“You think that you're competing against other accountants, but for people who are just starting, you're competing against ‘free’. As far as they're concerned, ‘I've been doing my bookkeeping and I was doing fine and it didn't cost me anything, so why should I pay you?’” -Keila Hill-Trawick In this episode, Kyla Hill Treywick, founder and CEO of Little Fish Accounting, shares her journey into accounting and the lessons learned while building a thriving firm. She highlights the value of client relationships, effective team building, and maintaining a strong company culture to drive success.  In this episode, you’ll learn… How to overcome challenges in starting & scaling a business with a quality-first approach Building a strong team & company culture Embracing industry trends focused on collaboration & connection To learn more about Keila, connect with her on LinkedIn. Check out her company website here. Time Stamp 01:37 - Keila’s career shift from corporate roles to launching an accounting firm 04:02 - Starting a business & refining services 07:44 - Overcoming challenges 12:20 - Evolving sales process 18:17 - Importance of diagnostics & addressing client needs up front 23:21 - Transitioning to relationship-focused services 26:28 - Prioritizing sustainable growth & intentional scaling 29:44 - Growing a remote team, managing turnover & fostering a strong company culture 34:27 - Embracing trends like collaboration, niching & human connection in accounting

Stephanie Skryzowski, Founder and CEO of 100 Degrees Consulting, shares her remarkable journey from corporate law to nonprofit financial management. She discusses the critical role of accurate bookkeeping in driving nonprofit growth and outlines innovative strategies for scaling teams while maintaining mission focus. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries to combat scope creep and provides insights on targeted outreach for client acquisition. Her passion for impactful causes shines through as she inspires others to approach business growth with strategic intent.

Kick off your new year with inspiration and actionable insights in this special year-end episode!   Host, Michael Palmer welcomes an exceptional panel of industry leaders for an engaging conversation reflecting on the trends, triumphs, and challenges of 2024!   From unexpected industry shifts to personal stories of resilience and powerful client success transformations, this episode dives deep into the strategies that have shaped bookkeeping businesses globally.   Packed with valuable takeaways, this discussion sets the stage for a productive and impactful 2025!   A heartfelt thank you to all of our amazing listeners for being part of our journey this year.   YOU are the reason this show exists, and we’re so grateful for your support.    We wish you a joyful and prosperous New Year!   To find out more about our guests, click below:   Lisa Campbell Katrina Aarsman Jessica Fox  Teresa Slack   To explore Pure Bookkeeping, visit this link.   Time Stamp   02:10 - Biggest Surprises of 2024 06:30 - Setbacks in 2024 12:40 - Heartwarming Client Success Stories 18:50 - Key Strategies for Success in 2024 27:10 - Trends in 2024 and Predictions for 2025 40:25 - Focus and Vision for 2025 54:50 - What’s Ahead   This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Succession Security! What if you couldn’t work tomorrow?  Who would step in to manage your clients and keep your income flowing? That’s where Succession Security comes in. Think of it as ‘insurance’ that pays out in labor.  If an unexpected emergency strikes—whether it’s an illness, accident, or even a family crisis—Succession Security ensures your business keeps running. They step in to manage operations, communicate with clients, and protect everything you’ve built. Learn more and start your business continuity plan today at successionsecurity.com.

Doreen Binkiewicz, owner of DGL Business Solutions, shares her inspiring journey of juggling a successful bookkeeping business and family life. She emphasizes the critical need for succession planning and how it should be an ongoing focus for business owners. Doreen discusses effective hiring strategies and building a thriving team through referrals. She also highlights the transformative impact of implementing systems like 'Profit First' to enhance business value, preparing for smooth transitions, and ensuring long-term growth.

“Like, suddenly it’s, ‘Uh, yeah, I agreed to do your payroll, and now you’re asking me to get all this paperwork filled out for the employee.’ Or, ‘Oh, you do my payroll, can you handle the workers’ comp?’ Or, ‘Hey, you said you do payroll, can you track what job every single employee works on at any given moment?’ And that creep of scope is tough, especially because I’m a bit of a people pleaser. I had real trouble just saying, ‘No, you didn’t pay for that.’” -Rhamy Alejeal Rhamy Alejeal discusses how financial professionals can support businesses in navigating HR challenges. He shares insights on scaling HR operations, mitigating risk, and enhancing efficiency through partnerships and specialization. In this interview, you'll learn: How HR services reduce risk and increase return on labor The crucial role of financial professionals in addressing compliance How partnerships enhance services while avoiding risk and scope creep Connect with Rhamy on LinkedIn and YouTube.  Click here to learn more about People Processes. Time Stamp: 05:57 - Challenges in Scaling HR Operations 11:53 - Navigating Client Needs and Referrals 17:52 - Partnership Opportunities for Bookkeepers 23:53 - Broadening Discovery for Client Needs 29:55 - Conclusion and Resources

“I think being ready to change your processes or adapt to processes, finding new efficiencies—that is a constant growth. Even if you're happy with the level that you're at, the revenue level that you're at, and you're not looking to grow or expand, things will still change and evolve with your processes and with technology. So I think it's really important to be open and accepting of that.” -Kimme Lafayette Kimme Lafayette, owner of Beyond Bookkeeping Business Services, reveals her journey from accounting student to business owner, sharing the lessons she learned about overcoming challenges like pricing and client relationships. With a focus on value pricing, mentorship, and community, she offers actionable advice to help bookkeepers grow and succeed in their own businesses. During this interview, you'll learn: Tips for adapting & thriving in a changing industry How value pricing can elevate your bookkeeping business The secrets to fostering strong client relationships To learn more about Kimme, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp: 02:21 - Journey to Bookkeeping 06:13 - Starting a Business by Accident 10:41 - Overcoming Initial Barriers 14:44 - Transitioning to Value Pricing 19:23 - Facing Fear & Taking Action 21:48 - Advice for New Bookkeepers 25:34 - The Importance of Community 29:31 - Adaptability in Business 32:35 - Conclusion & Future Directions

