I Love Bookkeeping

Do you respond to work emails over the weekend? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss why it's never a good idea to respond to work-related emails over the weekend, on public holidays, or after hours. Hannah and Melissa start the conversation by revealing that they don't reply to work-related emails during the weekend. For Melissa, there is no such thing as a work emergency - and replying to emails on the weekends gives people the impression that it's okay to contact you whenever they like. Melissa talks about how some people struggle to put away work on the weekends. Daniel is one such example and struggles to disconnect himself from work on weekends. Hannah and Melissa try to identify the only times it makes sense to reply to work emails - There aren't any. Hannah talks about her weekend schedule and how she shuts off completely on Friday evening. Hannah and Melissa agree that the hustle mentality and working throughout the weekend often leads to burnout. Melissa also believes the concept of "grind and hustle 24/7" to reach success is just wrong - the only thing you can expect from it is physical and emotional exhaustion. According to Melissa, another good habit is not using your phone during the weekend - time away from all types of screens can make you more productive when you resume on Monday morning. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Are you looking for a dose of motivation, mentoring, and accountability? A mastermind group might be what you need. In this episode, co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan go through the benefits of being part of a mastermind group, how to join one, what to expect, and how to get the most out of the group. Hannah and Melissa talk about the benefits of being in a mastermind group and reveal they first met at the Bookkeeper Launch Mastermind Group. Melissa explains why she feels the best mastermind groups consist of people with diverse skill sets and experiences. Hannah and Melissa agree the best way to get more out of a mastermind group is to join groups that focus on areas you are not particularly good at. Hannah shares the benefits of being around people who push you and hold you accountable - Melissa adds that accountability partners should also understand if you have to pivot. Melissa highlights why it pays to join mastermind groups with people who have already reached the goal you would like to achieve. Hannah and Melissa share their experience in mastermind groups as well as some of the common themes around the more successful masterminds. According to Melissa, mastermind groups that lack structure and organization are rarely successful. Hannah explains how running a business can be very lonely - which is why camaraderie is such a huge thing in mastermind groups. Melissa highlights how masterminds can help broaden your thinking by exposing you to opinions and views of other people. Hannah and Melissa break down the difference between paid versus free masterminds - and how joining a paid group might motivate and push you a little bit more. For Melissa, finding the perfect mastermind group is a lot like online dating - you have to put yourself out there. Although several characteristics define productive mastermind groups, Hannah believes the best groups boast high participation levels and have a clear format for giving and receiving feedback. Melissa shares what she does to get the most out of both virtual and in-person mastermind meetings. Melissa and Hannah go through the advantages of only taking one or two things to implement in your business - too many ideas will lead to overwhelm. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Want to know how to ask for testimonials and actually get a response? In this episode, co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss the dos and don'ts of asking for testimonials. They also demonstrate how bookkeepers can use testimonials from satisfied clients to build social proof and scale their businesses. Hannah starts the conversation by revealing she enjoys the process of asking for and receiving testimonials. Although there are numerous ways to get testimonials, Hannah believes the most persuasive testimonials come from customers who are already satisfied with your services. Melissa explains that you don't have to ask all your clients for testimonials - start with the ones that have had a positive experience working with you. Hannah and Melissa discuss the difference between asking for a testimonial in-person versus through email. Hannah shares her experience asking for testimonials at BKX - it was interesting since most bookkeepers are introverts and camera shy. Melissa goes through some of the questions she asks when requesting a testimonial. According to Melissa, the easiest way to get a testimonial is to make your questions short and to the point. People are busy and don't have time to go through 50 redundant questions. Hannah explains why written testimonials are often more authoritative than recorded videos. Hannah and Melissa agree that people are more willing to give testimonials when you offer incentives - it's not a bribe, but you'd be surprised what a $50 discount can get you. Melissa reveals why it's never a good idea to ask new clients for testimonials right off the bat. Melissa shares how business owners can use testimonials to grow their brand. Hannah and Melissa go through the pros and cons of automating your testimonial collection process. Hannah explains why she believes you should never ask for testimonials more than twice a year. Melissa shares some of the software she uses when asking for both video and written testimonials. Hannah highlights that, ideally, you should ask for testimonials after the customer has some success with your service - but always ask. The more you ask, the more you'll get. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Want to come up with new ideas for your business? Maybe you should consider going on a brain dump retreat. Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk to Ben Day from Lionshare Bookkeeping - they discuss how business owners can use brain dump retreats to clear overwhelm and come up with fresh ideas for their businesses. Ben Day is the owner of Lionshare Bookkeeping where he and his team offer full-service bookkeeping exclusively to real estate investors. Ben is a huge proponent of having a niche - However, he also believes your niche should be broad enough for it to make sense. Melissa asks Ben what it's like to manage a large team and the difference between managing full-time employees and a handful of subcontractors. Ben talks about creating a flexible work environment and how giving your team the opportunity to self-govern around a set of guidelines leads to better morale, improved productivity, and positive work culture. Hannah goes through the benefits of creating a space where team members can grow with the business but also grow individually on their own. According to Ben, employees become way more productive when you allow them the freedom to create their own schedule around a set of guidelines. Ben talks about his BKX talk - Brain Dump Retreats. The topic is built on the idea that business owners need to get away from the business and schedule some intentional quiet time; only then can they come up with brilliant ideas for the business. Ben shares how he performs his brain dump sessions and the positive impacts those new ideas have had on his business. Hannah, Ben, and Melissa share their love for dogs and how dogs lead to more fulfillment in life. Hannah asks Ben about his scaling journey and the moment he decided to start bringing on new team members. Ben believes making a lot of money at the expense of your sanity is not a great way to live life. Ben's advice for business owners looking to scale is to take it slow - scaling is complicated, and trying to rush things is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. Hannah highlights the drawbacks of chasing new shiny things instead of focusing on the work in front of you. Ben reveals his experience with mentors and the benefits of having the right business mentors. Mentioned in this episode: Lionshare Bookkeeping - lionsharebookkeeping.com Ben Day on LinkedIn [email protected]

Why is delegating so important, and how can business owners master the art of effective delegation? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan expand on Melissa's BKX talk - Delegate, Develop, and Grow. They also share insights on why delegation is the only way to scale a business and create more time for the business owner. Melissa shares her first experience delegating tasks and letting go of responsibilities - it was chaotic. Delegating is a skill that doesn't come naturally for most people - Hannah believes business owners should not be too hard on themselves if they struggle to delegate. Melissa explains why the most valuable thing you can do as a business owner is learning how to delegate. For Hannah, delegating frees up more time for the business owner to focus on high-impact tasks and create the perfect work-life balance. Melissa explains why the most challenging transition for business owners is shifting from doing to leading. Hannah and Melissa agree that it's almost impossible to scale your business if you don't know how to delegate. Hannah dissects the first step to mastering the art of delegation: knowing when to ask for help. Melissa shares her post-maternal depression story and how hiring a housekeeper made life at home manageable. Hannah expounds on the consequences of business owners believing they can do everything on their own. "Average people trade their time for money. Wealthy people trade money for time." Melissa is a huge proponent of this quote and aims to get to a place where she can trade money for more time. Hannah highlights that delegation is expensive, but you have to decide which is more precious: time or money. Melissa talks about delegation in the family unit and how parents can lighten their load by getting the kids involved in building a productive home. According to Melissa, it's not unethical to source cheap labor from workers outside the US - if you cannot afford to pay local talent, it's okay to hire foreign freelancers from platforms like Upwork. Melissa shares the impact effective delegation has had on her life-work balance. Hannah and Melissa discuss how business owners can overcome the need to micromanage their team members after delegating tasks. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Do you struggle to follow through with your goals? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss goal setting and the benefits of setting realistic, achievable goals. They also share practical strategies you can use to maximize your ability to follow through on your goals. Hannah and Melissa discuss the benefits of setting big goals and having smaller goals that keep you motivated along the way. Hannah shares her struggles with following through on the goals she set for herself. Melissa shares her goal-setting process - and a framework that makes it easy to follow through. Hannah shares a story of how she used goal setting to prepare for a marathon and remain disciplined throughout. Hannah and Melissa agree that celebrating small wins along the way is the easiest way to stay motivated and follow through on your goals. Melissa explains that motivation is good for goal setting - but you need consistency to actually follow through. Melissa breaks down an intriguing goal-setting strategy that will keep you going, especially on days you don't feel like putting in the work. Hannah talks about checklists and why they are so effective in daily productivity management. Hannah and Melissa discuss productivity and the benefits of focusing on high-priority tasks. Hannah and Melissa go through the pros and cons of having an accountability partner. According to Hannah, there is no shame in setting a goal and realizing the goal is not the right fit - However, this is not reason enough to drop every goal you set. Hannah firmly believes in working hard in silence and letting success make all the noise. Hannah expounds on the benefits of developing habits that will help you achieve your goals faster. Melissa reveals why she's a big fan of making immediate changes. Just start - take action now and learn as you go. Hannah and Melissa debate what are the biggest roadblocks stopping people from achieving their goals. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

