The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

Charge an hourly or fixed rate? It's a decision many bookkeepers, who are business owners, have pondered at one point or another. Our guest, Amanda Birch, the President of Birch Accounting & Tax Services, was one of them until she figured out fixed pricing was the way to go. For her, fixed pricing made sense because it is offered upfront so that clients would know exactly what they're paying for, whether it be bookkeeping or taxes, so they would not end up with a surprise bill at the end. That decision has worked well. Amanda's business continues to provide value while her customers have reaped the benefits. During this interview, you'll also discover... How to optimize bookkeeping in real time with online applications How to provide cloud and desktop accounting solutions to your customers How to use a secure encrypted portal for your customers' tax return information To find out more about Amanda, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology. It improves efficiency for your accounting and bookkeeping business. Our guest, Kellie Parks, a Certified Professional Bookkeeper and Financial Technology Expert, is a relentless organizer and believes cloud financial technology is the key to organization. While running her business, Calmwaters Cloud Accounting, she spends much of her days educating accounting firms and small to medium-sized businesses, but she loves taking care of her clients' day-to-day accounting needs. During this interview, you'll discover... Different financial technology that will help your bookkeeping business How Cloud Financial Technology makes it possible for you to enjoy working from different countries How technology can maintain your training and bookkeeping business seamlessly To find out more about Kellie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

What impact do you have on your clients? Woodard exists to transform small business advisors to radically impact the way small businesses operate. Each business unit of Woodard serves to educate, support, and connect accounting professionals throughout North America and, increasingly, the world. It is led by Joe Woodard, CEO and Founder of Woodard Consulting and Woodard Events. He was recognized by Accounting Today as one of the Top 100 Influential People within the accounting profession in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2008, he was recognized by CPA Practice Advisor as one of the Top 40 Up and Coming Thought Leaders under the age of 40. Today, he has trained over 100,000 accounting and business professionals in the area of practiced developments, changing technology trends, strategic consulting and how to maximize the use of accounting software in their practices. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance and role of using adaptive capacity Tips on how bookkeepers can turn things around in their businesses Why picking the right people you surround yourself with will help your business To find out more about Joe, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Small businesses. It's the heart of the global economy. Our guest, Keri Gohman, President of Xero Americas, is passionate about helping small businesses grow and thrive by enabling entrepreneurs to work toward their financial goals. For bookkeepers, Xero automates many basic functions allowing you to do tasks quickly and easily while maximizing your time, build relationships with your clients and have instant growth results. Xero is helping over 1 million subscribers worldwide transform the way they do business and they're just getting started. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of bringing together the "Financial Web" for business success Tips on how to grow your clients, team and profits How being a trusted advisor will attract great people To find out more about Keri, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Buffer. LinkedIn. Youtube. These are some of the applications that are out there and within reach to streamline your business and make it grow. Seth David, Chief nerd and President of Nerd Enterprises, Inc., built his company through his confidence of making training videos which created a powerful online lead generation engine that has people calling him for his services. Today, Nerd Enterprises, Inc. is one of the leaders in the small business accounting world in online training by offering courses on a wide range of software products. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of producing great content marketing Step-by-step actions on how to manage your business and gain more profit Tips on how to network more effectively To find out more about Seth, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

We all need balance in our lives and she perfected it. Our guest, renowned publisher, founder & CEO of MomTrends, Nicole Feliciano, did this by understanding her priorities, taking action and making mindset changes that would alter her life for the better. