Bookkeepers On Fire with Deb & Donna

👻 Clients Be Ghostin’? Not Anymore. On the latest episode of Bookkeepers On Fire, we’re tackling one of the hottest topics in bookkeeping: clients who disappear when it’s time to pay. 🔥  Here’s what we cover: 💳 How to ditch late payments with upfront & recurring billing 🔁 The magic of automated payments through QBO 🧾 Why it’s 100% okay to change your payment terms—even for existing client...

Are classes in QBO a blessing or a bookkeeping beast? We’re diving in with sass, strategy, and some strong opinions.   Tune in to hear how we really feel about tracking your bar, bus trips, and nonprofits.  ✨ Here’s what you’ll learn:  💡 When to use classes and when to walk away slowly...  🏠 How one client bought the HOA to get better parking—and how we classed it all out  📊 The difference bet...

🔥 Priced to Flee – A Bookkeepers On Fire Breakdown with Debbie & Donna Are clients handing you boxes of receipts like it’s 1997? Time to rethink your approach (and your price tag)! Here's the scoop: 📦 Set Boundaries – If clients want receipt management, they need to follow your tools, your process, and definitely not text you receipts. 💸 Charge What It’s Worth – Pricing starts at $500/month...

🔥 Straight Talk from the Top! 🔥 Donna & Debbie of Bookkeepers On Fire are dropping 🔥 wisdom — no fluff, just real talk from two pros who've walked the walk and cashed the checks. 💥🧾  Inside this episode:   🐾 Group mentoring = Like herding caffeinated cats 💸 Course creation = Big bucks (if you do it right) 🏰 Pricing advice? Think Disney, not Dollar Tree  🎙️ Learn from their combined exp...

Ever wonder how bookkeepers handle confidentiality? Debbie & Donna spill the beans—without naming names, of course! 🔐 Trust is Everything From NDAs to unspoken rules, keeping client info private is second nature—celebrity client or not!  🍽️ Kosher Deli Cameo Shoutout to one client’s amazing food—shared with permission and a side of respect!  🚗 Late-Night Vegas Car Purchase? Yep, that happene...

🎙️ In this episode we tackle real client conversations, pricing mindset, and how to lead with empathy (and a little sass) during discovery calls.  💡 “Why did you call me today?” That one question opens the door to real client needs, not surface-level answers. 👂 Let them vent. Sometimes the best thing you can do is listen—discovery calls = free therapy (for them). 🚩 Watch for red flags . Five pa...

What do you do when your very first client hands you a tangled mess of uncategorized transactions and co-mingled accounts? Welcome to real-life bookkeeping! On this 🔥 Bookkeepers on Fire episode, Debbie & Donna break it all down with laughter, wisdom, and practical tips for every beginner (and pro!). Listen in as we answer a question from a bookkeeper who just got their 1st client. Here’s wha...

🎧"I’m getting a bit discouraged with my marketing efforts not getting responses. I’m on a tight budget and can’t spend much. I am emailing firms if they need extra outsourced help, posting in groups, asking current clients for any referrals and not much happening. I guess just need words of encouragement. Thanks!" 🔥 Discouraged by Crickets? You’re Not Alone. On this episode of Bookkeepers on Fir...

🎧 "What does a cleanup consist of? Categorizing transactions and reconciliation of banks accounts or is there more to it?" Bookkeepers On Fire - Debra & Donna recorded a quick audio sharing their thoughts, what they have learned so far, and still figuring out. 🔍 Categorizing Transactions – Every dollar needs a label! Accurate categorization = financial clarity. 🏦 Reconciling Accounts – Matc...

🎙️ Client Storage Conundrum – A common question with a dash of humor! 🎧️ This is probably a silly question, but I will ask anyway. I am finally getting more clients and was wondering if I should save each one to their own flash drive, or have one for all of them? Bookkeepers On Fire - Debra & Donna recorded a quick audio sharing their thoughts, what they have learned so far, and still figurin...

✨ Feeling like throwing in the towel as a solo bookkeeper? You’re not alone — but you are in the right place. In this episode of Bookkeepers on Fire, Debra and Donna tackle one of the most honest questions we’ve received, and we’re dishing out real talk and support. 🙌 👩‍💻 Here are a few 🔥 takeaways for every discouraged bookkeeper out there: 📺 YouTube is your free mentor – 5 Minute Bookkeepi...

Ever had a discovery call turn into a 50-minute TED Talk that had nothing to do with your services? Yeah, same.   In this episode of Bookkeepers On Fire, Debra & Donna explore a real life situation sent in by a listener.  We're getting real about those consultations that waste your time and energy. 💼 Key Takeaways:  🚫 Not every inquiry is a potential client — and that’s okay.  ⏳ Set boundar...

🎧 "Do You Offer Fractional CFO Services? and What Do Those Include?" Bookkeepers On Fire - Debra & Donna recorded a quick audio sharing their thoughts, what they have learned so far, and still figuring out.  👉 What does that really include?  👉 How is it different from bookkeeping or tax work?  👉 Am I ready for that next level?  If you’re a bookkeeper, accountant, or business owner who's be...

