Starting a business is a risky journey. There is more than one way to make mistakes that could hurt your long term success. Our returning guest, Louie Prosperi, who is the CEO of ICB USA, shares a way to help you get a firm plan in place. It's through The Proactive Business Model which is a program that ensures bookkeepers are consistently valuable to their clients and are running their businesses more efficiently. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of taking care of your clients and employees The difference between working on and working in your business How an ICB USA Certification can lead you to success To find out more about Louie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Our guest, Adele Spraggon, who is the CEO of Shaped Within, struggled with a lot of subconscious patterns. She quit 3 viable businesses, business partners, and sponsors. She even attended personal development programs to help her but didn't work out. Adele started to journal and created a highly effective 4 step technique that removes unwanted patterns. She created her own solution and it completely changed her life. Today, she speaks to hundreds of people about how to recognize when they are sabotaging their dreams. She also shows women entrepreneurs how to break through their limiting blocks and step into leadership roles in all areas of life. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of embracing being uncomfortable How the 4 step technique works The guides that will help you take on leadership roles To find out more about Adele, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Do you know your worth? Our returning guest, Lisa Campbell-Marchese, owner of The Marcam Group, has 27 years of experience in the bookkeeping industry. In the beginning, she struggled in her business and worried about getting things done on time or missing a deadline. She sought help from the Pure Bookkeeping System and started implementing systems into her business. The results were incredible. It kept her organized and her clients trust her more because she doesn't miss any deadlines. It helped her grow as an individual because she knows she has more value and expanded her business beyond what she expected. Now, she has more control over her work day regardless of how many clients she has. She's freed up, and spends more time on what is important. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of day-to-day documentation Why focusing on the value you create for your clients is important What systems or guides you should use for your bookkeeping business To find out more about Lisa, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Take charge. That's Emily Thompson's mindset and it helps her be “The Boss.” She is the founder of Indie Shopography, which helps creative entrepreneurs build online businesses, and she is also a co-host of Being Boss, a popular podcast for creative entrepreneurs where she inspires, writes and curates content. She is also a first time author with the release of Being Boss: Take Control of Your Work and Live Life on Your Own Terms. During this interview, you'll discover... How to be a boss How to take control of your work and live life on your own terms How to understand your strengths and challenges as a side hustler, freelancer, or business owner To find out more about Emily, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