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it. Work-life balance is possible and you're about to find out some tips to help make it a reality. During this interview, you'll discover... How to balance your entrepreneurship, family and success Powerful tips in making your bookkeeping clients satisfied How to have a successful bookkeeper and client relationship To find out more about Nicole Feliciano visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Focus and confidence. Those are the keys to attain success and become the Intuit Firm of the Future Global Winner. According to our guest, Karine Woodman, who is the owner of 24hr Bookkeeper, putting everything into experience will help bookkeepers avoid costly mistakes. During this interview, you'll discover... Effective tips in marketing, hiring & training Staff How to develop from desktop to QuickBooks How to build internal structures that are a company structure and not a customer facing structure To find out more about Karine Woodman visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Productivity, Production & Profitability. They play an important role to a successful bookkeeping business. According to our guest, co-founder & CEO of Receipt Bank, Alexis Prenn, bookkeeping should be a very profitable business and Productivity Manifesto explains how you can make this a reality. Productivity Manifesto will help you learn how focusing on one key ratio can be the foundation for building a productive, profitable, and scalable bookkeeping business that's ready for the future. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of productivity in industrial scale How technology can help clients and "wow" them How technology can assist your staff and benefit them To find out more about Alexis, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Facebook. It's a powerful tool in bringing together like-minded people to create supportive communities. That's what we have with The Successful Bookkeeper Facebook group. It's filled with great bookkeepers who are always willing to help each other. Recently, we mentioned to them that Ben Robinson, the founder and chief teacher at the Bookkeeper Business Launch program, would be returning to our podcast. So, we asked them to pass along any questions. Ben was more than happy to answer and deliver incredible insight. During this informative interview, you'll discover... The importance of finding a support network that will guide you through your business What are the four pillars in launching a successful bookkeeping business What is the best marketing strategy for home-based companies To find out more about Ben, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Free. Everybody loves the sound of that. CPAacademy.org offers a free, easy-to-use platform for knowledge sharing and idea exchange through the marketing and presenting of the most up-to-date educational content and developments important to the accounting profession. According to our guest, CPAacademy.org President, Scott Zarret, his website isn't just for accountants, but bookkeepers can also receive great value by consuming its online courses and live webinars. To stay ahead of the game, it's important to have a continuous thirst for knowledge, so that's why a useful resource like CPAacademy.org can definitely be an asset as you grow your business. During this interview, you will discover... What to look for at CPAacademy.org and where's the best place to start for bookkeepers The advantages of a continuous learning culture Why getting out of your comfort zone and figuring out your goals will lead you to success To find out more about Scott, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you want clients? For those bookkeeping businesses that do, especially startups, it can be challenging to find them. Many bookkeepers aren't comfortable with prospecting because they'd rather just do the books. According to our guest, Omar Visram, who is the co-founder of Enkel which is a Vancouver-based bookkeeping practice, it doesn't have to be hard. When he began his business in 2016, he leveraged the power of coffee meetings for business referrals and it worked incredibly well. It was such a hit, his firm now has over 15 employees to handle the increased workload. During this interview, you'll learn... How to master an effective coffee meeting to produce results and not feel uncomfortable while doing it Why you should use your warm network to select people you'd like to meet Why coffee meetings are a quicker referral strategy then SEO and content marketing To find out more about Omar, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

It's all about your perspective. If you think it's going to be a bad day, chances are it will. You're in control of your attitude and mood. You set the tone. Many of us forget that. According to business mentor, Sharon Francisco, who used the Pure Bookkeeping System to skyrocket the success of her bookkeeping business, you have to start your day right. Since many bookkeepers are operating solo, it's hard for them to be their own champions. Negative thoughts and doubts always seem to find a way into their minds. There are ways to break those mental cycles and become the confident and successful bookkeeper you are capable of being. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of using your first hour of the day to be inspired & filled with positivity Why it's okay to make mistakes and not beat yourself up over them Why you should have a clear idea of what you do and don't want in 6 main life categories To find out more about Sharon, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you THAT bookkeeper? You know, the one that tells her clients to set business goals for the year, but she, herself, doesn't set any? Our guest, Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts has chatted with bookkeepers like that. She's discovered that if you don't take the time to set goals, you'll wander aimlessly without achieving what you'd like. Don't begin a fresh year like that. Instead, listen to Debbie as she will help get you on track by discussing... The importance of setting 12 month, 3 year and 5 year goals Why KPI reports are crucial to tracking your