The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

You're not alone. According to our guest, Melanie Power, who is the head of bookkeeping at Xero, many bookkeepers are working on their own. They might have staff, but they probably aren't as like-minded. As a result, bookkeeping can be isolating, but there's a way to battle that. You could start by joining bookkeeper communities like Melanie's Bookkeeper Revolution and our own Successful Bookkeeper Facebook Group. It's a great way to share challenges and wins with people who know what you're going through and are willing to support you. During this interview, you'll learn... How to collaborate with bookkeepers across the globe Why selling isn't a dirty word The importance of getting your business model down To find out more about Melanie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Fear. Your bookkeeping clients have it. They're always frightened or worried about something especially the survival of their business. When incorporating new software (ie: cloud-based or otherwise) into your bookkeeping services, this may also be scary for them since it's their money you're working with. Our guest today, Jan Haugo, who is the CEO of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) USA, sees a great leadership opportunity for you, the bookkeeper, when it comes to learning and informing your clients about the new technology you'll use, so you can help grow their business and become their trusted advisor. During this interview, you'll learn... The importance of testing new software first for effectiveness before incorporating it with your services Why you should confidently detail what benefits this new technology will do for your customers Why you must reassure and offer continuously support for your clients during this transition To find out more about Jan visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Goal setting. Yes, it can be hard. It requires deep analysis of what you truly want to acquire, why you haven't achieved it yet and how you'll go about making your dreams a reality. Our guest today knows how to master the fine art of successfully setting and executing goals. Pure Bookkeeping co-founder and the co-author of The E-Myth Bookkeeper, Debbie Roberts wouldn't have achieved her great wins without determining her destination first. During this informative interview, you'll learn... The importance of taking time to evaluate what you want to achieve Why you should work backwards when figuring out how to accomplish your goals Why you'll need an accountability partner to keep you focused To find out more about Debbie and the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Technology. Most bookkeepers can't survive without it. You probably have your "go to" software that helps you run your business. Today's guest, Managing Director of K2E Canada Inc. and IPBC board member, Alan Salmon, who is Canada's leading analyst in the area of accounting technology, will open your mind with some different options you might have never considered before. During this interview, you'll discover... 3 tools that can dramatically increase your productivity and efficiency The fascinating results of a survey that reveal what the average bookkeeper earns per year and other details Tips on how to organize your day the night before to achieve optimal success To find out more about Alan, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Business networking. If you're an introverted bookkeeper, it can be a scary thing. But, it doesn't have to be. Just ask our guest today. Dr. Ivan Misner is the founder of Business Network International (BNI) which is the world's largest business networking and business referral organization. It has over 7,800 chapters and 213,000 members in 72 countries. So, he knows what he's talking about. During this fascinating interview, you'll learn... 4 things to look for when deciding on what networking group to join How identifying certain body language cues in others can enable you to approach them more easily Why networking isn't a face-to-face cold calling opportunity To find out more about Dr. Misner, his books, BNI and the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Bad hires. If you're a bookkeeping business owner, you've probably had one of those. They can be painful and toxic for many reasons including the damage they can inflict on your workplace culture. Our guest today, Melissa Lenos of King Accounting Solutions, knows what it's like to hire poorly. She's done it before, but she is wiser now and will share her lessons learned to help you avoid the same mistakes. During this informative conversation, you'll discover... Why you should consider looking for your ideal employee 6 months in advance Why you must hire based on the job candidate's skills AND personality The importance of having consistent staff communication and being available for support To find out more about Melissa and the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Are you ready? The time has come for you, the bookkeeper, to realize you're a truly valuable asset to small businesses. The days of you thinking you're not a core piece are over because, without your expert knowledge and skills, your clients would be in serious financial distress. According to our guest, Garry Carter, the co-founder of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), bookkeeping isn't a trade, it's a profession. Many bookkeepers don't think that way. That's unfortunate because you are a valuable professional. The more you realize that, the more profit and impact you'll have. During this interview, you'll learn... Your number one thing that makes your business unique Why your day-to-day client care is crucial to establishing trust and value Why ICB is a powerful organization to support bookkeepers To find out more about Garry and the ICB, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you know what a lion looks like? Of course you do. Your brain automatically creates an image that needs no explanation. Unfortunately, when you introduce yourself as a bookkeeper, people automatically have a mental picture of someone who does data entry, collects receipts and so on. If you're trying to set yourself apart, your label has to change. Our guest, Mike Michalowicz, who is the author of books such as Profit First, The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, can help you stand out. During this interview, you'll learn... Why becoming a profit advisor is more attractive to potential clients than just being a bookkeeper Why you should learn the envelope banking system then teach it to your customers for their financial health How you can use the power of Parkinson's law to help you and your clients' businesses To find out more about Mike, his newly revised book, Profit First and his white paper, How Bookkeepers Can Position Their Business To Get More Clients, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Niverville, Manitoba. The population is around 3500. You'd figure running a bookkeeping business there would be extremely challenging. Well, it can be unless you're our guest today, Mira Salter. She is the owner of Emerald Tree Accounting Services who found a way to be a success despite operating her business in a small town. Her secret? She discovered a couple of niches by catering her bookkeeping services to non-profits and parishes in her surrounding area. Her business has been doing extremely well ever since. During this inspiring interview, you'll learn... Why focusing on a specific niche can lead to more business Why you should always get referrals from clients you love Why you should take advantage of networking opportunities To find out more about Mira and access the script for generating referrals from your customer base visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you hate asking clients for their receipts? Or any other documents to get your bookkeeping job done? If you said yes, you know how incredibly frustrating that scenario is, for not only you, but your clients as well. You might be spending more time doing those administrative duties than actually advising your clients on the financial state of their businesses! Our guest today found a solution. Jamie Shulman is the co-founder & co-CEO of Hubdoc which is software that extracts key information from your receipts, invoices and bills. It's changing lives for many bookkeepers, accountants and entrepreneurs. During this interview, you'll discover... How Hubdoc can allow you to become a trusted advisor, instead of an administrator, with clients Why standardizing your bookkeeping software can help you find your ideal customers Why you should always be keeping up-to-date with the latest bookkeeping technology To find out more about Jamie visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/.