How are you speaking with your clients? If the way you communicate with them isn't transparent and open, it can lead to trouble. Our guest, Brad Wolford, who is the CEO of Wolford Companies Inc., has made sure effective client communication is a top priority. By doing so, he's able to find out what his customers need and they understand specifically what his firm requires to assist them. This is one of the reasons why Brad's company has transformed from nothing to a large firm in a very short span of time. Today, Wolford Companies Inc. (with 11 staff including Brad) provides financial accounting services for business owners to manage operations on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. During this interview, you'll also discover... How to increase your rate and earn from $14,000/year to $65,000/year or even more How having a checklist will make your life and business easier and healthier How implementing the Pure Bookkeeping system can help your firm overcome challenges To find out more about Brad, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Concerns. Anxiety. Stress. These are some of the examples that may affect your emotional health and day-to-day living. Jennifer Blake, founder and owner of Blake Consulting, helps entrepreneurs shift their emotional health incrementally everyday so they can focus on growing their business and improving their lives. Since she was 14 years old, she began helping, facilitating and volunteering in workshops. It was always her passion to make a difference in people's lives. Most recently, she became the Director and Co-Owner of the Hoffman Institute of Canada which facilitates The Hoffman Process, a life-changing 7 day residential self-development program that helps people release the limiting patterns they learned in their childhood and lead their lives with choice, empowerment and passion. Today, Jennifer guides entrepreneurs to focus on finding a deeper sense of happiness, fulfillment and passion in all areas and facets of their lives. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of getting the support from the people around you How taking care of yourself will bring you balance What the steps are to emotional fitness To find out more about Jennifer, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Hiring employees is not an easy process. Our return guest, Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan, President of Graham Consulting & Training Inc, encountered problems when she started hiring employees for her bookkeeping business. Three or four years ago, her practice got to a level where it didn't grow any further. She got super busy, her other employees quit the firm and she couldn't get anything done. That's when she decided to hire a professional bookkeeper. She started speaking with other bookkeepers, getting their advice, listening to podcasts and followed the Pure Bookkeeping hiring system which helped with her trust issues and the hiring process. Today, Nancy provides practice management and bookkeeping services to 35 law firms and counting. During this interview, you'll discover... The importance of adopting a positive mindset everyday Figuring out your hiring process and what it's going to be How allowing yourself the freedom to make all kinds of mistakes will benefit you To find out more about Nancy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Did you know it takes 4 to 8 years to fully transition to a new chapter of life? Our guest, Stuart McConnell, is a life coach who helps transition professional athletes into retirement. He's also a part-time high school teacher who inspires students to embrace their entrepreneur within. He teaches his students the fundamentals of business then encourages them to leap into entrepreneurship and make money with their enterprises before the semester is done. During this inspiring interview, you'll discover... How to be an entrepreneur and make money Learn the tools to never have to work for somebody a day in your life if you choose Great life hacks on how to be a champion in your everyday life To find out more about Stuart, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Looking to get more out of your bookkeeping business? Since 1979, Roger Knecht, who is the President of Universal Accounting Center, has worked hard to help accountants and bookkeepers excel in their careers. His post-secondary school trains and certifies individuals in accounting, bookkeeping, tax and consultative skills so they can get paid what they're worth. He has developed proven strategies, processes and procedures for business owners to increase their profits and sales up to 71%. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of creating a plan and goal for your business What are the 4 keys to success and profit What are the accounting principles that will grow your firm To find out more about Roger, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Miscommunications. Often times, people tend to make a lot of assumptions and fail to ask more questions. That's why in order to avoid that, build your relationship and trust with your boss, employees or your clients. Our guest, Diane Brochu King, who is a team builder and coach, has helped people understand where others are coming from. She guides her clients to see their most pressing challenges in a new dimension and the world in a new light, inspiring and enabling them to make better choices, identify new ways of relating and reacting, resolve problems, and collaborate for success. Today, she has taught over 25,000 people to appreciate and learn new strategies for navigating the world of human relations. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of showing care to others by being interested What are the ways to developing awareness How to understand different types of people To find out more about Diane, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Our guest, Cindy Stradling, who is a resilience coach, has faced many difficult life challenges as a single mother with very little education and has developed the mental fortitude to keep going no matter what. In getting from there to here, Cindy has shined shoes, waited tables, cleaned houses and was a parking lot attendant while building her business. Undeniably, she knows firsthand what resilience is. She has developed it through her journey and has developed a program, Thrive, to inspire others to be their personal best and keep moving toward their goals. If you set your mindset right and have discipline, you can be successful at whatever you want to do in life. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of knowing your goals and objectives How the value of consistent approach will help you What are the keys to overcoming the fear of cold calls and sales To find out more about Cindy, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Respect. After spending 31 years in the corporate world as an operations and country manager, our guest, Tobyn Pearson, the author of Manage This: An interactive Guide to Management and Other Absurdities, had success and many failures. He learned that it's not always easy to see your grumpiest employees or customers. Treat them with respect no matter who they are and keep working on building relationships because in the end they will see that you genuinely care and your efforts will pay off. It makes life a whole lot easier if you're able to deal with difficult people and situations along the way. All of his successes are directly attributed to the great people he had the privilege of working with over the years. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of having courage in yourself and your abilities Why having an incredible insights will help you along the way How appreciating your employees and customers will benefit you To find out more about Tobyn, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Running a bookkeeping business is not easy. You will encounter many changes, so that’s why you have to create new habits to stay on top of your game. Andrew Royer, owner of Royer Accounting, has dealt with stress and frustration while building his company. To help him overcome his struggles, he was looking for support and inspiration from like-minded people then he found it by joining a mastermind group. By learning new ideas from different people, he was able to implement successful strategies to make himself more productive and efficient without sacrificing time with his family. Even creating a shorter to-do list that focuses on the most important things to accomplish in his day became a big game-changer. Now, he feels recharged and happy every time he gets home to his wife and kids. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of focusing on what's more important Why changing your habits will make your bookkeeping business more successful Why joining a community will give you support and inspiration To find out more about Andrew, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers USA (ICB USA). It promotes and maintains the standards of American bookkeeping as a profession through the establishment of relevant qualifications and the award of grades of membership that recognize academic attainment, working experience and competence. Our return guest, Louie Prosperi is the CEO of ICBUSA and his organization is helping its members by introducing The Proactive Business Bookkeeping Model to improve their success. It's a program that ensures bookkeepers are consistently valuable to their clients and are running their businesses more efficiently. During this interview, you'll also discover... What are the 3 pillars of The Proactive Business Bookkeeping Model The importance of having a 100% capacity to be successful Focusing on what to do with your system and technology To find out more about Louie, visit https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com.

Lack of confidence. Some bookkeepers don't believe they are good enough to close a deal or get a sale. According to Sharon Francisco, who used the Pure Bookkeeping System to increase the success of her bookkeeping business and is making her return appearance on our show, you need to find strategies that will give you confidence and take the pressure off of you so you can make the focus all about your clients. Having a 90-day plan and building a relationship with customers are key to gaining their trust and will make things easier for you. Be patient. If you want to grow your business, you have to understand it doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. During this interview, you'll also discover... The importance of creating your own style Why focusing on having a plan will increase the demand for your service Why eliminating negative and unhealthy stress can put you in a great position To get the check list mentioned in this episode.   https://purebookkeeping.com/ca/sell-without-being-salesy-checklist/

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.