The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

Emails. According to our return guest, productivity expert and owner of Simpletivity, Scott Friesen, he says the average professional spends 6.3 hours per day tending to their emails in some capacity. Those are easily hours that could be dedicated to more important things, but for many reasons we're choosing to be a slave to our inboxes. Today that's about to end. It's time you take a stand and Sc...

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 gues...

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 your...

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 o...

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 h...

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...

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 famil...

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 i...

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 Bookkeepe...

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) US...

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...

Technology. Most bookkeepers can't survive without it. You probably have your "go to" software that helps you run your business. Today's guest, Managing Director of K2E Canada Inc. and IPBC board member, Alan Salmon, who is Canada's leading analyst in the area of accounting technology, will open your mind with some different options you might have never considered before. During this interview, yo...

Business networking. If you're an introverted bookkeeper, it can be a scary thing. But, it doesn't have to be. Just ask our guest today. Dr. Ivan Misner is the founder of Business Network International (BNI) which is the world's largest business networking and business referral organization. It has over 7,800 chapters and 213,000 members in 72 countries. So, he knows what he's talking about. Durin...

Bad hires. If you're a bookkeeping business owner, you've probably had one of those. They can be painful and toxic for many reasons including the damage they can inflict on your workplace culture. Our guest today, Melissa Lenos of King Accounting Solutions, knows what it's like to hire poorly. She's done it before, but she is wiser now and will share her lessons learned to help you avoid the same...

Are you ready? The time has come for you, the bookkeeper, to realize you're a truly valuable asset to small businesses. The days of you thinking you're not a core piece are over because, without your expert knowledge and skills, your clients would be in serious financial distress. According to our guest, Garry Carter, the co-founder of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), bookkeeping isn'...

Do you know what a lion looks like? Of course you do. Your brain automatically creates an image that needs no explanation. Unfortunately, when you introduce yourself as a bookkeeper, people automatically have a mental picture of someone who does data entry, collects receipts and so on. If you're trying to set yourself apart, your label has to change. Our guest, Mike Michalowicz, who is the author...

Niverville, Manitoba. The population is around 3500. You'd figure running a bookkeeping business there would be extremely challenging. Well, it can be unless you're our guest today, Mira Salter. She is the owner of Emerald Tree Accounting Services who found a way to be a success despite operating her business in a small town. Her secret? She discovered a couple of niches by catering her bookkeepin...

Do you hate asking clients for their receipts? Or any other documents to get your bookkeeping job done? If you said yes, you know how incredibly frustrating that scenario is, for not only you, but your clients as well. You might be spending more time doing those administrative duties than actually advising your clients on the financial state of their businesses! Our guest today found a solution. J...

Are you determined to having a successful bookkeeping business? If you are, you'll have to commit to doing things that are likely out of your comfort zone. One of them is networking. For many bookkeepers, this is a terrifying task. But, you know what? Networking is necessary and effective. Just ask, Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts. In the early days of her business, she remembers being...

Do you want a successful bookkeeping business? Pure Bookkeeping co-founder, Debbie Roberts certainly did. When she first began her entrepreneurial journey, it had many bumps, but the best decision she made was hiring master business coach, Peter Cook to help her along the way. At the time, little did she know that Peter would become the source of inspiration, guidance and accountability she'd need...

Are you ready to get some sales? If the thought of you finding new clients makes you want to curl up in a ball and hide from civilization for a few days, you're not alone. Most bookkeepers just want to do the books and let word of mouth referrals bring in the business. That's not always enough. Many times you'll have to go out in your community and go to networking events or other public places to...

Are you afraid to take risks? Many people are. It's fear that paralyzes them from catapulting their businesses to higher levels of profitability. Patricia Sawatzky was like you. She was scared to get out of her comfort zone. An admitted introverted bookkeeper, who operates her business, TAP Bookkeeping, out of small town Campbell River, British Columbia, was hesitant about making any big leaps. Bu...

How many to-do lists do you have? How many of the tasks on those lists have you actually finished on a consistent basis? For many bookkeepers, the answer is likely "not many." Why is that? For most, distractions get in the way such as email, useless meetings and other potential time wasters. Our guest today, Scott Friesen of Simpletivity is here to help! He's a productivity expert who will teach y...

Are you struggling when it comes to recruiting or maintaining a terrific team? You're not alone. Pure Bookkeeping co-founder and co-author of E-Myth Bookkeeper, Debbie Roberts has been there. Over her 30 plus year bookkeeping career, she realized there were many moving parts when assembling her rockstar squad of great, talented and loyal bookkeeping staff. She learned from her mistakes and is now...

How confident are you? If your answer is not very, you're not alone. Many bookkeepers struggle with self-confidence for various reasons. According to our guest, Vicki Fenn, who is an elite leadership and personal improvement coach, you don't have to. During this interview, you'll learn... How to boost your confidence to a level you've never had before Why it's important to focus on your strengths...