Are you determined to having a successful bookkeeping business? If you are, you'll have to commit to doing things that are likely out of your comfort zone. One of them is networking. For many bookkeepers, this is a terrifying task. But, you know what? Networking is necessary and effective. Just ask, Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts. In the early days of her business, she remembers being afraid of networking, but once she realized that mastering it could lead to more clients, she worked on her confidence and communication skills then the referrals began to roll in. You can do the same. During this interview, you'll learn... Strategies on how to successfully approach people at an event even if you're scared The power of Givers Gain & not focusing on helping yourself first when networking The qualities of a great networking group and where to find them Why business coaches can be an incredible referral source for your business To find out more about Debbie and her 60 second infomercial script resource, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/.

Do you want a successful bookkeeping business? Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts certainly did. When she first began her entrepreneurial journey, it had many bumps, but the best decision she made was hiring master business coach, Peter Cook to help her along the way. At the time, little did she know that Peter would become the source of inspiration, guidance and accountability she'd need to create the now popular Pure Bookkeeping System and eventually sell her personal bookkeeping business for over 6 figures. Peter, who is a co-founder of Pure Bookkeeping as well, saw the potential in Debbie and now she has transformed into a terrific success story. During this interview, you'll learn not only about Peter and Debbie's journey together, but you'll also discover the crucial tips you'll need to operate a prosperous bookkeeping business. Some include... Why clients will pay any price if you focus on solving their pain first instead of just marketing your services Why having accountability is the difference maker in achieving your goals Why basing hiring decisions on job interviews is a waste of your time To find out more about Peter and to check out the resources mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