How accurate are personality assessments, and should you use them for hiring? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan break down the pros and cons of personality tests- and whether business owners should use them when making business decisions. Hannah and Melissa go through the major highlights from Sally's BKX speech - Personality Assessments. Melissa unapologetically maintains that she doesn't like personality assessments - because there are no comprehensive studies to prove their effectiveness. Melissa explains why she believes personality assessments should not dictate how you live your life, both professionally and personally. For Hannah, personality tests are not super important, but they do help shine a light on a person's strengths and weaknesses. Hannah and Melissa agree that personality tests are great for personal use - but should never be used in any part of running a business. Melissa breaks down the effectiveness of personality assessments compared to the Big Five when hiring new employees. Hannah reveals she's a big fan of zodiac signs - but would never use them to make hiring decisions. Melissa is convinced that introverts can also make great salespeople. Hannah and Melissa go through the benefits of analyzing your strengths and weaknesses - and how to use your weaknesses to make hiring decisions. According to Hannah, if employees are comfortable voicing their concerns, that's a great organization to work for. Hannah and Melissa share their experience being on stage at BKX. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

How close are we to a recession? Can your business survive and maybe even thrive in a market downturn? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan break down Ben's BKX opening speech: Fascinating Futures - and how bookkeepers can build recession-proof businesses in these uncertain times. Hannah and Melissa talk about Ben's doomsday BKX speech about the prospect of an impending recession. Hannah describes why it was important for Ben to talk about the recession and the uncertainty in today's business environment. Melissa explains why she's convinced that the businesses that came out of the pandemic unscathed can survive a market downturn the same way. According to Melissa, your actions will determine whether you're one of the businesses that come out on top in case of a recession. As someone with anxiety, Melissa reveals all she can do to stay sane, with everything that's happening in the world, is to keep moving forward. Hannah and Melissa share their admiration for Ben's "Adapt and Overcome" philosophy - and why businesses need to learn how to pivot in the face of new economic challenges. For Hannah, the key to surviving and even thriving during a recession is to play the long game - make long-term decisions and only make changes when it's absolutely necessary. Melissa's advice for business owners: when the money starts rolling in, fight the urge to start buying things you probably don't need. Melissa shares an inspiring story of how her clients came out on top during the pandemic. Melissa explains why client success should be the driving factor for any business - and how helping your clients make more money will drive more revenue for your business. Hannah believes the overarching theme for surviving a global crisis is being creative, expanding your services, and thinking outside the box. Melissa breaks down the benefits of having an emergency kit and saving for your business in case of a market collapse. Melissa highlights the benefits of niching down - and why having a niche is the key to surviving all forms of financial drawbacks. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

BKX 2022 was a massive success. Want to know what you missed? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk about the most memorable moments of BKX 2022. Hannah and Melissa reveal that one of their major highlights at BKX was when they interviewed Ben on stage. Hannah reveals that their interview with Ben was not rehearsed as he wanted to answer questions off the top of his head. Hannah admits that she was a little nervous about being on stage. Melissa describes how the audience resonated with the topic of weird client interactions - because we've all had one. Hannah shares Ben's reaction when he learned that the audience wanted to know who his favorite child was. Melissa talks about the excitement that comes with meeting fans in person and interacting with people she normally sees on Facebook. Melissa's pro tip for event speakers: volunteer to speak on the first or second day of the event. Hannah and Melissa break down the pros and cons of running a virtual event alongside an in-person event. Melissa explains why she believes it's almost impossible to try and compare the experience of a virtual event versus an in-person event. Hannah and Melissa agree that people assume hosting an event is easy because nothing ever goes wrong at well-run events. Melissa shares how disappointed she was with the dessert - especially since good food was a motivating factor for attending BKX. Hannah describes the state of her feet after a whole day of wearing heels - Melissa adds that bleeding feet is the primary reason she's a big fan of flats. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

What is a business process, and does your business really need one? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan go through systems and processes that can enhance the overall performance of your business - and how you can build one that's tailored to your business model. Melissa goes through the benefits of developing business processes - and why creating systems and processes is the first step to scaling a business. Melissa talks about the first processes she implemented in her business when she took over running the business after Daniel was deployed. Hannah shares her thoughts on why she believes having processes always leads to increased productivity. Melissa describes how hard it was to move from a sub-contractor business model to hiring permanent staff. Melissa reveals she is a massive fan of time blocking. Hannah and Melissa go through unique strategies for building efficient business processes. According to Melissa, processes guarantee high-quality outputs - knowing exactly what needs to be done ensures nobody skips a step and the quality is the same across team members. Melissa breaks down how business owners can use quantifiable metrics to evaluate the diverse aspects of their business processes. Hannah explains why a critical step to implementing business processes is figuring out how much it's going to cost you. Hannah asks Melissa how she monitors the results of new processes - Melissa asks for feedback from her team. Melissa explores the benefits of building a culture where employees are comfortable pointing out the flaws in your system. Melissa shares how her team became hysterical when they learned that Daniel would be the one implementing the Traction business system. Hannah admits that she often struggles to adapt to change, especially when she's accustomed to a specific way of doing things. Hannah and Melissa agree that you don't need to build new processes from scratch - if somebody else has a process that would fit your business model, buy it and implement it. Melissa highlights why trusting yourself is one of the key attributes to making confident decisions as a business owner. Melissa explains that if your team is negatively reacting to a new process, figure out if they're struggling because it's new or they're struggling because it's not working. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Want to know how you can make your hiring and firing process as seamless and frictionless as possible? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan break down the key components of hiring the right employees and letting go of unproductive team members professionally without the emotional blow-up. Hannah asks Melissa which is easier: hiring or firing an employee - Melissa points out that both are hard as they all come with their own set of challenges. Melissa reveals that she's always had trouble firing people and sometimes holds on to unproductive employees a little too long. Melissa explains why she believes the "slow to hire but quick to fire" mantra is super effective, especially when running virtual teams. Hannah explains the first step to hiring an employee is identifying the role and then reviewing the job description according to your need. Hannah and Melissa go through the process of crafting a clear and concise job description - as well as a smart way to attract top-shelf candidates. Melissa describes the framework she implements in her business to guarantee a seamless onboarding process for new hires. According to Hannah, one of the best ways to make a new hire feel comfortable is to ensure that everybody follows the same rules and that all team members are held to similar standards. Melissa dissects the dos and don'ts of new employee training - and how to give new hires the tools they need to succeed on the job. Hannah and Melissa analyze some tell-tale signs that it's time to let go of an employee. Melissa talks about the benefits of setting clear expectations and giving employees several chances to improve before letting them go. Hannah shares her thoughts on why most managers and business owners struggle to let go of unproductive employees. Melissa reveals her go-to process for firing underperforming employees - and how she keeps the firing conversation professional without the emotional blow-up. Hannah and Melissa agree that firing an employee should always be a face-to-face affair - Melissa also adds that letting go of someone via email or Slack is disrespectful and inappropriate. Melissa highlights that underperforming employees aren't always lazy or unproductive; they may be nice, committed individuals who don't have the skill or support needed to succeed. According to Melissa, it's always a good idea to have quantifiable metrics that justify your decision to fire an employee.

Not sure about the exact steps you need to follow when scaling your business? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan go through the key steps to scaling a business and how you can develop a process that ensures lasting and profitable results. Hannah explains why she believes the first step to scaling a business is realizing it's time to scale, then committing to scaling effectively. Melissa lists the steps she went through during the initial stages of scaling her business. Melissa goes through the primary reasons most bookkeepers struggle when it comes to scaling their business. Hannah describes why it's extremely important to perfect your product or service before deciding to scale. Melissa agrees and adds that maintaining the quality of your product or service leads to successful scaling. Hannah shares her thoughts on the benefits of having regular internal check-ins even when you're not scaling. Melissa points out that you must understand your capacity to maintain a scaling business before making any changes. When asked about the benefits of hiring a coach when scaling a business, Melissa reveals that having a dependable third-party partner enabled her to scale successfully. Hannah asks Melissa what she does to consistently evolve her business even when she has no intentions of scaling. Melissa admits that scaling a business is tough. However, sometimes the best way to gain clarity on scaling is to take a break from the business. Melissa reveals that she is not a big fan of business process consultants. Instead, business owners should invest in "done-for-you" processes and dive deep into the implementation themselves. Melissa describes how business owners can use scaling to uncover the strengths and weaknesses in their business processes. Melissa shares the amount of time and effort it took to build a clear and detailed hiring process. Melissa talks about the struggles of developing a business process and constantly having to refine it every time things change in the business. Hannah and Melissa go through the key activities business owners can implement to determine what's working and what's not. Hannah and Melissa go through scaling mistakes business owners make, especially when managing virtual teams.

