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In this May Q&A episode, Serena dives deep into the practical side of building a bookkeeping business, covering everything from software partnerships and pricing strategies to finding your niche and standing out from the competition. She shares real-world advice on working with Xero and Gusto, addresses common struggles with client onboarding, and provides actionable tips for bookkeepers at every stage of their journey.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• How to handle software costs and partnerships with Xero and Gusto
• Strategies to differentiate yourself in a crowded bookkeeping market
• The real talk on choosing your niche and why you shouldn't let others talk you out of what you love
• Game-changing client onboarding tactics that eliminate problem clients from day one

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Xero, Gusto, QBO, Hubdoc, Jet Convert, Dubsado, Relay Bank, Squarespace, Kajabi, Bluehost & Hover
• Bookkeeping Business Accelerator (BBA): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
• BBA VIP upgrade option
• Squarespace for Bookkeepers program by Tia: https://www.riledupgoats.com/ssfb
• Bookkeeping Biz Workshops (coming August, evenings, 3 days)

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

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It’s the 200th episode of The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast and Serena pulls back the curtain on her bookkeeping firm's 2024 performance, sharing both the wins and challenges. She gets real about client churn, revenue growth, personal struggles with mold toxicity, and the hard lessons learned about communicating with clients who aren't taking crucial financial advice.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Client management reality check - How one client's bankruptcy and fraud issues led to major communication style changes
• Personal health struggles - Living in toxic mold for 2 years and how it affected business decisions and energy levels
• 2025 strategy shifts - Moving away from high-ticket CFO services toward team-handled base packages for better work-life balance

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 175 | Threads: Is it Worth it? https://youtu.be/Ola7HlpRy2U
• Elevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
• Elevate Mastermind (only for program graduates)
• Dubsado Decoded (with Kendra Courtney): https://kendracourtney.com/dubsado-decoded/
• AI Unlocked Summit registration: https://ambitiousbookkeeper--gemmabonhamcarter.thrivecart.com/ai-unlocked/619bde31ff59d/
• Bookkeeping Biz Workshops (launching August 2025)
• Xero, QBO, Hubdoc, ChatGPT, Asana, Airtable, TaxJar, A2X, Dubsado
• Business by Design (James Wedmore's program): https://www.jameswedmoretraining.com/
• Xero Con, Podcasting Moms Conference, BBD Live, Wave Seattle
• Prescott Area Young Professionals

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout:

To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

Send us a text

This episode comes from April’s Live Q&A session, where Serena answered various questions from bookkeepers about pricing strategies, software recommendations, financial statement presentation, and business growth challenges.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Learn how to confidently set your prices for bookkeeping setups and avoid undercharging
• Discover effective ways to present financial statements that truly benefit your clients
• Find out how to balance multiple professional identities on LinkedIn
• Get strategies for taking a break from your bookkeeping business without losing clients

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Podcast episode: "177 | Crafting Deliverables That Matter" https://youtu.be/sb_9SYI82h0
• The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
• Elevate program: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
• Email subscription: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/subscribe
• Payment processors: Stripe, PayPal, GoCardless, Pluto
• Workflow Queen (Alyssa Lang): https://www.workflowqueen.com
• Accounting software: Xero, QuickBooks, Wave
• Payroll: Gusto
• Client management: Dubsado
• Spotify playlists for The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

Send us a text

In this episode of the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast, Serena chats with Maggie Lord, a powerhouse entrepreneur who sold her media company to David's Bridal and now helps female founders do the same. Maggie shares her journey from starting a wedding blog in 2008 to selling her company 12 years later, and reveals insider knowledge about business valuations, exit strategies, and how bookkeepers play a crucial role in preparing businesses for sale.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why Maggie is passionate about helping female founders prepare their businesses for acquisition
• The three common scenarios when founders seek M&A help
• How bookkeepers play a key role in successful M&A transactions
• Beyond-the-numbers valuation factors that founders often overlook

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Whisper Group: https://www.wearethewhispergroup.com/

Meet Maggie

Maggie Lord was an early pioneer in the online digital wedding media space establishing her media company, Rustic Wedding Chic in 2008. As the founder + CEO of Rustic Wedding Chic, Maggie led the company for 12 years before it was acquired by David’s Bridal in 2020. Maggie is also the author of 6 books. Today, Maggie has become a sought-after strategic advisor to female founded brands allowing her to focus on sharing her knowledge and expertise with other like minded entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. Maggie and her businesses have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, Success Magazine and much more. Maggie is a partner at The Whisper Group, working daily with female founders to help them sell their companies and close the exit gap.

