The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

“My goal is to never be so proud that I think that I can stop learning.” -Paige Hulse Having the knowledge and knowing what to do with it are two very different things. Whether you are just starting out or have been in business for a while. Navigating the legal complexities of business can be tricky! To become successful requires more than just a vision. Whether self-employed or starting a new bookkeeping business, we often have to wear many hats until the business gets off the ground. If you can surround yourself with a network of like-minded people and mentors, you are far more likely to learn time and profit saving techniques to help your business thrive!  Paige Hulse, owner of Paige Hulse Law, talks today about the value of continuous learning, knowing your worth, and offers some great tips on protecting yourself and your bookkeeping business from potential disasters. A little effort to protect your business now, will go a long way towards securing it into the future.  During this interview, you'll learn... The value of separating your personal & business finances Some key legal advice that can help protect your bookkeeping business The importance in finding clients you are passionate to work with  Learn more about Paige here. Looking for contract support? Visit this link. Check out her socials here: Facebook Instagram  Pinterest  Time Stamps  1:40 - Paige talks about her career journey  7:30 - The lightning bolt moment  12:46 - Overcoming obstacles  16:30 - The value of consistent learning  18:10 - Knowing the value of your worth  23:08 - Paige talks about finding the right bookkeeper  28:00 - Piercing the corporate veil  31:00 - Paige offers her legal perspective  39:35 - The importance of confidentiality 

“If I can’t find it myself, I guess I’ll just create it!”  -Jessica Hearsey  Logging in online or heading to an office everyday where you don’t feel valued can be very demoralizing. It is tough to get energized to do a job that lacks vision, clarity, or a sense of purpose.   If you don’t know how valuable you are, how can you communicate it to your clients?   Building a business is never easy, but if you feel passionately about committing to your goals and creating something you truly believe in, the clients will come. When you take the time to understand and truly know your value, people will listen.   Jessica Hearsey, owner of Altitude Accounting, talks this week about the differences between working a job and building a business. By finding the courage to stick to your convictions, you can create the life you dream of. One where people come to you because they believe in what you are doing, not just because they need something done.  During this interview, you'll learn… The value of creating your own vision rather than waiting for someone else’s How to tear down mental barriers & act with conviction The difference between working a job and building a business  Learn more about Altitude Accounting here.   Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 1:42 - Jessica talks about her career journey 8:16 - Being your own mentor 9:40 - The hurdles of a new business 11:30 - Building a business not a job 16:33 - Committing to your goals 19:25 - Adapting to an ever-changing market 23:18 - Knowing your value 27:50 - Finding your conviction 32:10 - Tearing down mental barriers 34:10 - The challenges of the future 

“If you put five bookkeepers in a room, and give them the same set of books, you’re going to come out with five different ways of doing things.”  -Jenn Green Life isn’t always smooth sailing. We will all face unforeseen challenges that can rock the foundations of our careers and lives.   How well we bounce back is entirely dependent on our willingness to keep trying. To take time to learn new skills, attend seminars, workshops and training that make you a better bookkeeper. If you find yourself in a lull, unsure about how to proceed then this is the episode for you. When you connect with your purpose, you’ll better understand what value you bring to your clients, and so, be able to price accordingly. Rather than reacting, you’ll be able to take a proactive approach driven by value and quality, not an hourly rate.   How can you expect your clients to value you if you don’t value yourself?   Jenn Green, owner of Bookminders Full-Service Bookkeeping, talks today about bouncing back after difficult and challenging times, the value of a strong, learning focused mindset, and how to set your prices based on the value you add, not the hours you work. During this interview, you'll also learn… How to build a successful business with the right pricing How to identify the ideal learning tools for you The importance of effective communication  Learn more about Jenn at this link.   Contact her directly at jenn@bookmindersservices.ca. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamps 1:15 - Jenn talks about her career journey 2:40 - Navigating peaks & valleys 8:55 - Bringing the right people in 11:00 - Jenn talks about the impact of effective processes 15:15 - Recovering from Covid losses 17:25 - Marketing yourself confidently 22:20 - Setting your price 25:15 - Finding the right programs for you 29:10 - Changing our mindset 34:10 - Creating exponential growth

