# Colin Barnhart

> Colin Barnhart is the Brooklyn-based founder and CEO of Black Ink Business Services. After working on Wall Street and in hospitality operations, he founded Black Ink in 2007 to help business owners with financial systems and operations. He also founded early-stage investment partnership Paper Street Strategies and serves as treasurer of the Coalition for American Production.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Black Ink Business Services
- **Organizations:** Black Ink Business Services, Paper Street Strategies, Coalition for American Production, Alphabet Lounge
- **Education:** Texas Tech University
- **Known for:** Founded Black Ink Business Services in 2007., Helped expand a hospitality group with two additional Florida businesses within a year of joining., Founded Paper Street Strategies.

## Career timeline

- **1999** — Joined Prime Charter, LTD as a retail stockbroker after attending Texas Tech University; later moved into managed funds.
- **—** — Joined a New York nightclub and hospitality group as operations manager; became COO of three year-round businesses and oversaw finances for a seasonal Hamptons operation.
- **2006** — Managing partner in New York hospitality and music-industry partnerships.
- **2006** — With Tanvir Chaudhury and Jon Cantor, became part of the new ownership of Alphabet Lounge in New York’s East Village.
- **2007** — Founded Black Ink Business Services after other business owners sought help with financial systems and controls.
- **—** — Founded early-stage investment partnership Paper Street Strategies.
- **—** — Serves as treasurer of the Coalition for American Production.

## Achievements

- Founded Black Ink Business Services in 2007.
- Helped expand a hospitality group with two additional Florida businesses within a year of joining.
- Founded Paper Street Strategies.
- Serves as treasurer of the Coalition for American Production.
- Presented the one-hour FutureSpaces talk “The Basic Financial Skills Creatives Need.”

## Latest updates

- **2026-04** — Published “The Real Reason Your Programs Aren’t Sustainable,” examining nonprofit program costs and finance infrastructure.
- **2026-02** — Published “From Scrappy to Strategic: Upgrading Finance,” examining how finance support should change as a business grows.
- **2026-01** — Published “Your Numbers Look Fine. So Why Does It Feel Wrong?”, on aligning project-based financial reporting with operations.

## Links

- Website: https://blackinkservices.com/leadership/colin-barnhart
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinbarnhart
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/ccbarnhart1

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/colin-barnhart
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-10