When should you make the transition from growing to scaling a business? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk to Serena Shoup from Of Course Bookkeeping - they discuss how bookkeepers can transition from growing to scaling a business, eliminate the growing pains, and maximize their chances of getting it right. Serena Shoup is the Host of the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcasts and the Owner of Of Course Bookkeeping. She's on a mission to mentor bookkeepers and accountants so they can leave behind the stress of working their 9 to 5. Hannah asks Serena why she decided to start a business midway through a successful corporate career. Hannah asks Serena about the time it took growing the business before she felt it was eventually time to scale. Her response is scaling takes time, but there needs to be a good reason for it. Serena explains that following a path of careful, calculated growth is smarter than scaling a business you already can't handle. Melissa is intrigued by Serena's work-life balance and how her systems make it easier to run a successful company without compromising on time with family. Serena describes why scaling a business is more than just acquiring more customers - scaling is all about creating a system to serve more customers with little to no additional resources. Serena goes through how impulsive hiring can cause so many problems, especially if you decide to hire a friend just for the sake of it. Serena points out that making mistakes during the growth phase of your business is okay, as long as you don't make those mistakes define who you are. According to Serena, scaling a business is not something you do once - it's something you'll have to manage throughout the life of your business. Melissa and Serena agree that some business owners avoid growth because they don't want to deal with the heartache that comes with running a larger business. Hannah and Serena talk about the major mistakes she made during the initial stages of growing her business. Serena shares why she believes building relationships is extremely important if you want to scale. Melissa asks Serena what she does to ensure her business continues to scale sustainably - Serena explains that building a self-sufficient team and having a careful understanding of your customers can not be overstated. Melissa and Serena explore the benefits of treating your employees as your number one client. Serena reveals the key to staying motivated in business is allowing yourself space to feel unmotivated - also, remembering your team depends on you makes it easier to get up in the morning. Mentioned in this episode: Serena Shoup on LinkedIn The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast Of Course Bookkeeping - ofcoursebookkeeping.com

Is there a difference between growing and scaling a business? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan expand on this introductory episode to their scaling your business series and talk about the difference between growing and scaling a business. Hannah explains the difference between growing and scaling a business - and why business owners need to learn how to differentiate the two. Hannah asks Melissa the first action steps she took when scaling her business. Hannah and Melissa go through the key signs that confirm it's time to scale your business - they also acknowledge that it's okay for some business owners not to want to scale their businesses. Melissa breaks down the first measure business owners should implement when scaling their business - she also explains why reverse engineering your goals makes them easier to archive. Melissa reveals strategies business owners can use to cope with the growing pains of scaling a business. Melissa explains why getting rid of employees and clients who no longer serve the company is crucial to scaling a business. Hannah asks Melissa about the essential milestones she set out to achieve in the first few months of scaling her business. Melissa reveals that moving from a contractor to an employee-based model was one of the most important foundations of scaling her company. Hannah and Melissa agree that having a contingency plan is a brilliant business plan in case things don't work out when growing a company. Melissa explores the benefits of having flexible systems that can easily withstand the pressure of exponential growth, without harming the profitability and efficiency of the business. Hannah asks Melissa about the areas in her business that caused a lot of growing pains. Melissa shares the must-have processes you need to scale a business - and how great processes drive business growth. Melissa reveals what she did to guarantee high-quality services and outstanding customer experiences when she decided to grow her business. Melissa goes through strategies she used to keep her costs down when scaling her business.

Do you want to scale your business? How big do you want to be, and how quickly can you get there? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share insights into the most important aspects of scaling a business and how to dodge the vulnerabilities that arise from super-fast growth. Hannah asks Melissa about the exact moment she decided it was time to scale her business. Hannah explains why she believes the first step to scaling a business is bridging the gap between where you are and where you want to be. Melissa illustrates how having a consistent business process is all you need to achieve consistent results. Hannah and Melissa go through the benefits of consistently showing up in your business, even when you don't feel like it. Melissa explains why sometimes it's okay to just "wing it" in your business and figure things out as you grow. Hannah describes why she feels having a well-defined business process makes it easier to identify the cogs in your systems that need changing or updating. For Melissa, learning never stops when running a business - sometimes you learn lessons the hard way, but the trick is not making the same mistake twice. Melissa goes through why your objective as a business owner is to go after explosive growth - however, super fast growth can come with its own set of struggles, which you should be prepared for. Hannah and Melissa agree that the key to maintaining business growth is to have scalable and replicable processes at all levels of the business. Melissa explains that growing a business means working with more clients, data, and resources - your business should be able to handle all these new responsibilities before you decide to scale. Hannah reveals that one of the most painful parts of scaling a business is acknowledging that the business will outgrow some employees, and you'll have to let them go. Melissa shares how hard it can be to let go of employees, no matter the reason - but letting go of people has to be done nonetheless. Hannah asks Melissa if she has a business coach to guide her through the process of scaling her business. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Scared to niche down? Wondering what to do with the clients outside your niche once you niche down? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk to Brandy Derrick from Legal Ease Bookkeeping - they discuss the benefits of having a niche, what to do with clients outside your niche, and the only time it makes sense to fire a troublesome client. Brandy Derrick is the owner of Legal Ease Bookkeeping - she helps attorneys grow their law practices by making financial statements easy to understand while teaching accounting professionals the ins and outs of legal bookkeeping. Brandy shares her journey into bookkeeping and what she learned running books for her father's multiple businesses. Melissa asks Brandy about the benefits of running a virtual bookkeeping business - and what it's like to serve clients in 27 states. Brandy describes the moment she decided to niche down and what she did to gather information about attorneys and businesses in her niche. Hannah asks Brandy what it's like working with people who know the law from A to Z. Brandy shares how she got started in bookkeeping - and why she decided to start her own company with a specific focus on providing bookkeeping to attorneys. Hannah asks Brandy how she finds new bookkeeping clients and the places she believes her accounting leads like to hang out. Brandy reveals the pain points she endured during the first few months of her niching journey. Melissa and Brandy agree that trying to retain clients who cause a lot of friction in your business is never worth the trouble. Brandy reveals her favorite part of running a business - she also admits that running a business is not easy but can be a very rewarding journey. Melissa asks Brandy what she would recommend bookkeepers do when diving into the world of legal bookkeeping. Mentioned in this episode: Brandy Derrick on LinkedIn Legal Ease Bookkeeping - legaleasebookkeeping.com [email protected]

Do you really need a niche to grow your business? If so, how deep should you go? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk to Brooke Swan from Clarity Bookkeeping - they discuss the process of finding a niche, how long it takes to build a strong brand within your niche, and break down a simple strategy you can use to generate more business referrals. Brooke Swan is the Owner and CEO of Clarity Bookkeeping and Consulting - she has helped hundreds of business owners reach their goals and even enjoy accounting. Hannah asks Brooke what made her want to niche down and why she settled on service-based businesses. Brooke describes how her business has evolved since the last time she was interviewed on ILB. Hannah asks Brooke how much time it took to completely niche down in her business. Based on her experience finding and working in one specific niche, Brooke believes building your business around a niche almost always guarantees business growth. Brooke explains the challenges of adding new services to your business - and what it means to uniquely position yourself based on price point, service quality, and service offering. Brooke reveals that her favorite thing about having a niche is the confidence that comes with understanding all types of client needs. Hannah underlines the benefits of being detail-oriented as a bookkeeper. Brooke talks about the pains of working with service-based industries - and the level of detail that goes into bookkeeping for businesses that still believe in brick-and-mortar accounting. Brooke shares her experience using Content Snare to onboard clients, collect documents, and process queries in her business - she also reveals some of the other tools she uses to serve her clients better. Brooke talks about how she built a thriving business based on referrals - and how referrals from the BNI community almost tripled the size of her business. Melissa asks Brooke what she would recommend for new bookkeepers to guarantee business growth. Brooke reveals that, as an introvert, she's not a big fan of networking events but attends them nonetheless, for the sake of her business. Hannah, Melissa, and Brooke agree that the easiest way to get the most out of networking events is to go after building relationships instead of trying to sell. Mentioned in this episode: Clarity Bookkeeping - claritybkpg.com [email protected]

Niching down in your bookkeeping business is important. But how do you go about finding and growing a niche? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan interview Tyler Otto from Speciality Bookkeepers – they define what a business niche is, why you need to build your business around one, and how to find a niche that's perfect for your brand. Tyler Otto and his wife are the owners of Specialty Bookkeepers, a firm that specializes in serving medium to large hospitality-based businesses. His company leverages technology to simplify clients' financial processes and drive profit. Tyler shares his origin story on how he transitioned from a corporate finance job into running a bookkeeping business. Hannah asks Tyler why he decided to focus his business on a particular niche and why he chose the hospitality industry. Melissa strongly believes the more successful bookkeeping businesses focus on one specific niche - Tyler is quick to agree and explains the drawbacks of running a business that serves all types of clients. For Hannah, marketing to a particular niche is all about going to where your client goes and getting in front of them. Melissa asks Tyler how long it took him to completely niche down and primarily focus on hospitality clients. Hannah describes why bookkeepers must niche down once they hit a specific level of business growth - she also adds that niching down means focusing more on quality rather than quantity of service. Melissa asks Tyler how new bookkeepers can find the right niche, attract new clients, and run successful marketing campaigns in their new niche. Tyler reveals the true meaning of his company culture, "Flexible Schedule Employer" - and why today's employees are more interested in flexibility and great working environments. Based on his experience running an accounting business, Tyler believes scaling a company and successfully delegating duties is the most difficult thing to get right. For Tyler, successfully scaling your business will only occur when your team no longer depends on you for leads and new business. Hannah, Melissa, and Tyler all agree that the bookkeeping community is truly special based on how businesses collaborate with each other. Tyler explores how building strong relationships with both clients and employees is critical to growing healthy businesses. Mentioned in this episode: Tyler Otto on LinkedIn Specialty Bookkeeping - specialtybk.com [email protected]