success Why you should have an accountability partner during your business journey To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Time. It's a precious resource. Yes, if you lose money, you can make it back, but once your time is used, it'll never return. With this in mind, our guest, Scott Friesen, who is a productivity expert, will help you better organize your time by introducing us to some great tools. During this interview, you'll discover... The power of Asana, Slack and Trello when it comes to project management and communication Why note-taking apps such as Evernote and Google Keep can help you store your ideas and give your overworked brain a break Why the Pomodoro Technique could be a time management strategy that changes your business life forever To find out more about Scott, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Why do you do what you do? Do you run a bookkeeping business only because it makes money? Is there deeper meaning? Our guest, Jeremy Allen, who owns System Six Bookkeeping which generates over a million dollars per year, has his own answer. The core value for his company is "Our Clients' Success Is Our Success." At the end of the day, it's about assisting businesses to become as healthy as possible so they can flourish which ultimately helps our economy, feeds families and provides the quality of life you'd like. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of putting your clients first & committing to excellence with your bookkeeping services How to avoid being full up with the wrong clients by raising your prices Why you should always strive to improve and never rest on your success To find out more about Jeremy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Udemy. Have you heard of it? It's an online learning and teaching marketplace with over 55,000 courses and 15 million students. Recently, on The Successful Bookkeeper Facebook page, we noticed today's guest, Ron Trucks of RJT Consulting, posted a link to his Udemy course, Bookkeeping Basics, which received incredible engagement from our community. The course is 3 1/2 hours long and features 55 video lessons. Originally it was for people from non-bookkeeping backgrounds such as small business owners. So, why would established bookkeepers want to invest in a course that is mainly for beginners? You're about to find out. During this interview, you'll learn... How this course helps bookkeepers teach their clients bookkeeping fundamentals Why giving the gift of online education can make a great impression with customers Why it's important to communicate bookkeeping terms in a way your clients can understand To find out more about Ron, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bad hires. As you probably know, they can be an emotionally, financially and psychologically expensive decision for your bookkeeping business. If you don't have the RIGHT people working for you, you'll be inviting a storm of trouble. This is why it's absolutely crucial to bring employees on that are a fit. How do you do that? Today's guest, Carrie Mulrooney has some insight. She is an expert in establishing great work culture. Her company, Mulrooney & Associates, was named Canada's 2017 Bookkeeping firm of the year, so she knows what it takes to form a fantastic team. During this interview, you'll learn... The ingredients to look for in a terrific employee The importance of staff having input on company decisions Why celebrating group accomplishments together is great for morale To find out more about Carrie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Workflow. If your systems regarding it aren't great, your whole bookkeeping business suffers. Today, there are plenty of tools in the marketplace that help heal this pain point, but today we'll focus on one - Receipt Bank. What is it? Receipt Bank extracts the key information from your clients' bills, receipts and invoices, removing the need for manual data entry. It then allows you to publish this data directly to their accounting software. During this interview, our guest, Alexis Prenn, who is Receipt Bank's Co-Founder & CEO, will discuss... How Receipt Bank can help you deliver an awesome client experience Why you should always think of how workflow tools will ultimately result in giving customers value The importance of reviewing your clients' files at least 2 times a week To find out more about , visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Over 30,000 bookkeepers. According to the Canadian Revenue Agency, that's how many there are in the Great White North. You can only imagine what the number is in the United States. But, here's the thing, many bookkeepers across North America haven't taken leadership with their client relationships. Many choose to "fit in" by adapting to the software and workflows their customers currently have as opposed to letting the clients know how they want the working relationship to operate. According to Rachel Fisch, Accountants Group Leader at Sage Canada, the reason is bookkeepers are at odds with saying NO. They're kind people and problem solvers. They usually don't like conflict. But today, it's important to remember one thing. YOU have the choice to select the clients, software and workflows you want to work with. Hopefully, this episode will help you realize that. During this interview, you'll learn... How to help your clients see you as a valuable partner in their business success How to identify when you have a terrific or horrible client How to attract amazing customers through the use of a powerful spreadsheet exercise To find out more about