The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

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/.

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.