How important is originality in your bookkeeping business? Are you constantly looking for unique ways to innovate and develop new ideas within your niche? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss how bookkeepers can build authenticity and originality in their niche and develop new, creative ways to serve their clients and create content. Hannah explains how the foundations of originality in business are built on consistently trying new things, and on being okay with things not working out sometimes. Melissa talks about authenticity within your niche and how creating authentic content drives audience engagement. Hannah asks Melissa how she effortlessly manages to stay original in her business. Her answer is she focuses on being as authentic as possible. Melissa describes the benefits of coming up with original ways to serve clients as a small business owner. She also shares how you can build originality & uniqueness in your branded elements. Hannah and Melissa agree that taking risks when creating content is the fastest way to originality in business. They also outline a simple way to bridge the gap between idea generation and actual implementation. Hannah shares her thoughts on originality and why this critical skill is often overlooked in business. Melissa explores the benefits of collaborating and brainstorming with other content creators in your niche. Melissa explains why making mistakes is okay, as long as you learn from them. Melissa describes her content creation process, and she explains why she believes success demands patience and trusting your ability to make things happen. Hannah and Melissa reveal effective strategies to help you overcome an idea drought and develop new ideas. Hannah and Melissa agree that people lose originality when they start comparing themselves to others. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Would you like to get the most out of your next trade show and walk away full of leads, prospects, and new connections? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss how bookkeepers can get the most out of trade shows, maximize their presence at exhibitions, and ensure they achieve a positive ROI. Hannah and Melissa talk about how intimidating it can be to run an exhibit at a trade show, especially if you're an introvert. Melissa explains the difference between selling a product and selling services at a trade show. Hannah describes easy ways to gain the most from a trade show even if you're operating on a budget. Hannah and Melissa agree that you don't have to exhibit at hundreds of trade shows to drive leads to your business - sometimes simply going to the right ones is more than enough. Melissa reveals simple strategies you can use to minimize costs and still stand out at a trade show. Hannah and Melissa go through display tips and ideas to help your exhibit stand out at a trade show. They also describe the proper way to arrange your booth for approachability and friendliness. Hannah reveals why it's always best to manage your expectations when determining the ROI from a trade show. Hannah describes why it's never a good idea to jump into sales mode whenever a prospect steps into your booth. She explains that the first step is to build a relationship and then pitch your service. Melissa goes through simple but fantastic promotional giveaways that make it easy for people to remember you. She also shares her go-to memorable giveaway that always leaves an impression on prospects. Hannah asks Melissa what the proper attire for a trade show would be. Melissa's answer is simple: don't overdress and keep with the theme of the trade show. Hannah and Melissa discuss the dos and don'ts of following up and nurturing leads after a trade show. Mentioned in this episode: mymetalbusinesscard.com [email protected]

Have you ever experienced an awkward or embarrassing interaction with a client? How did you handle it, and what did you do to salvage the situation? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their most embarrassing client situations and reveal how they remained super professional even though deep down they were ready to crawl into a hole. Hannah and Melissa agree that most people have experienced at least one awkward client interaction in their careers. Hannah describes how a verbally abusive co-worker embarrassed her in front of a full salon after making a minor hairdressing error. Hannah and Melissa believe that working for a mean boss is more than enough reason to get another job. Melissa talks about why it's always a good idea to keep your cool after something embarrassing happens during client meetings. Melissa shares her most embarrassing client interaction. It's both embarrassing and funny, yet she remained calm and professional, even though deep down she was mortified. Melissa explains why you need to remain positive and focused on the job even after embarrassing yourself in front of a client. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Can bookkeepers evolve their business, follow new trends, and still stay true to their business's core values? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk about how bookkeepers can authentically evolve their business by keeping a close watch on social media and capitalizing on trends that connect with their audience. Hannah explains how hard it is for business owners to keep up with ever-changing social media trends. Melissa asks Hannah what a trend is. Hannah breaks down the dictionary definition and adds what it means from a social media perspective. Hannah and Melissa discuss when and when not to ride a social media trend. Hannah shares the most important question you should ask yourself before deciding to follow a trend on social media. Melissa asks Hannah if a content creator can ride a social media trend and still be authentic. Hannah believes it's possible, as long as you stay true to your company values. Hannah advises content creators to go after social media trends only if they align with their company values or have the potential to bring in more customers. Hannah and Melissa reveal some of the social media trends that backfired when they tried them out. Melissa talks about why she dislikes going live on social media - Hannah also shares her experience going live on social media and reveals how it was a total disaster. Hannah and Melissa explain why they believe the best way to stay sane on social media is not to take things personally. Hannah describes how your audience can see right through inauthentic content - she also discourages content creators from following trends that don't align with their core values. Mellisa goes through how she used popular social media trends to break down complex topics and drive engagement for her brand. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Are you looking to start creating content for social media but don't know where to start? Or maybe you have a hard time coming up with content ideas for your online brand? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their thoughts on how bookkeepers can consistently generate engaging social media content and authentically market their brand. Hannah and Melissa start by addressing the generational content gap - and how different age groups consume content. Hannah asks Melissa what she struggles with when creating content. Her answer is what most people also struggle with: ever-changing social media algorithms. Melissa reveals her content creation process involves creating as much content in advance and then scheduling it on a content calendar. Hannah clarifies that you should only consider outsourcing your content creation if you have the budget for it. Melissa talks about the benefits of professionalizing your content creation process. Hannah describes the difference between looking for inspiration and stealing other people's content. Hannah and Melissa agree that having a pattern is the best way to create content for social media consistently. Melissa explains that being original in your content creation will set you apart from the competition - and that means niching down as much as possible. Hannah shares her experience using social media metric tools - she also reveals that sometimes asking for feedback from your audience is all you need to drive engagement. Hannah and Melissa go through why your content does not have to be perfect during the initial stages of your content creation journey. Hannah explains why your fear of being judged should not stop you from creating content online. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

What can bookkeepers do to stay on brand with their overall business image? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss how bookkeepers can manage their business' identity, stay on brand, and become immune to the ever-changing social media trends. Melissa explains why she's very intentional about brand authenticity and maintaining a consistent business identity. Hannah and Melissa explain why consistency is the key to successful branding - they also go through tips you can use to stay immune to social media branding trends. Melissa shares why she believes the more successful businesses operate primarily in the best interest of the clients or the best interests of the team. Hannah talks about the benefits of having an accountability partner in business. Hannah explains the difference between changing and evolving your brand. Melissa reveals that she likes working with professional graphic designers because they effortlessly maintain consistent brand assets. Melissa talks about brand reputation - and explains why your bookkeeping business is only as good as your reputation. Hannah asks Melissa what she does to stay true to her brand consistently. Melissa reveals she's her own biggest critic - and explains why being your own biggest critic can be both good and bad for your business. Hannah and Melissa discuss what it means to live and breathe your brand. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

How important is it to have originality in your business? Is it even possible to be creative as a bookkeeper? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss why originality is a bookkeeper's greatest weapon and how creativity leads to business success. Hannah and Melissa start by describing their creative backgrounds and how being creative helps in building originality. Melissa reveals, for the first time, that she initially went to college for fashion design - This is the primary reason she has such an easy time coming up with creative ideas. Melissa explains how the less creative bookkeepers can build originality in their business by outsourcing or delegating tasks that demand creativity. Hannah breaks down the misconceptions around creativity and originality - she also goes through some easy-to-implement hacks bookkeepers can use to differentiate themselves from the competition. Melissa explains how analytical bookkeepers can turn their businesses into creativity hubs by experimenting with the branding and marketing side of the business. Hannah explains how originality leads to a better customer experience. Hannah asks Melissa what she does to maintain originality and cultivate creativity in her business - Melissa states she's always open to new ideas. Melissa talks about failing in business and why sometimes failing is necessary for success. Hannah and Mellisa explain how comparing yourself to others will mean the death of your creativity - Melissa also admits to having fallen into the comparison trap numerous times in the past. Hannah goes through simple steps you can use to spark your inner creativity and come up with original ideas. Melissa explains the difference between being inspired by someone and flat-out copying. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

What's your go-to work snack? Is it healthy or you're only worried about the energy boost and getting through the workday? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk about their go-to work snacks and how having healthy snacks throughout the day can decrease hunger and boost productivity. Hannah reveals her go-to work snack and why she can't seem to get enough of it. Melissa explains why bookkeepers who are too busy to schedule lunch should always have snacks within reach. Melissa shares how back in the day, her work days were fuelled by caffeine - She's on a healthier kick right now, so caffeine is off the table. Hannah talks about her love for Starbucks and how she always finds a reason to pop into one of their stores whenever she's running errands. Hannah reveals that she's actually a pretty good cook - she also shares a story of how she overcame her pretzel addiction in the thick of the pandemic when everything was closed. Hanna and Melissa dissect the pros and cons of treating yourself every once in a while. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