Are you ready to get some sales? If the thought of you finding new clients makes you want to curl up in a ball and hide from civilization for a few days, you're not alone. Most bookkeepers just want to do the books and let word of mouth referrals bring in the business. That's not always enough. Many times you'll have to go out in your community and go to networking events or other public places to meet prospects. For bookkeepers this can be a frightening thought. Our guest today is a sales expert who has lots of experience helping service-based business owners get over their fears in order to increase their profits. Lori Richardson of Score More Sales will help you change your mindset around sales and show you that it's actually a way to help build strong and vibrant communities. During this informative interview, you'll learn... -Why it's important to focus on relationship building and helping others when networking -The key questions to ask to find out if the person you're with is either a suspect or prospect -Why you should never take rejection personally when someone decides not to hire you To find out more about Lori and check out the resources mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

Are you afraid to take risks? Many people are. It's fear that paralyzes them from catapulting their businesses to higher levels of profitability. Patricia Sawatzky was like you. She was scared to get out of her comfort zone. An admitted introverted bookkeeper, who operates her business, TAP Bookkeeping, out of small town Campbell River, British Columbia, was hesitant about making any big leaps. But once she recognized the value in taking a risk, her business and world would change forever. Today, the clients are rolling in and now she's become an inspiration to bookkeepers across Canada. During this interview, you'll learn... The tools that can help you feel more at ease when making scary decisions about your business Why it's important to take advantage of organizations like the IPBC to get you comfortable in social environments Why professional growth only happens with personal growth To find out more about Patricia and to download the resource mentioned in this episode, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

How many to-do lists do you have? How many of the tasks on those lists have you actually finished on a consistent basis? For many bookkeepers, the answer is likely "not many." Why is that? For most, distractions get in the way such as email, useless meetings and other potential time wasters. Our guest today, Scott Friesen of Simpletivity is here to help! He's a productivity expert who will teach you the following... How to batch the amount of times you check email to improve your focus on more important activities Why planning the night before to complete 2 top priorities the next day is extremely powerful Why spending too much time on strategizing "what to do" instead of actually executing negatively affects your results To find out more about Scott, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

Are you struggling when it comes to recruiting or maintaining a terrific team? You're not alone. Pure Bookkeeping co-founder and co-author of E-Myth Bookkeeper, Debbie Roberts has been there. Over her 30 plus year bookkeeping career, she realized there were many moving parts when assembling her rockstar squad of great, talented and loyal bookkeeping staff. She learned from her mistakes and is now passing on those words of wisdom to you. During this fascinating interview, you'll learn... How to engage your employees in your vision and mission How to build loyalty with your staff How to create systems that give great job satisfaction for your team To find out more about Debbie, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

How confident are you? If your answer is not very, you're not alone. Many bookkeepers struggle with self-confidence for various reasons. According to our guest, Vicki Fenn, who is an elite leadership and personal improvement coach, you don't have to. During this interview, you'll learn... How to boost your confidence to a level you've never had before Why it's important to focus on your strengths to build you up Why you should get excited about hearing "no's" from prospects To find out more about Vicki, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/

Will you be left behind? In recent years, cloud accounting has been all the rage. For some bookkeepers, though, it has been a challenge to implement for various reasons. Here's the thing. If those bookkeepers aren't willing to adjust and find ways to figure it out or hire people to help them, they will eventually be out of business. According to Senior Business Development Manager for Intuit Australia, there is hope. You just have to block out some time and evaluate how being in the cloud can help your business then take action. During this interview, you'll learn... How to choose the right cloud accounting software for you Why automation is powerful for your enterprise Why it's important to become a digital mechanic To find out more about Trent, visit http://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/14

Are you wasting your time? Many of us do. It's usually in the form of busy work or other activities that shouldn't be a priority. Before you know it, a week has gone by and you don't even remember what you did! What if you could do the fun things you want and still get done the necessary stuff that isn't as enjoyable? According to Laura Vanderkam, the author of I Know How She Does It, it's completely possible. She conducted a time diary study that focused on the 1001 days in the lives of professional women, who have children, to see how they used their waking hours. The results were quite eye-opening. During this interview, you'll learn... How many hours you really have to dedicate to creating the work/life balance you crave How to find out what you'd truly like to do with your spare time Why tracking your time is absolutely crucial to your future happiness To find out more about Laura and her books, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/13