Rachel, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Desperation. It lives within many business owners who are struggling to make revenue. When the panic heightens, they're likely to accept any clients that walk through the door. But, here's the thing, not all of them are a fit. In fact, by agreeing to help those bad apples, they sometimes end up costing you more in the long run. So, why don't bookkeepers say NO more often? Well, it's likely because of FEAR. Many don't want to lose the income. Our guest, Megan Goodall of Bastion Bookkeeping, is the classic example of how you shouldn't let fear paralyze you when it comes to recruiting new clients. She's realizing the magic formula is about knowing what you want your life and business to look like FIRST then finding the customers that will support your vision. During this interview, you'll learn... How to create the standard you want for your ideal client How to nurture good relationships with prospects in your local community The power of having a business goal and chipping away at it every day To find out more about Megan, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

55 percent. According to our guest, Plooto Co-Founder & CEO, Hamed Abbasi, that's the percentage of North American businesses that still use cheques daily to make payments. In today's advanced technological age, that's hard to believe. Fortunately for bookkeepers, Plooto is a business-to-business payment management platform that makes things easier. During this interview, you'll learn... How Plooto works and why it's a powerful tool How it can be used to teach and impress your bookkeeping clients Its new features that will make it even more user friendly To find out more about Plooto, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The robots are coming! So what? Yes, Artificial Intelligence has and will continue to take away some duties from bookkeepers, but according to our guest who is the founder and chief teacher at the Bookkeeper Business Launch program, the future is something to look forward to and not to be feared. Ben Robinson has helped thousands of people start their own virtual bookkeeping businesses and along the way has realized relationship building with clients and becoming their trusted advisor will protect bookkeepers from the AI invasion. During this interview, you'll discover... Why you should call your clients once in awhile to check in on them with no business agenda to build deeper rapport Why you should know the jobs, pains and gains of your ideal customers and use simple marketing methods to reach them How you can go from pain to power by taking action despite your fears To find out more about Ben, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

She's back! After Pure Bookkeeping co-founder and E-Myth Bookkeeper co-author, Debbie Roberts did such a great job answering bookkeepers' questions in her previous appearance, she has returned to answer some more! During this interview, you'll learn... Her proven strategy to transition from a full-time job to running a bookkeeping business The importance of having a powerful vision to power you through the hard times Why being a part of a bookkeeping association is a wise investment To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology. As you've heard, it's quickly taking over some bookkeeping duties and it doesn't appear to be slowing down. However, there's a way to keep your business viable during these interesting times. According to our guest, Evelyn Jacks, who is the founder and president of Knowledge Bureau which is Canada's leading tax and financial services post-secondary educational institute for continuing professional development, you need to be a trusted advisor. Artificial Intelligence can't replace the human touch of offering guidance to your clients. To become a trusted advisor, you have to be on top of your education and always be learning, so you can utilize that insight. During this informative interview, you'll also discover... Why you should consider yourself as a Real Wealth Manager Why you must have corporate and personal tax knowledge in your bookkeeping toolkit The importance of taking the time to educate yourself on new industry trends and other relevant news To find out more about Evelyn, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

So, you want to grow your business to the next level? As you probably guessed, it's not easy, but it can be done and there are many ways to get there. For our guest, Cheryl Knight of the Balcatta, Australia-based, Carbon Bookkeeping, she partnered with others to form a mega firm where she runs her $1 million dollar business inside a $7 million dollar one. It's a unique situation, but it's one that likely wouldn't have happened if she hadn't set up her business for success beforehand. During this interview, you'll discover... The power of documenting your business procedures and writing checklists to teach staff The importance of being open to new ideas that could provide profitable opportunities Why you should be adaptable to industry trends to always remain relevant and valuable to clients To find out more about Cheryl , visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bookkeepers are everywhere. As a result, prospects have a lot of choice, so what makes you stand out? Why should someone choose you over another bookkeeper? Today's guest, Dorie Clark, who is a branding expert, author and speaker that has worked with Google, Microsoft & Yale University, feels you can get an advantage by becoming a recognized expert. During this informative conversation, you'll learn... Why