EP501: Michelle Weinstein – How To Confidently Sell Your Bookkeeping Services
"We have to stop trading time for money. Hourly billing traps you. It gets you in the cycle of undervaluing yourself. Discounting just to get a client to sign up with you and think that you're going to charge more in the future is another trap. Doing free work, answering quick questions, answering an abundance of emails and never getting paid for it is a trap." -Michelle Weinstein Michelle Weinstein, founder of The Abundant Accountant and The Pitch Queen, talks about how bookkeepers can confidently sell their services without feeling pushy or uncomfortable. Drawing on years of experience helping accounting professionals close high-value clients, Michelle shares simple strategies to increase revenue and build trust with prospects. In this interview, you'll learn: How to overcome fear & hesitation around pricing and sales Questions that turn discovery calls into meaningful conversations How to position your value instead of selling your time To learn more about Michelle, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 00:00 – Why selling is a skill every bookkeeper needs 03:05 – How Michelle helps bookkeepers sell with confidence 05:40 – Shifting your mindset from "selling" to "helping" 08:12 – The biggest mistakes bookkeepers make in sales calls 10:45 – How to ask powerful questions that uncover client needs 13:10 – Why you should never discount your services 15:22 – The difference between pricing & value 18:03 – Turning consultations into lasting client relationships 20:45 – How to talk about money without fear or guilt 24:00 – Using Dext tools to add more value to clients 27:12 – Building confidence through practice & preparation 30:10 – Michelle's top advice for bookkeepers ready to grow 32:30 – Where to learn more about Michelle & The Abundant Accountant This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!
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EP500: Jennifer Hume – Building A Profitable Niche Business & Coaching Practice
"The more intentional you get with your money, the more intentional you get with your time as well." -Jennifer Hume In our 500th episode, Jennifer Hume, owner of Coronation Bookkeeping & Tax Services, shares how she built a successful virtual bookkeeping firm and expanded into coaching for real estate professionals. She reveals what worked, what didn't, and how she uses systems, marketing, and speaking to grow her business with purpose and profitability. In this interview, you'll learn: How niching and storytelling drive growth and confidence Why systems are essential for scaling How Jennifer built a $250K firm through referrals To learn more about Jennifer, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 02:03 – Jennifer's journey from family business to starting her own bookkeeping firm 05:28 – Lessons learned from her father's failed business & what she'd do differently 06:08 – The importance of systems & Profit First for building a strong foundation 07:49 – Transitioning from data entry to leadership & advisory work 08:16 – How Jennifer built a $250K firm through referrals & strong processes 10:45 – Learning to market intentionally & step outside her comfort zone 13:03 – Building referral partnerships with accountants & real estate brokerages 15:07 – Overcoming fear & learning to pick up the phone to grow the business 17:07 – How niching into real estate transformed her business 19:42 – Why specializing makes marketing easier & attracts better clients 21:07 – What marketing tactics didn't work (and what to watch out for) 22:08 – Email marketing & newsletters that actually connect 24:55 – How creating a professional speaker's reel set her apart 26:44 – The power of storytelling on stage & building confidence through speaking 30:12 – Using AI tools like ChatGPT to craft speeches & prompts quickly 33:22 – Building a coaching business for real estate professionals 34:56 – Why 90% of realtors quit within five years & how coaching helps 35:40 – How financial & time habits create happier, more balanced lives 37:32 – Where to find & connect with Jennifer online This episode is brought to you by our amazing friends at Hub Analytics! Imagine having all your financial data in one place, with real-time analytics and customized reports at your fingertips. Hub Analytics is a financial platform that streamlines bookkeeping operations, so you can focus on what really matters—delivering high-quality results for your clients. With Hub's easy-to-use tools, you'll save time, reduce errors, and gain deeper insights into your clients' financials! Ready to take your bookkeeping to the next level? Book a demo to learn more and start your FREE trial TODAY!