Stop hiring poorly qualified employees! Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts knows the effects of that. During her 30 plus year career, she's hired her share of disasters that cost her time, credibility and sanity. After learning from her mistakes, she eventually figured out how to systemize her hiring process which was one of the things that eventually helped her bookkeeping business sell for high 6 figures in 2014. During this episode, you'll learn... How to create a skills test to measure the ability of potential bookkeeping employees What questions to ask when interviewing job candidates Why you should never believe a resume To check out the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/12

It's time to investigate value pricing. Ron Baker has devoted his life to eliminating the billable hour and time sheets. If you're a bookkeeper that depends on those things, you might be concerned. But, Baker has an alternative. He is an expert on Value Pricing where he believes set prices for services should be presented upfront to customers. His movement is catching fire and may be something that could help you. During this episode, you'll learn... How to implement value pricing in your bookkeeping business How to have a value conversation with your new and old customers The importance of offering 3 different price packages To check out the free resources mentioned in this episode, visit: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/11

Inspirational. Heather Weiler is exactly that. She is the owner of Weiler Bookkeeping Services, but more incredible is the journey she travelled before becoming a business owner. A few years ago, while she was 7 months pregnant with her third son, her husband died in a car accident. For many, it could have broken them forever. Not Heather. It was a heartbreaking moment in her life, but she kept moving forward. Through sheer courage, determination, perseverance and conviction, she found a way to support her kids and create a great business that continues to grow every day. During this powerful episode, you'll learn... How your mindset is the determining factor in your success especially during challenging times How the power of community can help you in your darkest hour Why it's important to have grit, focus, a willingness to learn and a great work ethic to achieve your goals To find out more about Heather, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/10

Networking. If you're an introvert, the very thought of it might strike fear into your heart. It's hard to gather the energy to meet strangers at events and attempt to create rapport, so they can like you enough to want to hear how your business can assist them. Today's guest is an introvert and has been where you are, but she cracked the code on how to overcome her struggles to achieve success. Her name is Beth Buelow and she is a trusted speaker, published author and host of The Introvert Entrepreneur podcast. During this episode, you'll learn... How to let go of your negative inner stories around why you don't like networking The importance of seeing networking as having meaningful conversations with people and not feeling like you have to push your business onto them Why listening is an introvert's greatest superpower especially when it comes to networking and sales To find out more about Beth, visit here - https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/09

Sales & Marketing. For many bookkeeping business owners, they'd love to outsource those activities and just focus on doing the books. But, if you're an underpaid bookkeeper, you'll have to roll up your sleeves and do the marketing and sales yourself. This reality is a frightening thought for many introverted bookkeepers. But, today's guest, Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts was just like you. She hated marketing, but with help from her business coach, Peter Cook, she got over her fears and discovered some great marketing and sales tips along the way which enabled her to create a 6-figure bookkeeping business with a staff of 12 bookkeepers. So, if she could be successful, it's possible for you too. During this episode, you'll learn... -How to overcome the negative mindset you have towards marketing -Various useful strategies to attract more referrals including approaching accountants -The importance of having an accountability partner who pushes you out of your comfort zone and keeps you on track To find out more about Debbie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/08

It's a busy world. You're overwhelmed with distractions. For many bookkeeping business owners, they're not only balancing an enterprise but families too. How do you make it all work? Today's guest will show you how. Productivity expert and host of the podcast, The Productive Woman, Laura McClellan will give you some proven tips to help you navigate through your action-packed life, so you can have more time to do things you truly love without feeling guilty about it. This interview was recorded during a mastermind call with Michael Palmer and the licensees of the company, Pure Bookkeeping. Enjoy! To find out more about Laura and The Productive Woman podcast, visit here - https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/07

LinkedIn. It's likely the most powerful business related social media network out there. If you don't have a presence on it, it's also a huge untapped opportunity that could be the golden ticket for many more sales leads and networking opportunities for your bookkeeping business. If you're like many bookkeepers, who don't know how social media works or seriously question if it's worth their time, you're about to find out some extremely useful information. Our guest, LinkedIn Customer Success Leader, Perry Monaco, whose worked there 6 years and has helped many companies attract new business leads, will walk you through step-by-step on the following... How to create an effective profile that will clearly communicate who you are and what you offer, so prospects will know where to find you The importance of figuring out your target audience and knowing exact who they are so you can cater your LinkedIn profile to them How to further boost your credibility as a bookkeeping expert by creating and sharing relevant content with your audience To find out more about the resources Perry mentioned in this episode, visit any of the below: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/06

