“If a majority of your leads come from LinkedIn, that's great, and you should keep doing that. But it doesn't hurt to diversify and to make sure that you have a couple of lead sources to pull in from different avenues.”
-Kristen Corey

Kristen Corey, founder of Media Books, dives into the importance of a well-designed website, how to make your firm stand out online, and common pitfalls to avoid.

In this interview, you'll also learn:

• Why a website builds trust & credibility
• How to turn visitors into loyal clients
• The best platforms for an easy-to-manage site

Plus much more!

To learn more about Kristen, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp

00:28 – Kristen’s journey from accounting to marketing
02:33 – Founding Media Books to help bookkeepers
04:21 – Common marketing struggles for bookkeepers
06:11 – Why websites matter for bookkeeping businesses
08:53 – The importance of an About page
10:44 – Choosing the best website platform
13:42 – Questions to ask when hiring a web designer
17:24 – The role of SEO in the AI era
20:35 – How websites improve user experience
24:15 – Common website mistakes to avoid
26:33 – Must-have features for bookkeeping websites
28:33 – Ensuring a website is user-friendly
31:48 – Pitfalls to avoid in website building
32:59 – Media Books’ website design process
35:01 – Client success story

“My workflow was going to tell me exactly what I needed to do that day. And I very intentionally and very consciously grounded myself into my work and into that routine and into that process, because that was the one thing in my life that was certain. My business got me through that time, that certainty and that control when everything else was so chaotic.”
- Stephanie Kelcey

Stephanie Kelcey, owner of Capture Bookkeeping, shares her journey of navigating major life transitions while building a successful bookkeeping business. She opens up about overcoming personal challenges, restructuring her business for efficiency, and the mindset shifts that helped her find stability and growth.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• How systems & workflows can create stability during life transitions

• Why mindset shifts are crucial for financial success

• The impact of community and support networks on business growth

Plus much more!

Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn.

Learn more about Capture Bookkeeping here.

Time Stamp:

00:39 – Journey into bookkeeping & business growth
02:56 – Navigating personal challenges
04:13 – The importance of support
09:54 – Coping mechanisms
12:56 – Creating space in business & shifting to an advisory model
17:17 – Mindset shifts in business, financial growth & client empowerment
22:02 – Financial mindset shifts
26:21 – Systems, hiring & structuring workflows for stability
30:09 – Focusing on rest, personal growth& financial education
32:41 – Implementing a CRM system & improving work-life balance
34:50 – Business success, community & learning

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Hub Analytics!

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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!

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“I don't see a world where the profession of accounting is totally taken over by AI. There'll always be that need for human touch and validation because we do audits and we need to make sure that we get their taxes right. So I would just say, embrace it, think about how it's going to give you that better work-life balance, and then just go for it. Give it a try.”
-Karen Ainley

Karen Ainley, Head of the Accountants Business Unit at Sage, dives into how AI, automation, and digitization are transforming the bookkeeping and accounting profession. She shares key insights from the Practice of Now report, offering practical advice on embracing change, building client relationships, and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• How AI & automation enhance efficiency & client service
• The shifting role of bookkeepers from historical reporting to advisory services
• Why client expectations demand tech-savvy professionals today
  

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp:

01:19 - Overview of the Practice of Now report
02:13 - Key findings: skills, AI & client relationships
03:36 - How AI improves workloads & work-life balance
06:18 - Evolving client expectations & demand for tech-savvy services
09:01 - Global tax digitization trends & their impact
13:08 - Shift to subscription models & value-based pricing
16:59 - Advisory services replacing traditional bookkeeping
19:25 - How small practices can compete with AI tools
21:40 - Sage Copilot’s features: anomaly detection & automation
26:00 - Karen’s advice: embrace technology & take action
27:39 - How Sage supports bookkeepers with tools & resources
29:16 - Closing remarks & resources for listeners

This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage!

On February 13th at 12pm ET, Sage will be presenting its webinar, Practice of Now: How To Plan Your Practice for 2025 & Beyond, to our community.

It'll cover The Practice of Now global insights study to help you plan your role and practice for the future.

During this webinar, you’ll learn:

• Current trends that are changing the profession
• The biggest opportunity to take in the next 12 months
• Key actions that all accountants and bookkeepers should be considering

Plus much more!

REGISTER NOW before it's too late!

“I put my clients on notice in the first week of December. All of my clients get an email blast so that they know what to expect, and that helps so much. So we are having this conversation now in the third week of January. All of my clients who gave me their information are tax-ready. And I could not have said that five years ago.”
-Jessica Fox

Jessica Fox, founder of Florida Virtual Bookkeeper, shares how she transformed her business with systems that simplify tax season and prioritize work-life balance. From implementing proactive workflows to setting clear client boundaries, Jessica reveals how these changes have allowed her to thrive in her career and personal life.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• How to turn tax season into a year-round, stress-free process
• The importance of clear client boundaries & communication
• Strategies for maintaining work-life balance while running a bookkeeping business

To find out more about Jessica, click here.

Connect with here on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Learn about The Pure Bookkeeping System here.