How can you have a hard conversation without the conversation turning into a frustrating battle of wills? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss why people fear having difficult conversations and what you can do to ensure the conversation does not precipitate conflict, bad feelings, or further negative outcomes. Hannah explains how leaders can learn to manage difficult conversations even when there's the risk of a confrontation - she also explains why most people procrastinate on having uncomfortable conversations. Melissa reveals what she does to stay calm when having an uncomfortable conversation. When thinking about when to have hard conversations, Hannah encourages people to have them as soon as possible. Immediately, if possible. Melissa shares the benefits of preparing for a hard conversation ahead of time - she also reveals reasons why she's against having a script for the conversation. Hannah and Melissa agree that removing emotions from the equation is the best way to manage a difficult conversation. Hannah shares why leaders should approach difficult conversations as a way of finding a solution instead of looking for a confrontation. Hannah asks Melissa what she would do if the other person is intent on turning the conversation into an argument. Hannah and Melissa discuss how the "We need to talk" statement raises anxiety - They also reveal how the tone of voice can influence the outcome of a difficult conversation. Melissa shares the reasons she believes all leaders should have regular check-ins with their team members - and how these check-ins can be used to have those tough conversations. Hannah describes why meetings break down when people in the discussion take things personally. Melissa explains how hard conversations become so much easier when participants are actively listening instead of listening to respond. Melissa reveals the one trait that differentiates exceptional from average leaders. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

How can bookkeepers and tax preparers build relationships that provide better customer support? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their thoughts on how bookkeepers and tax preparers can gain insight into each other's practices and improve client outcomes by building better working relationships. Melissa talks about why, as a bookkeeper, it's always a good idea to collaborate with tax preparers in your space. She also explains how a bookkeeper and a tax preparer working for the same client can make the client's life easier by collaborating. Melissa reveals how millennial or introverted bookkeepers can take the first step and reach out to the tax preparers in their space. Hannah and Melissa explain why you'll always be on the winning side if you constantly operate in your clients' best interests. Hannah asks Melissa how she maintains her relationships with the tax preparers in her network. Hannah and Melissa discuss how bookkeepers and tax preparers can communicate their needs to each other without crossing boundaries. Melissa explains how and where brand new business owners can find a reputable tax preparer for their business. Melissa shares her biggest pet peeve when working with a new tax preparer. Hannah and Melissa reveal the key traits that define a tax preparer who's efficient and good at their job - they also discuss some simple yet effective hacks you can use to qualify or disqualify potential tax preparers before choosing to work with them. Hannah asks Melissa about the benefits she derives from maintaining relationships with numerous tax preparers. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

How should you go about building relationships with clients? What are some things you can do to stand out from the competition and wow your customers? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their thoughts and examples of things business owners can do to build better relationships with their clients. This episode, which is part of the Building Relationships series, addresses what's probably the most important topic: building relationships with clients. Hannah asks Melissa whether, when she first started working for the company she now owns, she really prioritized building relationships with clients. Melissa shares a story that shows the power of relationship-building. For Hannah, focusing on getting to know people and what they're focusing on, and going the extra mile, was one of the best ways for her to the foundation of a good relationship with a client. Melissa admits that going the extra mile to get to know clients better isn't something that comes naturally to her. Melissa asks Hannah where she draws the line when it comes to asking questions about a client's personal life. Melissa believes that building relationships is important but following through and doing what you said you were going to say are key ingredients of successful relationships with clients. Having boundaries but communicating with clients and getting feedback from them is something Hannah values. Melissa shares a couple of things bookkeepers could do to build better relationships with clients and to stand out from the competition. What you do to stand out from the competition and wow your clients doesn't have to be something big, says Hannah. Melissa and Hannah talk about small gestures you can do that will have a big impact on your relationship-building efforts. Mentioned in this episode: Help Scout Zapier Handwrytten [email protected]

What are the benefits of being in a mastermind group? And how should you approach finding and joining one? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss free and paid mastermind groups, the benefits of being a member of one, and share their experiences. Hannah talks about the fact that mastermind groups are a very popular topic among the Bookkeepers.com community and shares that she and Melissa actually met at an in-person mastermind. Melissa often doesn't get many questions from those who don't know her but does get plenty from people who attend mastermind events she's part of. Hannah isn't part of a mastermind group but she's a member of a Facebook group. Melissa discloses that the Bookkeepers Elite mastermind group doesn't exist anymore but some members have kept it alive through unofficial events. Hannah and Melissa see mastermind groups as a unique opportunity for different people to come together in a non-judgemental and friendly space. For Hannah, being open and the willingness to accept a different idea are one of the huge parts of joining a mastermind group. Melissa, on the other hand, believes that even though mastermind members may be open to other people's ideas, they're still going to do what they want. According to Hannah, one of the benefits of being in a mastermind group is that its members sort of have accountability partners. Melissa discusses ways members of Bookkeepers Elite have held each other accountable and shares her challenge of participating in virtual events instead of in-person events. Hannah sees Facebook groups as a double-edged sword. Melissa stresses the importance of always giving and contributing to a community or mastermind group you're part of. For Hannah, when it comes to marketing and networking is 'go where your clients go' but with mastermind groups and communities is 'go where your people go'. Melissa brings the concept of paid mastermind groups into the conversation, and talks about what being part of a mastermind group has done for her. Mentioned in this episode: Bookkeepers.com Slack Circle [email protected]

Did you have a mentor? If so, are you making the most out of their guiding hand? What have you learned from them so far? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss why they believe having a mentor is key to developing and fulfilling your potential. They also reveal how you can find your own mentor and build a long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationship. Hannah and Melissa both agree on why everybody should have a mentor. Hannah asks Melissa whether she has an official mentor. Melissa reveals how she found her mentor and how she has been instrumental in the growth of her business. Melissa and Hannah explore the difference between having a mentor and a business coach. Melissa describes the three fundamental qualities she looks for in a mentor and she also explains why it's never a good idea to take advice from just anybody. Hannah breaks down the standout traits that define a good mentor. Hannah and Melissa describe their experience with mentors early on in their careers. Melissa also shares how a mentor-mentee relationship can evolve into a close friendship. Melissa explains the reason she believes that mentors choose their mentees, and not the other way around. Hannah and Melissa explain why you need to get out of your comfort zone if you are to bag yourself a mentor. Hannah describes the benefits of having a mutually beneficial mentor-mentee relationship. Melissa shares her thoughts on why she believes mentors should give advice only on what they have experienced firsthand. Hannah talks about how humility plays a crucial part in cementing a mentor-mentee relationship. Melissa asks Hannah whether it's appropriate for people to ask other people to mentor them. Her answer is yes. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

Does your business need a referral partner? Should you even be building referral relationships with other bookkeepers in your space? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their thoughts on why and how you can build mutually-beneficial referral relationships with other service providers in your space. Melissa starts off by explaining who an official referral partner is and why you need a signed document that clearly states what you'll both get from the relationship. Melissa describes the types of referral partners she has in the painting sphere. She also reveals her process of identifying potential partners and the best places to find them. When asked about her social media marketing strategy, Hannah explains how she primarily focuses on potential buyers and not people who are only interested in her content. Melissa reveals how she landed their biggest referral partner and how they've benefited from the relationship so far. Hannah discusses easy-to-implement ideas on overcoming the fear of reaching out to potential referral partners, especially if you're an introvert. Hannah asks Melissa how she's effortlessly able to manage all her many referral partners without feeling overwhelmed. Melissa shares how long it took before she could master the art of time blocking. Melissa talks about the struggles of building a referral relationship and the amount of work it takes to maintain a mutually beneficial one. Hannah and Melissa explain the benefits of forming referral relationships with other bookkeepers in their space. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

When should you hire an employee and when should you go for a contractor? Co-hosts Melissa Honan and Hannah Robinson discuss what to consider and what business owners can do to build great relationships with their contractors. Melissa discusses the differences between a contractor and an employee. According to Melissa, oftentimes, the first hire is trying to find a contractor for your bookkeeping business. That's followed by you hiring a virtual assistant. Melissa talks about the subcontractor-based model and the employee-based model, which of the two is not sustainable in the long run, and goes over the approach she uses in her own bookkeeping business. Hannah shares when she believes most bookkeeping businesses are going to need a contractor. For Melissa, welcoming contractors into your company culture and treating them as if they were actual employees is an excellent way to get them to stick around and work with you longer – even if they aren't helping you in quite the full-time capacity. Melissa breaks down the approach and onboarding process she uses for new subcontractors in her business and shares a story that has led her to adopt this onboarding approach. Melissa offers a breakdown of the bookkeeping services she uses subcontractors for. There are different ways to find and connect with potential subcontractors, Melissa discusses a few of these options. Mentioned in this episode: ILB episode 33 - Are You a Boss or a Leader? Your Pick! with Alyssa Lang slack.com BKX.com bookkeepers.com [email protected]

The Workflow Queen, Alyssa Lang, joins co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan to discuss whether you should be a leader or a boss, and how to build a great relationship with your employees. Hannah asks Alyssa what are some things she does to have boundaries with her employees while also maintaining the fact that Alyssa is the boss. For Alyssa, the biggest tactic is not being scared to be exactly, and authentically, who she needs to be as a boss. Alyssa believes in not wanting to be someone's boss, but rather their leader, and being a leader that joins everyone's unique abilities together. Alyssa shares a big challenge she faces from time to time: "Am I a leader or a boss right now?" She discusses the fact that there are days where it isn't easy for her to be the leader she would like to be, and not a demanding boss. Melissa has had a team member that always came up with big, visionary ideas. Whenever that happened, she used to be quite reactionary; whereas now she uses a different approach to address the situation in a better way. Melissa explains how she brings her sales mindset to relationship-building and how other leaders can do the same. Alyssa goes over how her overall relationship with her employees has evolved over time and touches upon something she's focusing on at the moment. Hannah sees being able to learn as you go, adapt, and evolve as a great quality of a good leader. Alyssa, Hannah and Melissa share their thoughts on the concept of company culture. Alyssa breaks down the five core parts of her company culture and discusses how she goes about assessing the health and well-being of her employees. Mentioned in this episode: WorkflowQueen.com [email protected]