“Uncommon services command uncommon prices.”  –Ron Baker   Building relationships with our clients can be complicated. It can be really tempting to measure success by the number of clients or billable hours we manage to cram into a month. And yet, so many of us are left feeling overwhelmed, overworked, underpaid, and not living up to our true potential and purpose.   Shifting from an hourly rate to a value-based pricing structure is a big move. Even bigger is recognizing your worth in relation to the subscription economy and pricing based on your relationship with your client.   When you connect with the idea that you can charge a premium for giving a few select clients consistent peace of mind. It will wash away the belief that success is a client roster so full, no single client ever gets the best of you.   Ron Baker is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur, with a passion for values-based pricing. On today’s episode Ron talks about creating lifetime customer value and the importance of pricing based on achieving customers needs, not billable hours.  During this interview, you'll learn… How to price on your relationship with your clients The value of tailoring your services to a niche market The importance of purpose & position driven pricing  Learn more about Ron here.   Follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn. On March 22nd, you can watch him speak at the Convert with Value workshop series. You can register for this free event at this link. Time Stamps  2:00 - Ron talks about the subscription economy 6:20 - Adapting to innovation 9:12 - Pricing the customer, not the work 11:24 - Transforming your clients on a deeper level 18:35 - Overcoming the mental hurdles of subscription pricing 22:15 - Setting your price by relationship 28:55 - Putting a price on peace of mind 31:05 - The value of an uncommon offering 36:04 - Tailoring your services to a niche 37:55 - Convert with Value workshop 39:00 - Crafting your options for pricing 42:25 - Getting in touch with Ron      

“It’s like a garden. You’re planting a lot of different seeds, and they’re all going to grow at different rates. Don’t forget to water!” -Kerri Thompson All too often we let the fear of losing our paycheck keep us stuck in the same jobs and the same patterns. Making changes to our situation can be difficult, but it becomes immeasurably easier when we realize we don’t have to do it alone. Everyone that has ever achieved any kind of success, did so with the help and support of friends and mentors. Why should you suffer alone?   When you surround yourself with the right people, people that support and motivate you, it becomes far easier to identify and follow the threads that will weave the tapestry of a successful career!   Kerri Thompson, owner of Simpler Transitions, talks about the importance of Mental Fitness. How adjusting our negative thought patterns and behaviors leads to greater success. Highlighting the need to help people rather than just try to sell to them. When you can pause your negative thinking, it gives you the chance to lay a new path, a better and more successful one. One that will let you build a successful bookkeeping business with ease.  During this interview, you'll learn… How mental fitness can shape your road map to success How to identify & overcome self-sabotaging thoughts The importance of finding the right support network Learn more about Kerri here. Contact her directly at Kerri@SimplerTransitions.com.   Follow Kerri on LinkedIn. You can sign up for her 8-week mindset course at this link.  Also, if you sign up for our Successful Bookkeeper Community portal (click here) then unlock our Successful Bookkeeper Summit recordings, you can access a chat with Kerri Thompson and Connie Kadansky about building your ideal business with positivity. Click this link to find the conversation. Time Stamps        1:50 - Kerri talks about her career journey 6:30 - Discovering our own unique ways of selling 10:00 - Planting the seed of connection 13:40 - Overcoming limitations 19:08 - Unlocking our potential 24:30 - Experimenting with mental fitness 37:25 - Developing Positive Intelligence  One of our partners for this week’s episode is Synder. It’s a software solution that can save you from doing manual data entry from multiple sales channels, and automatically generate an accurate P&L report, balance sheet, and inventory management for your bookkeeping business needs. Use coupon code EASY BOOKS for up to 40% off. Learn more here.