you should take control of your narrative and personal brand The three ingredients you'll need to broadcast your bookkeeping expertise to the world Why you should always look for ways to bring client value and create additional revenue streams To find out more about Dorie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Experience. Pure Bookkeeping Co-Founder & E-Myth Bookkeeper Co-Author, Debbie Roberts has been in the bookkeeping industry a long time. She's made every mistake possible, but learned from them and eventually documented all her wisdom into systems she would use to successfully run her bookkeeping business. Today, she's on the podcast to answer YOUR questions! During this interview, you'll learn... Why having a vision for your business impacts your future decisions Why checklists can be a powerful way to keep your staff on track Why bookkeeping startups should focus on one type of bookkeeping software To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Let's face it. Without your team members, you'd likely be drowning in client work right now. But, fortunately, you have great people working with you that believe in you and your company and are providing terrific results. Sometimes, though, things can get busy and, as a business owner, you might forget to let your staff know how grateful you are for their efforts. It's important to acknowledge their excellence and help them grow in their roles. Our guest, Tammy Christiansen of Aeble Business Services realizes this and has seen her business prosper as a result of taking care of her staff. It truly does make a difference. During this interview, you'll discover... Why you should allow your staff to make some decisions to improve the business while you have the final say Why you must encourage and support your team through good and bad times Why you should consider investing in your staff by having them take courses & other educational opportunities To find out more about Tammy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

You don't need to be alone. As a bookkeeper, it's pretty easy to isolate yourself especially if you're a solo practice working from home. For some, they don't even realize how big of a community of bookkeepers there is in the world. Our guest, a marketing and branding expert for bookkeepers, Amy Hooke had no idea. In the early days of her bookkeeping business, she was too busy dealing with terrible clients to notice. But, that all changed for the better. Today, she's a part of a supportive group of bookkeepers that give her the confidence she never had before. Being with these like-minded people definitely changed her world for the better. Joining a bookkeeping community can do the same for you. During this interview, you'll learn... How fellow bookkeepers can point out the positives in you that you never knew you had How a bookkeeping community can provide good advice when you're dealing with client issues Why you should find ways to pay it forward to your bookkeeper friends To find out more about Amy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Predictable and repeatable. It might sound boring, but when it comes to creating systems, that's what you want in order to ensure you and your staff create the same positive result over and over again. Your marketing is no different. Today's guest, John Jantsch, the author of the popular book, Duct Tape Marketing, has some tips on how you can fine tune your marketing efforts. During this interview, you'll learn... The power of building a 90-day plan from your marketing strategy Why it's important to know who your ideal clients are & what your core promise is to them The importance of focus and delegation when creating your marketing system To find out more about John, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

What if you fail? That question has crossed the minds of many bookkeepers when first starting their businesses. It's perfectly normal and it's something that our return guest, Debbie Roberts asked herself in the beginning. She was concerned that if her bookkeeping services weren't good, her reputation would be damaged and that would affect her business. It scared her that, as a small business owner, she didn't have any backup. Fortunately, for her and bookkeepers worldwide, the co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping and co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper overcame her fears and became a tremendous success. During this interview, you'll learn... Why having small wins through bite-sizeable, manageable & planned actions can give you confidence The importance of realizing your mind usually makes your concerns worse than what they seem How the weaknesses in your personal life can hold you back in your business if you let them To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you introverted? If so, you're not alone. Many bookkeepers are. But, what if there were ways to be more at ease around people and have win-win partnerships with them? Today's guest, Siobhan Harrop-Scott of Harrop Scott & Associates Ltd., has some ideas that just might help. Through her bookkeeping business, she's developed hundreds of connections and has become a terrific leader for her staff. During this insightful interview, you'll learn... The importance of listening and taking notes when speaking with people and having a system to record that information for future meetings Why you must be supportive and consistent in your daily communication with your staff Why building positive relationships are good for relieving stress To find out more about Siobhan, visit here.