Connect with Maggie

📱 IG: https://www.instagram.com/maggielordandcompany/

🌐 Website: https://maggielord.com/

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.co

To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

Send us a text

Are you dreaming of starting your own bookkeeping business but feeling overwhelmed by all the decisions you need to make? You're not alone. As someone who's built a successful bookkeeping practice from scratch, I know firsthand that figuring out what services to offer, how to price them, where to find clients, and what technology you need can feel like navigating a maze.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Advice on determining pricing strategies for bookkeeping services
• Practical methods for finding clients
• Recommendations for essential tech tools for new bookkeepers
• What bookkeeping services are most in-demand and how to decide which ones to offer

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ambitious Bookkeeper Free Training: http://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training
• Mini Courses: http://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/store
  • Pricing for Profit
  • Bookkeeping Client Closer
• Bookkeeping Business Accelerator: http://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
• Software tools mentioned:
  • QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • Shopify
  • TaxJar
  • A2X
  • Hubdoc
  • Calendly
  • Google Suite/Workspace
  • Zoom
  • Loom
  • Asana
  • Canva
  • Dubsado

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

Send us a text

In this powerful episode of The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast, Serena Shoup chats with Cletus Coffey, former pro athlete, single dad, and founder of Torch Training. Cletus shares his remarkable journey from professional sports to entrepreneurial failures to finding his authentic purpose through personal transformation.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Cletus's journey from pro athlete to struggling entrepreneur to finding true alignment
• Practical frameworks for balancing ambition, family, and personal growth
• How to break free from achievement addiction and redefine success beyond the "scoreboard"
• The importance of mastering your mornings and creating structure that prioritizes self-care

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Cletus Coffey's website: CletusCoffey.com
• Be The Torch Podcast
• Morning Mastery Challenge - includes downloadable cheat sheet and video tutorial
• BBD Live with James Wedmore (event where Serena and Cletus met)

Meet Cletus Coffey

Cletus Coffey is a former professional and world champion athlete turned founder of Be The Torch Academy. After losing his first business and navigating the challenges of divorce and being a single dad, Cletus struggled silently through a long period of pain and darkness. Through an unwavering devotion to self-mastery, he unlocked a path to greater personal power, purpose and passion, which included helping men—specifically single fathers and entrepreneurs—master their lives and businesses. Combining self-mastery with business and personal development, Cletus helps single dads who own a business, master their true authentic self so that they can finally become a man capable of experiencing happiness, fulfillment and freedom in their business and life.

Connect with Cletus Coffey

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cletuscoffey/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/torchtraining/

@cletuscoffey

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we

To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

Send us a text

In this mini-episode, Serena shares her research on the Fair Tax Act and what it could mean for bookkeepers. She explains how this potential legislation would eliminate income tax and the IRS, replacing them with a national sales tax. Serena offers practical advice for bookkeepers to prepare for this potential shift and future-proof their businesses.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• A breakdown of what the Fair Tax Act actually means (goodbye income tax, hello 23-30% national sales tax!)
• How bookkeeping services would evolve rather than disappear in this new tax landscape
• Three actionable steps to prepare your bookkeeping business for this potential change
• Why this shift could actually be an opportunity for ambitious bookkeepers to expand their services

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Sales Tax Workshop: ambitiousbookkeeper.com/salestax
• Elevate Program: ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
• The Accounting Podcast (formerly Cloud Accounting Podcast)
• Avalara
• Tax Jar
• QBO
• Xero

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

Send us a text

Running a bookkeeping or accounting firm means juggling multiple clients, deadlines, and deliverables - often leading to that feeling of "I'm drowning in work!" As someone who's built a successful practice while working 20 hours or less per week, I've discovered that how you organize and manage your workflow makes all the difference between constant overwhelm and smooth operations.

Whether you're flying solo or leading a small team, these three actionable strategies will help you streamline your processes, reduce stress, and scale your firm without the burnout.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Three actionable strategies to centralize your workflows and processes in one place
• How to implement a standardized file naming system that saves you hours of searching
• Tips for designing your week with focus blocks to avoid context switching and burnout
• Real examples of how I apply these strategies in my own bookkeeping business

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Clickup
• Asana
• Google Sheets
• Google Drive
• The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.