As VFX Apprentice grew, so did the scope of its financial operations. From managing global
contractors to tracking revenue across multiple platforms, the studio needed reliable back-office
support to keep everything organized and compliant. That’s where Monily came in.
This case study explores how Monily now supports VFX Apprentice with bookkeeping, tax preparation,
international payments, and ongoing financial reporting. All of this helps VFX Apprentice stay
focused on its creative side of the business and nurture a new breed of VFX artists and animators
across the world.
VFX Apprentice is an online platform that provides top-tier training, mentorship, and resources to aspiring visual effects artists around the world. Founded by industry expert Jason Keyser, it combines technical expertise with artistic insight to prepare students for careers in animation and VFX.
VFX Apprentice generates revenue through:
As its reach expanded, so did its network of collaborators, many of whom are based outside of the United States. Managing a growing business with an international team required a more robust financial system and support.
As the business expanded, VFX Apprentice began dealing with a wider range of financial tasks. With income coming in from Stripe and PayPal, outgoing payments to international contractors, and varying sources of revenue, it needed a partner who could keep the financials clean, organized, and compliant without disrupting the creative workflow.
That meant manual tracking of incoming payments, categorizing expenses, and recording everything meticulously became necessary.
In-house team, with a creative mission, could not be disrupted for these tasks as that meant taking time and attention away from what mattered the most to VFX Apprentice.
There was also a need to handle tax reporting for US-based and international contractors and keep stakeholders informed with clear monthly financial updates.
Instead of seeing these as problems, VFX Apprentice saw them as areas where expert support could further add value to the company and improve financial management and compliance.
With Monily handling the numbers, VFX Apprentice has been able to focus on its core mission: helping artists grow and thrive in the VFX space.
Key outcomes of the collaboration between Monily and VFX Apprentice include:
These services have created a more streamlined and dependable financial process, without requiring any major changes to the VFX Apprentice system’s or structure.
Monily also tracks income from Stripe and PayPal, VFX Apprentice’s primary payment portals, and ensures that all transactions are recorded accurately in Xero. Even though the platforms aren’t directly integrated, Monily handles the data entry and reconciliation manually to maintain accuracy.
All income streams, whether from software, training, or consultancy, are categorized by type, which gives VFX Apprentice a clear view of where its revenue is coming from.
Monily came on board to support VFX Apprentice with end-to-end financial management, starting with simple, consistent bookkeeping, and growing into a full-stack solution.
Here’s how Monily contributes to VFX Apprentice’s success:
Globally With contractors based in multiple countries, VFX Apprentice relies on Monily to manage outgoing payments and reporting.
Monily also provides comprehensive tax services, from preparation and planning to filing.
Monily shares 1099 forms for all eligible US-based contractors and keeps international payments organized and categorized.
Each month, Monily shares a financial summary that covers revenue, expenses, and key insights.
These reports support internal planning and give VFX Apprentice a reliable picture of the company’s financial performance at any time.
If your business has growing financial needs such as managing international payments, tracking multiple revenue streams, or preparing for tax season like VFX Apprentice, Monily can help you stay organized and remain confident.
With us handling your books, accounts, and taxes, you too can streamline your financial operations and get rid of the back-office stress that holds you back. Make a smart decision like VFX Apprentice today and bring us on board to handle your numbers.