🔥 Should You Add “No Assurance Provided” to Financial Reports? 🔥  On this episode of Bookkeepers on Fire, we tackled one of those “wait… should I be doing this?” questions.  Here’s what you need to know:  📄 “For management use only” is out. SSARS 21 says to use “No assurance is provided.” 🧾 If you’re compiling monthly financials, adding that line (on every page) keeps you compliant and crystal...

🔥 Are you still tracking time like it's 1985?  On the latest episode of Bookkeepers on Fire, Debbie Kilsheimer and Donna Reade say ⛔ to the tyranny of the timesheet. Here's why:  🧠 Time tracking = employee mindset. Owners focus on outcomes, not minutes. 💰 Flat rates > hourly rates. Scope the work, set the price, and adjust when things change. ⚙️ Processes = profit. Invest time upfront in sy...

🔥 Bookkeepers, Let’s Talk About That “Personal” Credit Card Used for Business 🧾💳  In this sizzling episode of Bookkeepers on Fire, we tackle a classic hot mess: A client uses personal credit cards mainly for business expenses—and pays them from the business bank account. Sound familiar? 😅 Here’s what we covered: 📌 Don't Call It Owner’s Draw – If it’s a business expense, treat it like one. The...

"What are your thoughts on the QB Ledger option? I was thinking it might be worth trying for couple lasting clients who are still in desktop (my old version as I don't pay for it anymore). For both these clients, I only work on their files 1 or 2x a year.... nothing live, no bill paying etc. Just enter, reconcile, get a report to their CPA’s. So I was thinking QB Ledger might be sufficient for the...

🔥 Just because it’s possible doesn’t mean it’s ethical…  In this episode of Bookkeepers on Fire, we tackled a spicy situation involving QuickBooks Online subscriptions, client accounts, and a little too much “creativity” in saving money.  Here’s what we covered: 🚫 Why moving a client file into a QBO Accountant account is a no-go 💥 How skirting QBO rules could shut down your account 🔐 The impor...

🔥 Hiring Help Without Losing Control 🔥  In this episode of Bookkeepers on Fire, Debbie & Donna share the real behind-the-scenes of bringing on help in a solo bookkeeping business. From lessons learned the hard way to must-have tools, they cover it all — with humor, of course!  👩‍💻 Employees vs. Contractors Hiring employees gives you control over process and quality — but be ready to train,...

On this episode of Bookkeepers on Fire, we tackled a common headache: clients who think their books magically do themselves.  📌 Uncat and Keeper don't fail—clients do. Automation only works when clients participate. No app can fix silence. 📌 Deadlines are your friend. Clear expectations + firm boundaries = less chaos. Be the bookkeeper, not the babysitter. 📌 Your process matters. If you bend fo...

🔥 Zoom Calls: Included or Invoice-Worthy? In this episode on Bookkeepers on Fire, we spilled the beans (and maybe some coffee ☕️) on whether your monthly pricing should include a Zoom call — or if it’s time to charge for chatter. 💸  Here’s what we roasted up:  🤣 Zoom = Optional, Sanity = Not – Want to skip the monthly call? That’s cool. But don’t blame us when your books look like a Netflix do...

🔥 Bookkeepers on Fire is back with a short but spicy episode!  Ever received a surprise QuickBooks connection request and wondered, “Should I click?” 💻❓  Debbie and Donna break down the do’s and don’ts of connecting — and why that mystery invite might just be a red flag.  🔐 Here’s what we covered: 🚫 Why unexpected connection requests are a big NO. 📧 The reason behind having a super-secret ac...

Donna & Debbie are diving into the real talk around QuickBooks Ledger—who it’s for, how they use it, and why cheaping out on tools could cost you big 💸  Here’s the heat:  🔥 Not every client needs the Cadillac! Ledger is perfect for after-the-fact cleanups, tax prep clients, and non-invoicing, non-AP industries. Think landscapers, side hustlers, and e-comm newbies.  💥 $10 tool, thousands in...

🔥 Checks + Chaos = Bookkeeper Magic 🔥 In this episode of Bookkeepers on Fire, Donna & Debbie dive into the beautiful madness of dealing with hundreds of checks and how to human-hack your way to automation without losing your mind. 💥 Spicy Highlights: • CSV ➡ Excel ➡ Sassant — Turn bank feeds into streamlined imports like a wizard with a wand (aka: XLOOKUP). • Automation by Human — Because s...

🔥 How do you quote without a peek? Debbie & Donna from Bookkeepers on Fire are setting the record straight on quoting with confidence—and without free access! 👇 Here’s the 🔥 truth:  ✅ Discovery before digits – Always start with a compatibility call, not a book sneak peek. It’s like a first date—do we vibe or nah? 💰 Strategy calls aren’t free – Want insights? That’ll cost ya. Book assessme...