“Are we putting something into motion that we wouldn’t want to sit through?” –Scott Allen   Tired of feeling like you aren’t winning the best bookkeeping clients? It’s time to take an honest inventory on the kind of impression you are presenting to them.   Attention spans have never been shorter, and expectations have never been higher. You have to know what you want the audience to feel and do, and then communicate that message in a way that keeps it stuck in their minds.   Scott Allen, an associate professor at John Carroll University who is also a communications coach, author, and entrepreneur. And Maria Soriano Young, a communications manager for the Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic, are this week’s featured guests!   Together they talk about the importance of planning for the right outcomes. How to design your first impressions, to win clients and leave your audience wanting more. If you are struggling to design attention grabbing presentations that keep people interested, this is the episode for you! During this interview, you'll learn… How to plan for the right outcomes by curating your client’s experience How to ensure your message lives on in your client’s mind The importance of a good first impression & how to make it last You can buy their book here.  You can also read their blog and listen to their podcast. Check out Scott's socials: Twitter LinkedIn   Maria’s socials: LinkedIn Twitter Captovation’s socials: LinkedIn Twitter Time Stamps        1:45 - Maria & Scott talk about their career journey 4:44 - What makes a good presentation 10:11 - Discussing the pitfalls of poor presentations 14:30 - Curating & presenting the right self-image 16:00 - Creating a background that speaks to your clients 23:00 - Audience centered design 28:40 - The keys to getting your message across 31:50 - Nurturing your relationships from start to finish 36:40 - Resources that can help you! One of our partners for this week’s episode is Synder. It’s a software solution that can save you from doing manual data entry from multiple sales channels, and automatically generate an accurate P&L report, balance sheet, and inventory management for your bookkeeping business needs. Use coupon code EASY BOOKS for up to 40% off. Learn more here.

“You can succeed in any economy if you have the right business model and the drive to make it work.”  -Bruce Gerstenfeld   Making changes to your life is scary. But facing your fears and taking a chance has to be better than spending your life making money for other people, never really having time for yourself or your loved ones. It is never too late to make a positive change!   Our failures are only failures if we don’t act on and grow from the lessons they have to teach us. Take charge of your dreams by finding your passion. That self-motivating driving force that will propel you towards success.   Bruce Gerstenfeld is a CPA and partner in Gerstenfeld and Company. On this week's episode, he talks about the importance of finding the story behind the numbers, and helping clients get command of their time, energy and intention to chase their dreams.  During this interview, you'll also learn… How to turn your bookkeeping dreams into a reality How to manage career transitions, innovations & challenges The importance of taking command of your calendar   Learn more about Bruce here.  Email Gerstenfeld & Company at info@gerstenfeldcpa.com. Check out Bruce’s socials: LinkedIn Facebook  Time Stamps 1:40 - Bruce talks about his career move into bookkeeping 3:40 - Making the most of your time 9:00 - Finding your driving force 12:18 - Learning from our mistakes 15:40 - Managing career transitions 17:58 - Finding your passion 19:00 - Learning to command your calendar 24:30 - Facing the challenges of innovation 29:00 - Bruce talks about the value of Accelerate 2 Advisor 35:00 - Bruce talks about his love for Xero 42:50 - Investing in the right programs for you One of our partners for this week’s episode is Synder. It’s a software solution that can save you from doing manual data entry from multiple sales channels, and automatically generate an accurate P&L report, balance sheet, and inventory management for your bookkeeping business needs. Use coupon code EASY BOOKS for up to 40% off. Learn more here.