Should you have your camera on or off during zoom meetings? Do the benefits of having your camera turned on in a zoom meeting outweigh the drawbacks? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss a hugely contentious topic regarding zoom meetings: camera on or camera off. They go through zoom etiquette tips to help you decide when it's appropriate to have your camera turned on as well as the pros and cons of turning on your video for zoom meetings. Hannah reveals why she doesn't like turning on video for zoom meetings - and the reason she believes being on camera is taxing, stressful, and unnecessary. Mellisa explains why more than 90% of people keep looking at themselves during video calls. Hannah recounts the never told story of how the first episode of the show was an absolute disaster and how their editors made them rerecord the episode. Mellisa shares her thoughts on why you should always have your video on – and she also goes through some ingenious strategies introverts can use to get comfortable using video. Mellisa illustrates how communicating through text and audio makes us forget we're human - and how 'video off' means we lose all the eye and body language cues that are crucial for forming connections. Hannah and Mellisa still can't seem to agree on whether to have video on or off during zoom meetings - but they both agree on some of the issues that cause Zoom fatigue regardless of whether your video is on or off. Mentioned in this episode: [email protected]

What should bookkeepers think about and actually do to help their clients save money? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their thoughts, pet peeves, and advice when it comes to saving your clients some of their money. Melissa shares that she's skilled at being frugal and helping her clients save money. When asked about pricing, Melissa confirms that her bookkeeping business has higher pricing compared to other ones. For Melissa, having a toolbox of how to save clients some of their money is going to have an impact on your pricing. Melissa discusses a service she provides that she refers to as 'her favorite thing to do' – this is something any bookkeeper can do without having much tax knowledge. Education people don't actually implement is one of the biggest money wasters, according to Melissa. Hannah asks Melissa what's one thing she believes one shouldn't try to cut corners about. Melissa shares her frustration with people constantly switching CRM tools. Hannah talks about something she often sees business owners struggling with, and shares her belief that 'your process is your profit margin'. Hannah asks Melissa whether there's something she sells in her business that's unique and helps her clients save money. Melissa shares the first step bookkeepers can take to help their clients save money. Mentioned in this episode: Quickbooks [email protected]

What should you consider and do to manage expectations, especially during the onboarding process? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss the role onboarding has in the entire sales process, how to share your expectations with existing and new clients, and how to act when things don't go well. Melissa explains why, in her opinion, the onboarding time is actually the most important time of a relationship with a client – and what you should do during onboarding. Hannah asks Melissa at what time you should communicate your expectations to a client… and her answer is simple, yet, powerful: the entire time. Melissa shares a recent update she made for her proposal at Bookkeeping for Painters. Melissa opens up about the way she communicates her expectations to new clients. Melissa touches upon a question she has been asked a lot lately: "What are the biggest red flags you see in your bookkeeping clients?". Hannah and Melissa talk about a big mistake many business owners make when it comes to communicating a particular expectation of theirs to new clients. Hannah asks Melissa how she goes about managing expectations when it doesn't have to do with onboarding that much, but rather with maintaining a client relationship. Melissa shares a pet peeve she has with those who reply faster to prospects compared to current clients – and she discusses what the best way for you to make more money should look like. Melissa talks about how relationships with clients have been terminated in her business. Mentioned in this episode: ILB episode 28 - Crafting an Effective Sales Process for Your Bookkeeping Business [email protected]

How should you go about pre-qualifying sales leads? And why should you do that in the first place? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their thoughts and experiences of the good, the bad, and the ugly of attracting and working with clients. Hannah thinks that narrowing down who's going to be a good client for you is key, especially when you're starting out. Melissa strongly recommends against trying to close every single person out of desperation like she did when she started out. Melissa explains how her bookkeeping for painters business has a funnel that, in addition to painters, attracts other professionals like plumbers and roofers. She wouldn't have but her husband Daniel took the lead in making sure the business only served painters and would send others away. Melissa talks about the red flags potential clients will say when you ask the right questions during a discovery call – but also if you don't ask them. The biggest red flag, says Melissa, is when a potential client says they have had countless bookkeepers and start talking badly about them. Hannah shares her belief that having certain clients pre-qualified to be a good fit is something that requires a level of patience and it isn't an easy thing to do. Melissa discusses how it took her a long time to think about longevity. At first, she was focused on growth, growth, growth, so she could pay people but that approach can lead to a short-sighted sales funnel. In her business, Melissa uses a form but she has found the best qualifying strategy to be having an actual call with the potential client. She discloses that her sales role is the last thing she would outsource. When it comes to finding prospects, Melissa and her team try to be everywhere painters are. One way they do that is through partnerships with business coaches who specialize in their industry. For Hannah, pre-qualifying your clients ensures that your retention rate is the best it can be and it helps you maintain the relationship. However, she stresses, it isn't just all about you but it's about whether that person is a good fit for you too. Melissa goes over the types of potential clients, including the types she breaks down into two categories, as well as an exercise they use to qualify a certain type of prospect. For Melissa, one of the biggest frustrations with the bookkeepers she works with are clients that don't respond to them and then also don't care. Melissa discusses scenarios in which she doesn't want to work with a particular client, and shares some recent changes in her business. Mentioned in this episode: Quickbooks [email protected]

Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk about the 3 key principles of an effective sales process, as well as some tools you can use to make your own sales process a more efficient one. [1:33] Hannah asks Melissa what's something that each of her sales processes have in common. [3:57] For Melissa, crafting an effective sales process starts with the desire to make sales easy. [6:08] Melissa shares a pet peeve she has when it comes to scheduling meetings. [9:14] Melissa believes that making it as easy as possible for someone to sign up for a free consultation is key. And she discusses what she asks in the form her prospects have to fill out. [11:08] Hannah talks about how she goes about buying and touches upon something that she considers a game changer when it comes to sales processes. [12:04] Melissa talks about the importance of putting yourself in a prospect's or client's shoes and actually going through your own sales process to experience it as they would. [13:28] Melissa shares her biggest takeaways – and resources – for creating touch-points with potential customers. [19:44] Melissa has 3 big points in her sales process: making sales easy, having significantly more touch points than you feel comfortable with, and managing expectations. [23:02] Hannah and Melissa share their thoughts regarding managing clients' expectations. Mentioned in this episode: Calendly bookkeepers.com Bonjoro Handwrytten ILB episode 27 - How to Communicate Value as a Bookkeeping Business Owner [email protected]

Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss how to communicate value, the role your mindset plays, and they share an exercise that will help you better articulate what you do in a way that's clear and attracts customers. [1:14] Even though, in this episode, the topic of communicating value is addressed from the perspective of entrepreneurs and bookkeeping business owners, Hannah believes that it can be applied pretty much anywhere concerning your workplace and relationships. [1:43] Hannah believes that one of the first things you should do is identify what your value is and identify your promise to your clients. For Melissa, this is one of the reasons why having a niche matters. [2:09] In Melissa's opinion, the value communication process starts with doing an internal audience. [3:52] Melissa talks about her "features, benefits and check questions" exercise. [7:47] Hannah asks Melissa how she goes about communicating value while looking more confident to a potential client even when imposter's syndrome kind of creeps in. [10:11] Hannah believes that being prepared is a great way to feel confident and avoid the feeling of not knowing what to do next. [11:09] Melissa goes over how she manages to stay consistent in communicating value to current clients. [14:04] Melissa shares that, in her opinion, standing out in a particular niche comes down to how you package a concept, the words you use and the enthusiasm you project when discussing or explaining it. Mentioned in this episode: Quickbooks Zoom [email protected]

Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan go over their favorite children's shows to have on in the background while working, and discuss Disney movies and characters that have left a mark. [0:42] The children's show Melissa has on while she's working is The Octonauts. Hannah is one of those people who can't stand silence – Law & Order SVU and Grey's Anatomy are the "comfort shows" she typically has in the background. [1:37] Melissa talks about a couple of moments in which tv shows shattered her heart. [2:32] Melissa and Hannah share their own "toxic traits" when it comes to watching TV. [3:56] Melissa shares a funny little anecdote about living in San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua. [6:50] Melissa and Hannah rank their top Disney movies and talk about Disney princesses and characters. [12:16] The co-hosts go over Disney movies they didn't like as well as other movies that left a mark on them and that they still think about decades later. Mentioned in this episode: @BookkeepersDotCom (Bookkeepers.com on Instagram) [email protected]