Prospects. How do they hear about your bookkeeping business? Do you do in-person networking? Do you advertise in local media? Do you solely use referrals? Our guest, Katrina Aarsman, who is from Melbourne, Australia and is the owner of Bookkeepers HQ where she mentors bookkeepers, has some strategies that you can add to your marketing basket. During this interview, you'll learn... How joining business-focused Facebook groups and providing value to those audiences can lead to sales How using the LinkedIn advanced search engine can connect you with your ideal clients How leveraging a joint venture referral partnership with someone you know, like and trust can become profitable To find out more about Katrina, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Investing. For your bookkeeping business to be successful, you'll need to invest money into products, programs, systems and tools to ensure your operation has all the resources it needs to deliver great service to your clients. This reality is one our guest, Peter Broberg of Monitor Bookkeeping Services based in Perth, Australia, accepted and has never looked back. During this interview, you'll learn... The value of buying a proven and pre-made system that allows you to focus on your business instead of reinventing the wheel Why exploring fixed pricing can be a game-changer and who you should research to implement it properly The importance of always looking for ways to automate your enterprise to increase its efficiency and productivity To find out more about Peter, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Starting out is always scary. There are so many unknowns which makes it incredibly easy to stay in your comfort zone and not take any chances. Our special return guest today, the lovely and talented, Debbie Roberts of Pure Bookkeeping, remembers what those times were like. Fortunately, with the help of her longtime business coach and co-founder of PB, Peter Cook, she overcame those fears and realized her true potential as a successful bookkeeping business owner. For those of you who are just beginning your bookkeeping entrepreneurial journey, don't worry, Debbie is about to give you some golden tips to help you through the bumps. During this inspiring interview, you'll learn... How to increase your confidence when speaking with accountants and prospects The importance of leaning on qualified mentors to ask questions and advice to avoid mistakes Why practice and preparation will always serve you well when marketing yourself to others To find out more about Debbie & Pure Bookkeeping, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Hiring mistakes. Unfortunately, many bookkeeping business owners make them. Those poor decisions likely cause emotional and financial stress in addition to the large amount of time used to mop up the bookkeeping messes of those you thought could do the job. One man who has cracked the code on how to hire great and loyal staff is our guest today, Bob Wang. He is the owner of Legacy Advantage which has 2 offices and around 15 employees and will make $1 million in sales this year. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of building a powerful company vision that will inspire others to want to be on your team Why having the right culture fit is a huge requirement when hiring someone new How to craft an effective and unique job advertisement that will attract your ideal future employees To find out more about Bob, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Who do you want to work with? If you answered, "EVERYONE." That could likely cost you. Many bookkeepers don't have a clear niche of clients they focus on and, as a result, they likely accept any new customers that walk through the door. Unfortunately, that thinking can attract potentially bad clients who are not a fit. By not taking the time to identify what type of client would be ideal from a financial and personality standpoint, accepting "EVERYONE" can lead to increased headaches, stress and payment issues. It doesn't have to be this way. Our guest, Ingrid Edstrom pointed out that in 2015, her bookkeeping company, Polymath, had 96 clients, but after finding a profitable niche, it now serves only 30, but it makes double the money. Once you figure out what core group of customers work best for you, it can be an absolute game-changer in your bookkeeping business. During this fun and inspiring interview, you'll learn... Why you should focus on an industry niche that you want to work with and that can pay you well What questions to ask yourself to determine your ideal niche clients To not be afraid to refer potential clients who aren't a fit to other bookkeepers To find out more about Ingrid, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Be of service. Usually, you'd think helping your bookkeeping clients would be enough. But, if you want to be truly valuable and generate countless referrals, it pays to be on the good side of accountants as well. Today's guest, Lynne Moore, who is the owner of LAM Consulting, has mastered the art of attracting the best referrals by being of great value to accountants and her clients. By assisting both, it has created a profitable business where she doesn't spend a penny on marketing including not even having a website. During this interview, you'll learn... What to ask your new clients in order to connect with their accountants Why it's important to know how