The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast
The Ambitious Bookkeeper podcast is for bookkeepers & accountants who are growing or aspiring to start their own business. Our mission is to elevate the bookkeeping profession by providing support and resources for new and experienced firm owners. We share actionable tips on running a successful bookkeeping business, tools and resources, plus guest expert interviews that will help you elevate your business. Where you can find us: Website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com BBA: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/serenashoup Instagram: https://instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
Episodes
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...
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:
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 ...
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&...
Serena dives deep into marketing strategies for bookkeepers and small business owners who are skeptical or overwhelmed by social media, sharing practical tips for building connections and growing your business.
What You’ll Learn:
- Marketing isn't just about social media: Discover a multi-pronged approach including offline networking, online presence, and website strategy
- Build your "circle of influence"...
In this episode I’m tackling a listener ‘struggle’: Imposter Syndrome.
This is also a MINI episode, which means you can view the video on YouTube! While you’re there, make sure to subscribe!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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 Instagra...
In today's bite-sized episode, we're diving into the nitty-gritty of setting up TaxJar for eCommerce businesses. Whether you're a bookkeeper with some eCommerce clients or an online seller yourself, stick around. Serena's got some super helpful insights coming your way, complete with screen sharing over on YouTube if you're up for it.
Resources mentioned:
In this episode, we're diving into a wonderful conversation between Serena Shoup and Megan Tobler. Megan shares her inspiring journey from corporate sales to building a vibrant business community for moms in entrepreneurship.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- The reality of juggling motherhood and building a business from the ground up.
- How Megan leveraged her natural talents from sales to start her own podcast, crea...
Our MINI episodes are also YouTube videos - and may be better viewed on YouTube. Click here to watch! https://youtu.be/7zH54q8eR6I
In this episode you’ll hear me answer a listener submitted question about the opportunities available in accounting & bookkeeping and how to find the right one for you!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- The Ultimate Guide to a Profitable Bookkeeping Business: https://ambitiousbookk...
In this episode, Alyssa Lang, my biz bestie & The Workflow Queen dives into what it truly means to be a great leader, focusing on how to move beyond everyday tasks and really lead your firm.
She breaks down five key pillars of leadership that will help you build a scalable, profitable, and well-aligned business. Alyssa shares her personal journey, explaining how shifting your mindset, setting the right offers, crea...
Hey there, welcome back to The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast! Today, I'm chatting with Brian Greer from TaxConnex about all things sales tax. Whether you're a sales tax newbie or just looking for a way to outsource, we've got you covered. So grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and let's dive into making sales tax a bit less daunting.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- Meet Brian Greer
- Discover what &quo...
Hey there! Welcome back to another episode of The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast. This week, join me as I dive into a treasure trove of archived Q&A content. We’re talking year-end tips, the ins and outs of e-commerce, using that CFO title wisely, and loads more. So grab your favorite drink, get comfy, and let's dive right in. Enjoy!
In this episode you’ll hear:
- Get the lowdown on stepping into the wild world...
In this video I’m demonstrating how to adjust bank balances when you’re cleaning up a Xero bank reconciliation. We’ll cover:
- spend money transactions
- receive money transactions
- manually reconciling transactions
- conversion balances (adjusting the beginning balance)
Learn how to start your bookkeeping business (for experienced bookkeepers & accountants): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
We use OpenPhone instead of Google voice for 2FA codes and for client communication. I'll go over that in this video and show you our setup.
Here's how to work around needing to pay for multiple users as your team grows:
- Make sure you have a central email inbox setup (like help@yourdomain.com or support@yourdomain.com)
- Give your entire team access to this (we save the login info in 1Password)
- Use t...
In this interview episode, we're diving into the world of micro reporting and weekly client updates with Shea Keats and Michelle Röse from Breakaway Advising. If you've ever been curious about adding a personal touch to your client advisory, this one's for you!
In this episode you’ll hear:
- what micro reporting is all about
- how the concept of joy and compassion can revolutionize client relationships and...
In this interview episode, I chat with Ryan Lazanis from FutureFirm about growth strategies and pricing tips to help streamline your firm. Whether you're just getting started or looking to scale, Ryan shares some golden nuggets on navigating the world of accounting business with ease and purpose.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- Ryan’s journey from starting Zen Accounting to selling it and then launching FutureFirm
- ...
In this interview episode we've got the incredible Erin Pohan joining us to talk all about her journey in accounting, and to share some exciting news about WAVE, the must-attend event for women in accounting this year!
In this episode you’ll hear:
- Erin’s incredible journey from having just one side client to now running her very own bookkeeping firm
- all the exciting details about the upcoming WAVE conference in ...
Welcome to 1099 Season! If this is your first 1099 season, buckle up, I’m here to help! Tune in today to hear an overview of what to know about 1099s so you’re armed with the confidence to take this on, and improve your processes for next year!
In this episode you’ll hear:
- All the types of 1099s
- Reporting requirements, deadlines & thresholds
- International vendors
- And lots of tips and insights along the way!
In this solo episode, we’re diving into some killer strategies to boost your profits in the new year. We’ll chat about updating your systems, tracking those important numbers, and all the behind-the-scenes moves that can make 2025 your most successful year yet!
In this episode you’ll hear:
- secrets on tracking your profitability and why it's a game-changer
- the lowdown on updating engagement letters, adding clause...
In this interview episode, we've got Emily Leahy sharing her incredible insights on managing energy in business, especially for us ambitious women out there. Forget the hustle; it's all about syncing with your personal cycles and making life work for you. You won't want to miss these gems!
In this episode you’ll hear:
- optimizing energy cycles, especially for women, and viewing performance through a fe...
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