What are different ways you can communicate in a more effective way? And how can you ensure that, as a business owner, your team members feel valued, and instill a great communication mentality in your company? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss how to communicate more effectively as a business owner in different contexts – including with people you don't really like. [0:44] Hannah and Melissa – who have been working with a communication consultant for almost two years now – find the topic of this episode to be one of their favorites. [2:14] Melissa believes that the art of communication is something we all constantly work on and have room for improvement for it. [2:59] Hannah breaks down the four main types of communication: verbal, non-verbal, written, and visual. [4:52] The co-hosts both admit to struggling with non-verbal communication. [7:31] For Melissa, communicating effectively and respectfully are both equally important. [7:56] Hannah sees professionalism as key. Whether you're listening to someone, writing something for them or similar, you need to remember that you're going to be working with these people and you should act, behave, and communicate accordingly. [9:44] For written communication, both Hannah and Melissa recommend you take a look at Grammarly. [11:52] When it comes to communicating with her team members, Melissa typically relies on Slack. However, for delegating a task, she's open to the other person using whichever platform, tool, or app they're comfortable using the most. [13:10] Hannah believes that asking questions and communicating your goals, as well as your boundaries and expectations, could help avoid miscommunication. [15:59] Melissa likes to learn what other people's goals and boundaries are. She also stresses the importance of asking about these boundaries. [18:12] Hannah shares what she believes workplaces, business owners, and bosses should focus on to create a happy work environment. ​​[21:42] Melissa throws remote working into the mix and adds how to address the issues at hand in a remote work environment. [24:43] There are four horsemen, and in his study, these are the things that Gottman identified to understand whether a marriage will work: criticism, defensiveness, contempt, and stonewalling. [25:23] Co-hosts Hannah and Melissa touch upon the importance of trying to focus on communicating and working harmoniously with someone you really don't like. [30:20] When trying to communicate with a remote team, Melissa thinks it's important to overly communicate in a positive manner. Mentioned in this episode: Grammarly Slack ILB episode 23 - How to Be a Better Boss and Create a Company Culture Your Employees Will Love John Gottman's Four Horsemen [email protected]

How can you leverage time blocking and better organize your calendar to "aggressively" defend your personal life? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their top tips and resources you can rely on and make sure that you get the most out of your time for both your personal and professional life. [1:02] Melissa believes that a great way to "aggressively" defend your personal life is to follow five tips for creating a work-life balance calendar and to let technology assist you in that. [1:53] For Melissa, the first step is to create your ideal, so you need to think about your availability for work, then set it in your calendar app (in Melissa's case, that's AcuityScheduling). [3:48] When it comes to setting your availability for meetings and running meetings, Melissa suggests having padding on both ends so that your work days start and end at the times you would want them to. [4:40] Creating your schedule is something you need to figure out and take different aspects into consideration. Melissa, for instance, doesn't like Mondays, so she takes that into account when planning her work week. [5:26] Melissa gives a breakdown of what a typical week looks like for her. [6:48] Hannah asks Melissa how she deals with something unexpected popping up. [9:27] Hannah asks Melissa whether she likes to combine all of her different calendars in one space. Melissa has 3 Google Calendars and a personal calendar, all of which are integrated together and map over to Acuity. [11:19] Both Melissa and Hannah praise the power of writing things down to avoid forgetting them. [12:25] Hannah asks Melissa about ways she relies on to create a work-life balance within her scheduling. [13:47] For Melissa, it's crucial that you resist the temptation of manually overriding your calendar when, for example, a client asks to have a call during a time slot that you've marked as booked because you wanted to have some downtime. [14:52] Hannah shares one of her current struggles: scheduling time for self-care or for something she enjoys doing. [16:18] Melissa and Hannah discuss the benefits of prioritising self-care and the impact of not doing that. [20:02] Melissa touches upon the importance of having limits in the scheduling you create with Acuity, or a similar platform, as well as why using padding in your scheduler is a smart move. [22:43] For Melissa, something you can do as an introvert is to stack your sales meetings so that you minimize the time you need to think about social interactions. [23:25] Hannah talks about the fact that she prefers to start her days focusing on the biggest task of the day first. [25:52] Melissa goes over her approach of creating different availability by appointment time. Mentioned in this episode: Acuity Scheduling Calendly Google Calendar Canva [email protected]

In this episode, co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan discuss how to be a better boss – why you should look at your past "horrible bosses," and what to consider and do to create a company culture your employees will love and that increases their retention. [0:45] Hannah sees this episode being perfect for those looking to expand their practice, as well as for those who already have done or want to do it down the road. [1:26] Melissa shares something she struggles with: she doesn't like to think of herself as or being called "the boss." She also warns that if you run a company and think that you'll just be "one of the guys," you're mistaken. You're the boss and are going to be seen and treated as such. [2:25] For Hannah, having the boss' personality, in the sense of being naturally drawn to take charge of a project, is something that can be seen already from childhood – it was like this for her. Not everyone has that type of personality, though. [3:04] Thinking about the kind of boss you'd want to have as an employee is something you should evaluate when becoming someone's boss, says Hannah. [3:59] Melissa advises new business owners to think about the worst boss they ever had and do their best not to become that kind of a boss. Then, think about the best boss or bosses you've ever had and what made them good bosses. [7:20] Hannah sees being open to hearing other ideas and opinions as one of the hallmarks of being a great boss. That's a difficult thing to do, however, says Melissa. She recommends creating an environment where you aren't afraid to "look like an idiot" and encourage your employees to feel and do the same. [8:55] Hannah believes that having a heart to heart with employees – about their goals and finding ways to help them get there and check in – is an excellent way to build trust with your employees. [10:02] For Melissa, everyone just wants to be heard, so it's important to really be listening as a boss. She discusses the benefits of doing that both with your employees, as well as with your sales conversations. [12:25] Hannah and Melissa talk about the fact that there are 9 different types of motivations – and why it's important to remember this as a boss. [16:53] Melissa would like to hear from you: what motivates you? [17:15] The co-hosts touch upon fear-based motivation and why some people may be relying on that. [19:45] Hannah shares her thoughts on the company culture at Bookkeepers.com. [21:36] Melissa goes over what she thinks is key in being a better boss and creating a company culture that values your employees. Mentioned in this episode: bookkeepers.com [email protected]

Parenthood is one of the most life-changing experiences but what does it actually mean to be a working mom? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan talk about some of the challenges of being a working mom and share some tips on how to have a better work-life balance as well as how to feel proud being a mother. [1:16] Hannah isn't a working mom but Melissa is – she has two kids, ages 4 and 2. She doesn't consider herself a good parent to use as a case-study for the fact that she's pretty free-range. [5:33] Melissa shares that it isn't easy being a working mom and having good balance between work and motherhood, and that she did most of the things wrong, when it comes to work-life balance. [10:07] Hannah believes that a lot of mothers can relate to Melissa's story. [12:21] Melissa discusses having lost the ability to continue with a thought outside of a 60-second window. If she happens to get distracted by her children, whatever she was thinking about is gone, and it will come back to her a few hours later. [14:51] According to Melissa, sometimes, mothers lose sight of who they are as a person and they may simply think of themselves in terms of being their children's mom, their husband's wife, etc. Some mothers in this situation find their way back to a 'I'm Melissa Honan' kind of moment through work. [15:49] Hannah praises Melissa for always putting her family first, and for letting her clients know that 'my kids and my family come first'. [17:59] Melissa believes that the best place to start practicing forgiveness is by forgiving yourself. [20:38] For Hannah, more moms should remember that they don't know what they don't know and that, sometimes, the best way to learn is by being "in the trenches". You never stop learning. [22:11] Melissa shares the Nora Roberts glass ball theory. The idea is that you have your personal life, you have your work life, but you don't have to choose between one or the other. You're juggling many different "balls," some are glass and some are plastic. If you drop a plastic ball, it's just going to bounce, while a glass ball is going to shatter. [23:36] For the Nora Roberts glass ball theory, if it's between dropping a glass or a plastic ball, you need to choose the plastic ball. Sometimes, it's going to be your personal life, while some other times it's going to be your work life. Missing little moments in your kids life or not calling back a sales prospect are examples of plastic balls. Mentioned in this episode: BKX [email protected]

What does it actually mean to work with your partner or spouse? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan share their thoughts, advice and experience to help you make sure that, if you work with your partner, you keep animosity to the minimum and that you definitely don't take it home with you. [0:56] Hannah asks Melissa at which time of her marriage she began working with her husband. Melissa shares that she got invited by her husband to join the business after she had gotten very overwhelmed, and unhappy, about a sales job she was doing at the time. [3:13] Melissa and her husband worked together for about a year because she got pregnant and developed some complications. Two years later, her husband deployed for a longer period of time and this pushed Melissa to come back, this time, in a more administrative role, before a set of circumstances led her to step in as the CEO. [6:23] A loud-talker by her own admission, Melissa doesn't share her workspace with her husband, though they have tried. [7:28] Hannah asks Melissa how she and her husband manage to balance out being in a boss-employee relationship, as well as in a personal relationship as a married couple. [9:11] Feeling as if she was born a leader led Melissa to clash with her husband who feels he was born a leader too. Melissa was supposed to be a mere employee but had plenty of her own ideas. [10:12] For Hannah, maintaining a level of professionalism when working with your spouse or partner is a tough thing to do. However, it's key that not only you aren't fighting at work but that you aren't carrying over that feeling of taking it personally into your home as well. [12:03] Melissa has found a way to cope with the situation: compartmentalize. It's about thinking about the roles her husband has in her life – he's the founder of the company and Melissa's boss, but he's also the Chief of Operations, which is Melissa's subordinate, as well as her husband, and the father of her children. [14:34] Melissa's advice for someone who's just starting out working with their spouse or partner is to create boundaries and, then, essentially having a process in place to make sure that those boundaries stay in place and that everyone's respecting them. And there's a lot of tough conversations that need to happen, and it isn't going to be easy, even from a marriage standpoint. [18:21] Hannah sees establishing boundaries early on as one of the key things those planning to work with their partner should strive to do. Mentioned in this episode: Slack ILB episode 20 - Work-Life Balance Series: Strategies to Actually Set Boundaries, Protect Yourself, and Your Business [email protected]