accountants want their files prepared Why clients and accountants like when you have a relationship with both sides To find out more about Lynne, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Have you made this important decision? Many bookkeepers haven't. The decision in question is whether you want your bookkeeping business to make lifestyle income where you trade your time for dollars to hopefully earn $100,000 to $200,000 per year... Or... You want to grow your business by creating teachable and repeatable systems so it can run without you and eventually be sold to a third party for potentially bigger profits. Our guest today, John Warrillow, who wrote the book, Built To Sell, feels you should figure out what direction you want to go so you can align the appropriate actions towards achieving your goals before it's too late. During this interview, you'll learn... Why your profit and loss statement isn't a good business value indicator How to determine if your business is scalable using the Trifecta of Scale The importance of having teachable systems to help your business function without you and be more attractive to potential buyers To find out more about John, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The classroom. It was once the main destination where people consumed educational information, but in today's online world, things have changed and bookkeepers are slowly becoming more open to learning in new ways. Managing Director of K2E Canada Inc. and IPBC board member, Alan Salmon recently conducted a survey that measured how bookkeepers and accountants learn. It was sent to 10,000 contacts and 990 responded. The results were fascinating. During this informative interview, you'll learn... What is the number one online educational tool for bookkeepers How active bookkeepers are in social media groups Whether bookkeepers still consume traditional forms of media To find out more about Alan, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you looking for clients? If you're just starting your bookkeeping business then you might be. If you're already up and running then maybe you'd like to add some more business. A way to do it other than spending thousands of dollars on marketing is to get referrals. How do you do that? Our returning guest, Melissa Lenos of King Accounting Solutions, knows how to master this fine art. She never spends money on advertising because her revenue comes strictly from referrals only. During this interview, you'll learn... How to turn a conversation with your client's accountant into a new referral partnership Why you should have lunch and learns with senior managers at accounting firms How to leverage BNI to have a 30-50 person sales team for your bookkeeping business To find out more about Melissa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Chaos. No one likes that in their bookkeeping business. But, when you don't have a trusted process or system in place for staff to follow which details how your operation works, a tornado of destruction will likely ensue. This could happen because clear instructions are not given on how things get done, so others will come up with their own solutions which can lead to disaster including some angry clients. Today, our guest David Cristello, who is the founder of Jetpack Workflow, will offer some suggestions to get you started on systemizing your bookkeeping business. During this interview, you'll learn... Why it's important to download your brain into a Google Doc Why the quality of your product is dependent on the quality of your process Why you should include your staff in the creation of your systems To find out more about David, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Emails. According to our return guest, productivity expert and owner of Simpletivity, Scott Friesen, he says the average professional spends 6.3 hours per day tending to their emails in some capacity. Those are easily hours that could be dedicated to more important things, but for many reasons we're choosing to be a slave to our inboxes. Today that's about to end. It's time you take a stand and Scott will help. During this informative interview, you'll learn... Why you should space out the time in between checking emails How to turn off your email notifications Why it's important to acknowledge email requests quickly & provide a deadline to address them To find out more about Scott, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Your home office. It's the location where many bookkeepers begin their business journey. It's convenient, affordable and comfortable. It can also be a lonely place. Think of the days when you're so swamped with work that you don't even have time to go outside. Before you know it, you're completely cut off from civilization. You're essentially on your own little island. Sound familiar? Today's guest will help you get a little more balance in your life. Tanis Young is an Alberta-based bookkeeping business owner who knows what it's like to feel isolated because she experienced it herself when she was starting out. During this interview, you'll learn... How to be intentionally social by actively engaging with your clients' accountants & seeking associations to join Why having a mindset of collaboration can build strong bonds with fellow bookkeepers & clients Why surrounding yourself with top achievers is a must To find out more about Tanis visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology. For bookkeepers, it can be a great thing, but also a scary one. With all types of automated bookkeeping software and apps out there, some of you might be worried that your services may be obsolete because of new advances in technology. According to today's guest, the co-founder and chair of the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada, Dianne Mueller, there is a way to make yourself valuable so you can thrive despite these uncertain times. During this interview, you'll learn... The one mindset shift that will help your business adapt and prosper during this rapidly changing digital age Why you need to get out of your bookkeeping box to expand your network and build strong connections Why you should learn from successful bookkeeping leaders to get where you want to be To find out more about Dianne visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you WOW your clients? If not, you might lose them. According to our guest, customer service expert and New York Times best-selling author, Shep Hyken, you have to recognize every interaction you have with a client forms an impression, so make it a good one. During this interview, you'll discover... The power of gratitude and how it will take your customer service to new heights The importance of truly understanding your clients' needs How to deal with difficult customers in a respectful way To find out more about Shep, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Your office. Does it look like a tornado whipped through it or is everything organized and tidy? For some bookkeepers, when life gets hectic, it's pretty tough to keep their desk in order. Have no fear, today's guest has some great suggestions to help you get on track. Lisa Campbell-Marchese is the owner of a bookkeeping company called The Marcam Group. Throughout her 25 years of experience, she had to learn different tricks to handle not only the constant referrals she received and current workload, but she's had to do it all while balancing being a mother too. She understood things had to change to increase her efficiency and make her work/life balance realistic. As a result of being open to learning new strategies, she's been very successful and now she'll share some of her golden tips with you. During this informative interview, you'll discover... Why having 3 monitors in your personal workspace can help you be more productive Why you'll want Jetpack Workflow & Hubdoc to be your new best friends Why having systems is crucial in organizing any part of your life To find out more about Lisa & the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Value Pricing. Some bookkeepers love it while others don't. There's no question Value Pricing can be complicated to implement because setting rates for bookkeeping services is very subjective due to the varying needs of different clients. Our guest today, Mark Wickersham, who is a chartered accountant, author and public speaker, will give you clarity on how you can profitably use Value Pricing in your business. During this informative interview, you'll discover... Why it's important to ask commitment questions to prospects Why you need to build up the value of what you do first before revealing your price Why the first price you present to a client should be the most expensive To find out more about Mark, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/.

Are you overwhelmed? Some bookkeeping business owners with families are. Let's face it. It's hard work making sure the kids are fed and your clients are happy. Our guest, Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan knows the battle all to well. She's a bookkeeper who helps lawyers grow their practices profitably. But, she also doesn't like grocery shopping. It used to really drain her. In fact, doing some of these family tasks would take up her weekends then she'd dread going to the office on Monday especially during tax season. Well, that all changed when she discovered how to streamline these duties so she could not only be more efficient at home and with her business, but she was able to enjoy life at a more reasonable pace. During this interview, you'll learn... How to utilize the power of productivity apps such as Evernote to keep you on track Why delegating tasks to family members is a must Why planning meals weeks in advance is a huge time-saver To find out more about Nancy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Ask questions. Some bookkeepers don't do this when working with clients. As a result, they are missing out on an incredible opportunity to not only help their customers grow their businesses, but they lose the chance to become a powerful asset to them in the process. Our guest, Angela Meharg, who owns Datisfy which helps business owners receive custom QuickBooks reports, feels bookkeepers should increase their value by digging deeper and truly getting to know what their clients' needs are. During this interview, you'll learn... Why you should research the industry your customer is in and find out the things that are typically measured The crucial questions to ask your client that could be the key in solving their major problems and catapulting them to greater success Why you must send a monthly email to your customer detailing how you've gone over and above to assist them To find out more about Angela, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/.