Most people don't want to be sold to. They want to feel special. They want their voice heard and have their needs taken care of. Most importantly, they desire a service provider that will truly look out for them in their time of need. According to Intuit Canada's Quickbooks Online Senior Product Manager, Melika Hope, the best way to do that for bookkeepers is to create an authentic relationship with potential clients. If you do, you'll open the door to opportunity. In this interview, you'll learn... Why meeting your prospects in person to understand their small business and its challenges are great ways to build trust and rapport Why prioritizing time to develop meaningful client relationships is a must And why having a mindset of service will endear you to stressed small business owners who urgently need help with their finances To find out more about the resources Melika mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/05

Bookkeeper Debbie Roberts built a business that gave her freedom and a great income. She had 12 bookkeepers working for her. She charged some of the highest rates in her market place, was able to take up to 6 weeks off at a time, only worked 1 day a week in her business and eventually sold the business for over $500,000. While this sounds amazing, it was not easy. She made every mistake in the book along the way but instead of making those mistakes again and again she build systems around the solutions. It took over 6 years but she eventually got the business to operate more like a business and less like a job. In this interview, you'll learn... Some of the mistakes Debbie made and how to avoid them How to get staff to take ownership 1 resources that change the game completely (Plus you can have a free copy by signing up for our FREE RESOURCES) To find out more about Debbie and Pure Bookkeeping, you can visit any of the below: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/04

It's not everyday you hear from a legend. In this episode, you will. INC Magazine calls Michael E. Gerber, "The World's #1 Small Business Guru" and deservedly so. He's a New York Times Best-Selling author of The E-Myth Revisited, which has sold millions of copies, and has co-written other impactful books including The E-Myth Bookkeeper. During his over 40 years of teaching the value of systemizing your enterprise, Michael has helped transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses across the globe. In this powerful interview, you'll learn... * Why you're invisible as a bookkeeper and how you can break through that perception by becoming a leader in your client's eyes * The importance of changing your "technician" mindset and not operating your business like a job * And why you should be the chief aggravator in your industry To find out more about Michael, his books and courses, you can visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/03

You hear it all the time. As technology improves, more human operated jobs are becoming obsolete. What about bookkeeping? Will software or a robot be the end to your business? According to Louie Prosperi, the CEO of the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers of Canada (IPBC), there is definitely hope, but you have to adjust with the times. His organization helps hundreds of bookkeepers nationwide learn cutting edge skills, meet new people and prepare for future trends that will allow their businesses to grow. In this informative interview, you'll learn... * Why you should communicate your value in this age of automation by providing more services, including consulting, that best suit your client's needs * The importance of keeping up with technology to better serve your customers and make sure software is properly monitored and running smoothly * Why it's crucial to document what services you provide onsite so you can charge them accordingly through value pricing or an hourly rate * And how being a part of the IPBC can help you be ready for the future through its various useful resources, meetings and annual member conference To find out more about Louie, you can visit: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/02

Debbie Roberts. During her over 30 year bookkeeping career, the Australian made every business mistake in the book. But, the key was she learned from them and the global bookkeeping community would benefit. How? Thanks to Debbie's chance meeting with a business coach, Peter Cook, at a networking event in the early 2000s, he'd suggest she use all her learnings to create systems in her business. Eventually they'd form a company called Pure Bookkeeping then develop The Pure Bookkeeping System which is helping hundreds of bookkeepers over 3 continents. Today, Debbie is an inspiring success story after selling her original bookkeeping business for a high 6-figure amount in 2014. In this interview, you'll learn... * The one question that Debbie asked herself every time she made mistakes with her business * Why it's crucial to have systems in place before hiring new staff * And why it's critical to not be afraid to communicate with current clients when changes in your business are on the horizon To find out more about Debbie and Pure Bookkeeping, you can visit: https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/episodes/01