In this new episode of the Work-Life Balance Series, co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan touch upon different strategies business owners can leverage to actually set boundaries, protect themselves, their time, and their business. [1:09] Hannah feels as if this Work-Life Balance Series has come at a perfect time, especially since it covers something she's been struggling with herself. It has been helpful for both her and Melissa. [2:16] For Hannah, the topic at hand is a little controversial and it has shown a generational difference. On the one hand, there's the older generation who didn't believe in boundaries as much. On the other hand, there's the new generation that has the topic of finding work-life balance closer to their heart. [3:24] Melissa sees a connection between setting boundaries and delegating. One of the reasons people don't delegate is the assumption that they will be seen as lazy if they essentially put their work off on other people. Younger generations see the difference between delegating to set boundaries and being lazy, but others may feel as if someone who's delegating and isn't working a certain number of hours each week is lazy… [5:37] Hannah shares that one of the ways to set boundaries is to do more by doing less. The key is to focus on getting quality work done instead of little tasks that get you nowhere. For Hannah, the best way to do that is to delegate – and learning different ways to delegate, so that you don't feel like you're pulled in many different directions, is key. This is something Hannah is learning. [7:16] Many "naysayers" of delegating make the argument of not having someone to delegate their work to, says Melissa. She recommends delegating to your future self. [8:07] Melissa is a fan of prioritizing tasks using an ABCD approach: A stands for things that have to be done today, B refers to tasks that would be nice to take care of today but if they don't get done today, they can get done tomorrow. C is about tasks that should be completed either this week or next week, while D is for something that needs to be done but that doesn't have a due date or clear timetable attached to it. [9:38] According to Hannah, overscheduling and spreading yourself too thin are something that negatively impacts your work-life balance. By her own admission, she's guilty of this. [12:09] Hannah suggests not giving out your knowledge and energy for free because it can become taxing to just give, give, give. Melissa asks Hannah how to do that, especially at a time where most people expect to get free advice through social media content, for instance. [17:17] Hannah explains that you shouldn't necessarily reject people who are breaking your boundaries because you can redirect them to something that does work for you. [18:56] Melissa shares something she has learned from her business coach: you can't control what other people do, but you can prepare for how you'll respond to it. Mentioned in this episode: ILB episode 19 - Work-Life Balance Series: Work-Life Balance is a Good Habit with Alyssa Lang [email protected]

The Workflow Queen Alyssa Lang joins co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan to discuss the role of work-life balance, why it's a good habit, and the way it has shaped her company and team members. [2:21] Alyssa shares where her passion for great white sharks comes from, and discusses how she hasn't been able to go shark cage diving, yet. [3:50] Alyssa started her bookkeeping and taxes firm six years ago, before ending it in February of 2020. She started Workflow Queen on Valentine's Day of the same year when she found out that many other bookkeepers and accountants also struggled with trying to create systems and processes, hiring people, and getting support, just like Alyssa did. In January of 2022, she partnered with her Workflow Queen operations manager to start a new bookkeeping firm. [5:30] Alyssa isn't sure that she has mastered work-life balance just yet. [6:34] When starting her first business, Alyssa had no idea about the importance of systems and processes – now, though, with her new business, she really wants to document and outsource the work right from the get-go. [7:48] When it comes to communicating boundaries and expectations to clients, Alyssa feels that things are better now. [9:51] Alyssa's way of doing things may not always sit well with prospects, but she talks about how that has actually been an important thing, despite it being a little bit of a constant struggle. [13:50] For Hannah, the way you communicate your boundaries or expectations is similar to how you wrap up a package and deliver it to people. [16:09] Massages, getting her nails and hair done, as well as cooking, and off-roading are Alyssa's main acts of self-care related to her work-life balance (though, now, it's harder for her to get them done because of the remote location she's currently living in). [18:55] While she initially struggled with work-life balance, as of late, Alyssa has made an effort to put herself first – like during a recent mastermind in Key West where, instead of working and networking like other participants, she decided to take a break because she needed a vacation. [21:59] Melissa shares how, for her, work-life balance is a habit and that's very easy to fall out of good habits. She stresses that it's important to identify that, and then get back on with those good habits. [22:35] According to Alyssa, 'slow down to speed up' and pre-projecting things to do – in her free time – after having completed a work task are two good things to follow and do in order to get into the good habit of work-life balance. [25:49] Melissa opens up about going through a burnout, and how, now, she realizes that she did fall out of the good work-life balance habit. Alyssa shares a story about a recent time when she informed her team that she needed to take some time off. [27:31] Melissa talks about the importance of choosing to rest and some challenges she has faced in recent times – and the role Hannah has played. [29:12] Alyssa is a big advocate for work-life balance for her team as well. She has had team members letting her and others know that they would be taking some time off, and Alyssa is a fan of that. One of her main goals is to protect her team's personal time. [31:02] Daily check-ins – with today's concerns and intentions – and check-outs for her team members have been a key resource that has helped Alyssa identify whenever a member of her team seemed to have been in need of some time off. [33:18] Alyssa discloses that they're currently hiring at both Workflow Queen and her firm Magnetic Bookkeeping and Consulting. Mentioned in this episode: WorkflowQueen.com [email protected] @WorkflowQueen on Instagram BKX Asana Bookkeepers.com Slack [email protected]

How do you go about setting boundaries? When and how should you add boundaries in your business)? Co-Hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan dive into the world of boundaries, share their importance and go over some situations you may find yourself in – and how to navigate them. [0:23] Melissa discusses how she went about things when she got started with her business. [2:13] Hannah talks about something she struggled with in regards to productivity for networkers. [2:54] Hannah asks Melinda what was one thing she wasn't willing to compromise. [3:23] Melissa goes over the first thing she does when trying to work with somebody on time management is having them create their ideal work schedule. [7:32] For Melissa, setting boundaries is something that should be taken care of right off the bat – and she shares an example of how she deals with that in her business. [13:38] Hannah and Melissa touch upon the issue of trying to set boundaries after the relationship with a client has already been established – and the potential consequences of that. [20:19] Hannah shares the fact that a lot of women come to fear being negatively labeled. [23:34] 'Just' is a word that Hannah was invited to omit. [27:06]: Hannah points out that you can't control other people's reactions. Sometimes, you'll say things as nicely as possible, and if they react horribly, then it's ok. You have to prepare yourself and hold onto your power for people who are going to break your boundaries. [32:04] Melissa talks about the reason why women should stop saying 'I'm sorry' in a professional context. [33:15] Melissa explains why, as a business owner, you should stop apologizing. Mentioned in this episode: QuickBooks [email protected]

Processes are something every bookkeeping business needs. But how do you go about creating and leveraging them? Co-hosts Hannah Robinson and Melissa Honan interview Content Snare Co-Founder James (Jimmy) Rose – they discuss systems, automation, tech stack, and "shortcuts" that will help bookkeepers win time back and better streamline their workflow. [0:41] Brisbane-based Jimmy Rose is the Co-Founder of Content Snare, a software platform that helps bookkeepers collect information and documents from clients. A former automation engineer, he now focuses on helping business owners regain their lives and be more productive. [2:19] Hannah asks Jimmy what made him want to pivot away from running a digital marketing and web design agency. [3:48] Based on his experience and conversations with bookkeepers, Jimmy sees wasted time chasing clients for documents or similar as the biggest pain-point for bookkeepers. [6:07] For Jimmy, even after asking for client documents there may be challenges, as those documents may be forwarded to a bookkeeper in many different emails and attachments. [9:05] Melissa talks about how Content Snare has helped her bookkeeping business when it comes to onboarding new clients and how surprised she is that the platform wasn't initially created for bookkeepers. [10:04] Melissa asks Jimmy what he would recommend, apart from Content Snare, for new bookkeepers to do to make their lives easier. [10:35] According to Jimmy, many people make the mistake of trying to put systems in place before they've actually done the work manually. [13:31] Jimmy shares how using something like TextExpander can help bookkeeping business owners. [16:25] Hannah asks Jimmy what's something that helped him in the early stages of his journey from a tech standpoint. [16:49] Jimmy considers having a Get-Things-Done system the #1 thing everyone needs. [18:30] Hannah asks Jimmy whether there are tech tools that can be used to easily put processes in place. [21:49] Melissa points out that new business owners often get stressed out by not having everything perfect in place. It's about things being nice and perfect, though, it's just about getting it done. [24:10] Hannah, Melissa, and Jimmy discuss additional things TextExpander can come in handy for. [28:23] Hannah asks Jimmy why it's important for Content Snare to help business owners build and maintain relationships with their clients. [32:09] Melissa shares an automated process she uses whenever a new client signs a contract. Mentioned in this episode: Content Snare Zapier TextExpander Monday.com Teamwork Trello Todoist Google Docs Loom [email protected]