“One of the things we kept running into was we would look at brands, we would look at firms, look at what they're doing and go, ‘Wow, this just isn't different. This is very copycat.’ It's very similar to what everyone else is doing.” -Mike Jones Mike Jones, CEO and managing partner of ReSound, highlights the critical role of branding and differentiation in the professional services sector, with a focus on accounting and bookkeeping. Drawing from the Remarca Brand Index, he shares key insights on avoiding common branding pitfalls, embracing authenticity, and taking practical steps to stand out in a competitive market. During this interview, you'll learn: How branding goes beyond visuals to focus on strategy & messaging Why differentiation is essential for success in a competitive market The impact of small, thoughtful changes on brand perception To learn more about ReSound, click here. Connect with Mike on LinkedIn. Time Stamp: 01:45 - Introduction to Branding & Marketing Strategies 06:13 - The Remarca Brand Index: Insights & Data Collection 11:47 - Leveraging the Remarca Brand Index for Improvement 18:00 - The Role of Authenticity in Branding 23:47 - Conclusion & Resources for Further Learning This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage! With the new Sage for Accountants, you can automate daily tasks and unlock not only more efficiency, but more time for valuable client collaboration all in one place! Learn more or get started for free at the below link. thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/sage

“And to my framework that I offer folks is, what is that? How do we always find a path forward? What do we do when these things hit? How do we keep moving forward when we just feel like, ‘I just can't flippin do this anymore. It is just too much.’” -Nina Sossamon-Pogue Nina Sossamon-Pogue, a former USA gymnast turned Emmy-winning news anchor and tech executive, shares her powerful story of resilience and transformation. She explores pivotal moments in her career, from overcoming gymnastics injuries to transitioning between vastly different industries, offering strategies to navigate change with purpose. Nina introduces her 'this' concept for categorizing challenges and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in managing stress and thriving through adversity. In this interview, you’ll learn: How to turn adversity into growth opportunities Practical strategies for handling life & career transitions The 'this' concept for breaking down & managing challenges Tune in to discover actionable tools for transforming challenges into stepping stones and confidently embracing life's uncertainties. To learn more about Nina, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram. TimeStamp: 01:40 - Nina's Journey: From Gymnastics to Tech 10:49 - Resilience Through Adversity 14:28 - Helping Others Navigate Change 25:10 - Understanding 'This': The Challenges We Face 29:41 - Finding Your Path Forward

“Set your rules, stick to your rules, and only take clients that play by the rules. We call it rules of engagement.“ -Dida Clifton Dida Clifton, a former US Air Force veteran and founder of The Office Squad, shares her inspiring journey from military operations to running a successful bookkeeping business. She opens up about tackling challenges like pricing, hiring, and networking while revealing how her military background shaped her leadership style and company culture.  In this interview, you’ll discover: Proven pricing strategies to reflect your true value Smart hiring & training practices to build a strong, aligned team How outsourcing can help you scale without sacrificing quality Tune in to learn actionable strategies to overcome challenges, build your dream team, and create a flexible, scalable business model for long-term success. To find out more about Dida click here. Time Stamps 00:40 - From Military to Business: Dida's Journey 02:45 - Building the Office Squad: Strategies & Growth 06:45 - Pricing Strategies: Lessons Learned 09:15 - Networking: The Key to Business Growth 12:51 - Peer Groups: Support & Growth 14:49 - Military Influence: Leadership & Culture 19:58 - Systems & Processes: The Military Way 22:15 - Hiring & Culture: Finding the Right Fit 24:39 - Outsourcing: A Different Approach 27:53 - The Future of Bookkeeping: A Hybrid Model This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Hub Analytics! Imagine having all your financial data in one place, with real-time analytics and customized reports at your fingertips. Hub Analytics is a financial platform that streamlines bookkeeping operations, so you can focus on what really matters—delivering high-quality results for your clients. With Hub's easy-to-use tools, you’ll save time, reduce errors, and gain deeper insights into your clients' financials! Ready to take your bookkeeping to the next level? Book a demo to learn more and start your FREE trial TODAY!

“What I now do is I change the word 'problem' to the word 'situation' and when I change that one word, it just flips something in my brain where I can now work on it  and it turns it into something objective and something almost like, ‘okay, I can do something about this now’.” -Bernadette McClelland Sales coach and consultant, Bernadette McClelland shares her powerful journey from corporate sales to entrepreneurship, revealing the hard-earned lessons learned from overcoming bankruptcy and self-doubt. During this interview, you'll also learn… Actionable insights on building resilience, reframing challenges & viewing disruption as an opportunity for growth Shift from selling to serving Ways to build a strong support network & commit to continuous improvement Tune in to this inspiring episode to discover how to turn setbacks into stepping stones and transform your approach to business and life! To find out more about Bernadette, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 02:57 - Journey Through Corporate to Consultancy 05:56 - Lessons from Bankruptcy 09:11 - Reframing Problems as Situations 11:53 - The Power of Disruption 15:00 - Embracing Anti-Fragility 18:04 - The Evolution of Business Mindset 26:40 - Embracing the Present & Future Mindset 30:58 - The Importance of Mental Downtime 39:03 - Transforming Sales into Service