You’re doing it all — client work, admin tasks, project updates, timeline tracking, and let’s not even talk about that email follow-up you meant to send three days ago.

You’ve got a CRM, you’re using Asana, your projects are moving… but you’re still answering all the questions, juggling timelines, and mentally tracking every single moving part. You’re not trying to scale or build a huge team — you just want things to work without you having to hover over them.

That’s where a Studio Manager comes in.

It’s not quite an OBM. It’s definitely not a VA. And it’s exactly what your business needs if you want to stay intentionally small, profitable, and actually enjoy running the thing.

Let’s break down what a Studio Manager is, what they do, and how to know if one’s right for you.

But first, before I get into this whole post, I want to put a disclaimer on everything. When I was an OBM, it felt like the Wild West. There wasn’t a standard around what “all OBM’s do.” So, when I describe the difference between a Studio Manager and an OBM, I’m speaking from my own experience and interpretation of the roles. As for the role of a Studio Manager, again, this is how I’m choosing to define what this role looks like. There’s always going to be another Studio Manager out there who does things a little differently, offers a little more or a little less. So when you’re looking to hire a Studio Manager, know what support you need and find the person that can do that.

What does a Studio Manager do?

Here’s the short version: A Studio Manager keeps things moving behind the scenes so you can focus on your actual work — and, you know, maybe take a random Tuesday off without your business falling apart.

Unlike an OBM, I’m not here to help you scale or manage a growing team. I work with creative business owners who are intentionally staying small. My focus is on making your business feel smoother, lighter, and more sustainable — not bigger or busier.

In real life, that looks like:

• Managing all your projects inside Asana (no more mental checklists or buried Slack messages)
  
• Handling your inbox so client emails don’t take over your day
  
• Communicating with leads and clients so things don’t fall through the cracks
  
• Building and maintaining simple workflows inside your CRM (like HoneyBook or Dubsado)
  
• Keeping an eye on profitability so you know if you need to adjust your prices or can pay yourself more
  

I’m your right-hand person for all the internal, operational pieces you’ve been DIY-ing — the ones that are “fine” but actually slowing you down.

And because I believe in keeping things simple, I only offer Studio Management to clients who use Asana. It’s my go-to tool for managing projects and keeping your business organized without overcomplicating anything.

The best part? Every single one of my clients is using the free version of Asana. We’ve set things up in a simple-but-strategic way that gets the job done — no need to add another paid subscription to your tech stack.

OBM vs. Studio Manager vs. VA: What’s the difference?

There’s definitely some overlap in these roles — and to make things extra spicy, the title doesn’t always tell you much. But here’s the breakdown of how I define each one:

Virtual Assistant (VA)

A VA is task-focused and execution-based. You delegate a to-do, and they get it done. They’re not in charge of the bigger picture or crafting strategies — they’re there to support you by checking things off your list. Think: updating a blog post, sending a client gift, or uploading email content to Kit.

Online Business Manager (OBM)

An OBM is typically working at a higher level. They’re helping you scale — managing your team, launches, or membership backend. Their support is more strategic, and their goal is usually growth and expansion.

Studio Manager (hey, that’s me!)

A Studio Manager is somewhere in between. I’m not just here to execute — I’m here to manage. My role is about keeping your projects and workflows on track, optimizing your systems, and making sure nothing falls through the cracks.

I’m in your business with you, making sure things run smoothly day to day — not so you can scale to seven figures, but so you can actually enjoy the business you’ve built. I provide structure, accountability, and hands-on support.

I’m not here to help you grow bigger. I’m here to help you stay small — in the best way possible.

Who needs a Studio Manager?

If you’re a creative business owner who’s juggling everything — the client work, the admin, the systems, the scheduling, the communication — and dreaming of handing off the behind-the-scenes stuff so you can actually unplug… a Studio Manager might just be your new favorite person.

I work best with business owners who:

• Are intentionally staying small — maybe it’s just you, or you’ve got one or two contractors
• Don’t want to scale into an agency, launch a course, or run a team of ten
• Are kinda-sorta organized but need someone to take the systems reins and keep things running
• Are tired of being the default project manager, decision-maker, and client wrangler all at once
• Want to take real time off without worrying about everything falling apart

My clients are designers, copywriters, strategists, and creatives who are amazing at what they do — but are over being the one keeping the business on track behind the scenes.

If that sounds like you, you don’t need a full team or an OBM. You need a Studio Manager who gets your world, loves Asana, and knows how to keep your business humming so you can finally log off and go live your life.

How to know if it’s time — and what changes when you have a Studio Manager

If your business runs entirely on mental checklists, sticky notes, and vibes…

If you’re constantly pausing client work to reply to emails, update timelines, or figure out why your workflow broke (again)…

If you’ve tried to set up your systems but they’ve never really stuck…

It might be time.

Bringing on a Studio Manager doesn’t mean you suddenly have to start acting like a CEO or change everything about your business. It means you finally have someone who gets it — and who keeps your business running in the background so you can focus on the front.

Here’s what shifts when I step in:

• You stop being the bottleneck. Clients get answers, projects move forward, and things happen without you touching them.
• Your tools actually work for you. No more half-built workflows or duplicated tasks in Asana — just clean, simple systems that support your business.
• You get more brain space. Less mental load. Less task-switching. More creative flow.
• You have structure, accountability, and someone keeping an eye on the moving parts so you don’t have to.
• You finally feel like your business is sustainable — not just profitable, but enjoyable.

My role isn’t to change your business into something it’s not. It’s to make the version you love actually work.

What’s next

If you’ve been craving more ease behind the scenes — more systems, more structure, more space — without having to hire a big team or turn your business into something it’s not…

That’s exactly where I come in.

Studio Management isn’t about scaling for the sake of it. It’s about supporting the business you already have — so it runs smoother, supports your life better, and doesn’t rely solely on you to function.

I only work with a handful of clients at a time and exclusively with those who use (or want to use) Asana as their project management tool. Because when the right tools and the right support meet? Magic happens.

Ready to see what it looks like to have a Studio Manager in your corner?

Check out The Suite — my monthly Studio Management retainer — or reach out with questions if you’re not quite sure yet.

Either way, you don’t have to do all of this alone.