have any clients at the moment, we recommend treating this program like your full-time gig. As you get deeper into the program, you’ll be working more on client work and less on your business foundations.

Should I plan for additional expenses?

Setting up a business will come with expenses, but we don’t want you to spend too much. We’ve carefully thought through all the business software you’ll need when just starting and have made the minimum software expense as light on your bank account as possible.

How long does the Accelerator membership last?

Your Accelerator membership is month to month and lasts as long as you’d like it to. However, since the Accelerator is designed to build your business from the ground up, we ask that anyone who wants to make the absolute most out of it to commit to a year with us.

What if I don’t like Accelerator?

If you’re not happy with the Accelerator program, we will make it right. Reach out to [email protected] within 30 days of signing up for a complete refund.

What is my financial commitment with Accelerator?

We have two options for joining the Accelerator. You can pay in full for a year inside the membership at $996 (which saves you 16%) or pay $99 a month.

These subscriptions will renew automatically unless you cancel your subscription.

Join Accelerator & build a sustainable business doing what you love.