Time Stamp

00:38 - Evolving systems & nurturing a community
01:27 - The importance of treating tax season as a year-round process
04:08 - Implementing the Pure Bookkeeping System
07:03 - Strategies for requesting information & avoiding bottlenecks
09:35 - Ensuring a healthy work-life balance
13:19 - Setting boundaries by creating systems & focusing on clear communication
15:23 - Saying “no” to unrealistic client expectations & charging rush fees
18:50 - Celebrating stress-free tax seasons & prioritizing vacations
20:17 - Handling client re-homing & transitioning
24:24 - Upcoming goals
27:51 - Connect with Jessica & join her bookkeeping systems lounge

“And so I went through all of the little folders and things that I had stored different goals, and I pulled them all into one place and had a whole week to really think about what I wanted my goals to be for next year. And that brought tremendous clarity.”
-Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan

In this episode, Nancy Gwynne-Vaughan, President of Graham Consulting & Training Inc., explores the realities of running a small business in the bookkeeping sector, offering insights on overcoming challenges, creating effective systems, and setting purposeful goals. She underscores the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and support systems in navigating the complexities of business ownership.

To learn more about Nancy, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

If you need help building systems in your business, visit PureBookkeeping.com.

Time Stamp:

00:39 - The constant unpredictability & challenges of running a small business
03:01 - Building systems, managing staff effectively & creating a supportive team
04:54 - Reflecting on the past year & planning actionable steps for success
09:05 - Breaking down annual goals into quarterly & weekly plans
13:20 - How goal-setting & positive thinking can shape business outcomes
17:45 - Balancing personal & business goals
24:32 - Preparing for challenges
31:23 - Building a reliable team & leveraging tools
36:35 - Maintaining an entrepreneurial growth mindset
42:19 - Insights on lifelong learning, embracing change & finding fulfilment

“I had no niche. I didn't know what I wanted to do. I knew the clients I really didn't like to work with. But they were also talking about, ‘You got to find your niche.’ And I'm like, ‘How do you find a niche?’”
-Leslee Hickerson

Leslee Hickerson shares her inspiring journey from a small Ontario town to becoming a successful bookkeeper and consultant specializing in law firms. She reflects on her challenges during the pandemic, her transformative decision to join the Pure Bookkeeping community, and the importance of finding clarity and direction through a niche focus in her business.

In this interview, you'll learn:

• The benefits of specializing in a niche for business success
• The value of certification in elevating your bookkeeping career
• Tips for conquering imposter syndrome & embracing growth opportunities

Connect with Leslee on LinkedIn.

Time Stamp:

00:53 - Leslee's Journey into Bookkeeping
05:58 - Navigating Challenges During COVID
11:56 - Finding Community & Support
17:59 - Narrowing Down to a Niche
24:00 - Transitioning to Advisory Services
29:52 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
36:05 - The Importance of Certification & Education

“You think that you're competing against other accountants, but for people who are just starting, you're competing against ‘free’. As far as they're concerned, ‘I've been doing my bookkeeping and I was doing fine and it didn't cost me anything, so why should I pay you?’”
-Keila Hill-Trawick

In this episode, Kyla Hill Treywick, founder and CEO of Little Fish Accounting, shares her journey into accounting and the lessons learned while building a thriving firm. She highlights the value of client relationships, effective team building, and maintaining a strong company culture to drive success.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

• How to overcome challenges in starting & scaling a business with a quality-first approach
• Building a strong team & company culture
• Embracing industry trends focused on collaboration & connection

To learn more about Keila, connect with her on LinkedIn.

Check out her company website here.

Time Stamp

01:37 - Keila’s career shift from corporate roles to launching an accounting firm
04:02 - Starting a business & refining services
07:44 - Overcoming challenges
12:20 - Evolving sales process
18:17 - Importance of diagnostics & addressing client needs up front
23:21 - Transitioning to relationship-focused services
26:28 - Prioritizing sustainable growth & intentional scaling
29:44 - Growing a remote team, managing turnover & fostering a strong company culture
34:27 - Embracing trends like collaboration, niching & human connection in accounting

“As a business owner, as an entrepreneur, I feel like there are 50 million things that I want and need to do all the time. So I find it very easy to get distracted. So I think about what are the top things that I need to put my attention towards, what are the biggest things that I want.  I've got this little sign on my wall up there, ‘Where your attention goes, the energy flows.’ And that has really helped keep me sort of focused. ”
-Stephanie Skryzowski

In this episode, Stephanie Skryzowski, founder and CEO of 100 Degrees Consulting, shares her inspirational journey from aspiring lawyer to leading a global consulting firm for nonprofits. Stephanie discusses how her passion for finance and impactful causes led her to create a thriving business, her innovative strategies for scaling her team, and the lessons she learned from challenges along the way.

In this episode, you’ll learn...

• Overcoming scope creep & setting boundaries for growth
• Scaling a remote team while maintaining a mission-driven focus
• Key lessons in building a niche business with robust systems
  

To learn more about Stephanie, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Listen to the Prosperous Nonprofit Podcast here.

Time Stamp

01:03 - Stephanie’s nonprofit finance journey
02:01 - Career pivot from corporate law to nonprofit financial management
07:01 - Importance of accurate bookkeeping for nonprofit growth
10:31 - Landing first clients through targeted outreach
14:01 - Scaling challenges: scope creep, pricing & team growth
27:31 - Team structure changes & effective delegation
32:01 - Lessons from selling a business segment & niche focus
37:01 - Book recommendations, reflections & advice for business owners