“You cannot cut your way to greatness.” -Mark Wickersham Knowing your worth and setting prices that reflect that can be extremely challenging. Every new client you take on at the wrong price will make your life harder. If you are tired of working crazy long hours and still feeling like your financial security needs aren’t being met, this is the episode for you. When we shift our mindset away from hourly rates and into value building, it can dramatically alter your business’ profitably and future. Focusing only on what we can cut to make savings, is a limited approach in comparison to the potential for unlimited growth when we know what value we bring to our clients and price accordingly.   Mark Wickersham, a chartered accountant, author and public speaker, discusses the importance of investing in ourselves to create value and opportunities by shifting our mindset to one of growth and possibility. Once you get focused on the best end result for your clients, you’ll wonder why you were ever charging hourly in the first place. During this interview, you'll learn… How to increase sales rather than rely on cutting costs How to change your mindset from focusing on cost to a focusing on value The importance of getting your pricing right Learn more about Mark here. Use coupon code LAST25 to get 25% off your ticket for Mark’s Profitable Bookkeeping Conference that begins on February 22nd. Visit this website for more details.  Check out Mark’s Socials: LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram   Time Stamps 1:47 - What drives profit 6:00 - The entrepreneurial mindset 11:00 - Investing in the right tools and training 15:40 - Pricing on value 21:25 - How do I grow my top line? 25:40 - The power of the price lever 28:50 - Overcoming the ‘cost’ mentality 32:10 - Building value for ourselves builds it for others 33:06 - The Profitable Bookkeeping Conference 

“I don’t have to take this client. I get to choose who I want to work with. And who is going to be a good fit for my business.” -Beth Blaney We all want to build a better life for ourselves, one that gives us the freedom and flexibility to live the way we want to.   When you live authentically, you generate authenticity in others. So much time is wasted chasing clients that aren’t the right fit or trying to change ourselves to fit molds we weren’t made for. If you are tired of feeling guilty about balancing your obligations, this is the episode for you.   Beth Blaney, owner of BBA Bookkeeping, talks about her experiences breaking the mold, escaping traditional ideas of what a bookkeeper looks and sounds like, to create an incredibly successful business. Her message is one of empowerment, of being authentically you, and chasing your dreams. During this interview, you'll learn… How the right support systems can make or break your business How to empower yourself to find the right niche & clients for you The importance of liking what you do & putting the work in Learn more about Beth here. To book your FREE spot for the Accelerator Method Masterclass Series beginning on February 11th at 4pm Eastern, visit this website.   Check out Beth’s Socials: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Pinterest Twitter   Time Stamps 2:25 - Beth reflects on her bookkeeping journey 9:10 - Recognizing when it’s time to grow 11:10 - Finding the right niche 15:20 - The struggles & breakthroughs 20:15 - Making the most of your natural talents 25:45 - Overcoming areas of challenge 27:15 - The journey to Accelerate 2 Advisor 33:30 - The benefits of Pure Bookkeeping 36:30 - Balancing work & personal responsibilities 43:00 - Manifesting destiny! 

“These systems allow us to be better for our clients. Let’s do it different, let’s do it better!” -Emily Tarney Innovation can be challenging in the short term, but so worth it when you start to see results. When you are able to apply the right systems and processes, they free you up to focus on doing what you do best! Finding like minded people will help you learn and grow in a more supportive environment. Every bookkeeper has unique talents that are better applied to some clients over others. Making and retaining client relationships is about far more than a need for their business. It’s about building connections that truly help serve your clients' purpose. Emily Tarney, creator, and head of Competitive Edge Business Solutions, talks about her vast experience in the bookkeeping industry and the importance of embracing change and challenging ourselves to do things differently. Her approach focuses on working passionately and purposefully to be more than just a bookkeeper. To be a champion of your clients' vision. During this interview, you'll learn… How to get comfortable doing things a different way by embracing innovation How to create a mindset focused on abundance, not scarcity and competition The importance of finding the right fit between bookkeeper & client  Learn more about Emily here. To book your FREE spot for the Accelerator Method Masterclass Series beginning on February 11th at 4pm Eastern, visit this website.   Check out Emily’s socials: LinkedIn Twitter Time Stamps 1:33 - Emily talks about her career journey 3:50 - The obstacles of being an entrepreneur 4:30 - Emily reflects on her career milestones 7:30 - Accelerate 2 Advisor & Pure Bookkeeping 14:50 - Emily’s advice for people questioning their business 19:24 - Planning our lives before others plan them for us 21:25 - Emily discusses her vision for the future  26:10 - How to engage with prospective clients positively! 31:10 - Finding the courage to keep going