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EP499: Spotlight - Tommy Vincent – 3 Metrics That Drive Advisory Success
"The number one driver of small to medium sized businesses not making it is cash flow problems. It's not that they're not profitable. This is the big thing with net cash that most people don't realize, is that you can run a profitable business and run out of money." -Tommy Vincent In this spotlight episode, Tommy Vincent, Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Hub Analytics, returns to share how bookkeepers can confidently step into advisory by focusing on just 3 key metrics. He explains how to measure, track, and present them to clients in a way that builds trust and drives business growth. In this interview, you'll learn: The 3 metrics every bookkeeper should track Why consistency matters more than dozens of KPIs How net equity shows a business owner's true wealth To learn more about Hub Analytics, click here. Connect with Tommy on LinkedIn. Time Stamp 00:00 – Introducing 3 Key Metrics 02:16 – Why bookkeepers are well-positioned to deliver advisory services 03:59 – Why less is more with KPIs for small business clients 04:54 – The three core metrics 06:33 – Breaking down net operating income & what it reveals 07:50 – Industry nuances & why measuring consistently matters 09:30 – Using consistent monthly tracking to spot improvement 12:20 – Net equity explained 14:27 – Why 78% of a business owner's net worth is tied to their business 16:04 – Loans, distributions & reinvestment 20:54 – Why profitable businesses still fail without cash 23:10 – Healthcare & construction industries & cashflow gaps 25:59 – Watching DSO & DPO to avoid cash crunches 27:21 – How bookkeepers can differentiate by tracking just 3 KPIs 28:29 – How to package advisory 30:55 – Why most existing clients won't pay more 33:18 – Advisory is best suited for businesses over $1M revenue 34:56 – How Hub Analytics supports bookkeepers with AI-driven reporting
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EP498: Ted Harrington - The Hacker Mindset: A Superpower For Business
"I think that the hacker mindset is a superpower because what it does is it fosters independent thinking. And independent thinking enables a person to observe or discover overlooked pathways, overlooked opportunities, things that other people have missed." -Ted Harrington Ted Harrington, cybersecurity expert and author of Hackable: How To Do Application Security Right and his upcoming book Inner Hacker: A New Way Of Thinking, returns to talk about the hacker mindset and how it can transform both business and life. In this interview, you'll learn: The four traits of the hacker mindset How AI is shaping cyberattacks Ways to tap into your inner hacker To learn more about Ted, click here. Connect with him on LinkedIn. Check out his new book, Inner Hacker: A New Way Of Thinking here. Time Stamp 01:22 – Ted Harrington returns with his new book Inner Hacker 02:47 – Why thinking like a hacker is a superpower 09:17 – The four traits of the hacker mindset 12:39 – What holds people back from channeling their inner hacker 18:24 – How the book supports his business & clients 23:13 – AI's role in modern cyberattacks 29:20 – What's changing for small businesses & cybersecurity awareness 32:31 – Why hackers target small businesses 36:36 – Protecting yourself by knowing where you're vulnerable 37:45 – Ted's future plans & keynote speaking This episode is brought to you by our amazing friends at Hub Analytics! Imagine having all your financial data in one place, with real-time analytics and customized reports at your fingertips. Hub Analytics is a financial platform that streamlines bookkeeping operations, so you can focus on what really matters—delivering high-quality results for your clients. With Hub's easy-to-use tools, you'll save time, reduce errors, and gain deeper insights into your clients' financials! Ready to take your bookkeeping to the next level? Book a demo to learn more and start your FREE trial TODAY!
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EP497: Lisa Campbell – Habits That Transform Your Bookkeeping Business - Part 2
"You have to keep evolving. We're always evolving. Never stop growing. Never stop learning. If you're not happy with what you're doing, there's always a way to change. And you can lean on great thought leaders like this to help you get there. " -Lisa Campbell Lisa Campbell, Founder of Accelerate 2 Advisor, returns for part two of her series about Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. She shares practical ways bookkeepers can apply the next four habits to strengthen client relationships, build stronger teams, and sustain long-term success. In this interview, you'll learn: How to create win-win client & team relationships Why discovery calls should focus on understanding, not selling The power of synergy with your team and professional partners To learn more about Lisa, visit her profile on LinkedIn. Sign up for her Masterclass here! Time Stamp 00:00 – Win-win results with accountants through systemized books01:25 – Habit 4: Think win-win 06:57 – Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood09:55 – Why selling is ongoing & rooted in understanding clients' real needs 12:28 – Listening & trust with clients & team members 15:25 – Habit 6: Synergy 18:20 – Building referral networks & partnerships for growth 21:14 – Niching & connecting with industry vendors & partners for referrals 23:25 – Real-world example: systemized bookkeeping driving strong CPA referrals 25:07 – Habit 7: Sharpen the saw 29:50 – The most transformative habit for bookkeepers 35:00 – How proactive bookkeepers put first things first to reach advisor level 35:56 – Wrap-up & invitation to Lisa's Accelerate to Advisor masterclass This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!
The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast is a weekly show to help increase your confidence, work smarter and build a business you love.
Each week you'll listen to inspiring guests who will share their success secrets, so you can take your bookkeeping enterprise and life to another level.
Some of them include New York Times Best-Selling Author of E-Myth, Michael E. Gerber, Pure Bookkeeping Co-Founder, Debbie Roberts, the host of The Productive Woman podcast, Laura McClellan and the author of *I Know How She Does It*, Laura Vanderkam.
If you're a bookkeeping business owner who is looking for an uplifting, entertaining and informative podcast exclusively for YOU then you have arrived at the right place!
Get ready because your journey towards success begins — now.
Your Host
Michael Palmer is an acclaimed business coach who has helped hundreds of bookkeepers across the world push through their fears and exponentially grow their businesses and achieve the quality of life they've always wanted.
Ireland