Profits + Prosecco: The Podcast

What if having a boring business is actually the goal? I've been pretty quiet lately, and there's a reason for that. I've been living my life. We spent three weeks traveling in an RV this summer, I've been spending time with my kids, and I've been letting my bookkeeping business do exactly what I built it to do: support my life instead of taking it over. In this episode of Profits + Prosecco, I'm catching you up on where I've been and taking you behind the scenes of my bookkeeping business. I'm sharing real numbers from my 2026 profit and loss statement, how we're maintaining consistent recurring revenue with around 50 clients, and why I'm perfectly happy with a business where one month looks a whole lot like the next. I'm also talking about the systems, team support, and decisions that allow me to step away without worrying about everything falling apart. Here's what I cover in this episode: Why I paused the podcast and stepped back from marketing over the summer. Why a boring bookkeeping business can be a very good thing. My 2026 bookkeeping revenue, profit margins, and client retention. How I handle client turnover and protect my income. The systems and software I use to simplify payments and client management. Why building buffers into your income and capacity matters. I also share what's coming next, including monthly Ask Me Anything sessions and an updated version of my Six Secrets to a Simple, Scalable Bookkeeping Business series. If you're worried that bookkeeping might be boring, or you're wondering whether you can actually build a profitable business without constantly working, I think you'll appreciate this conversation. Because the goal isn't to create another job that consumes your life. It's to build something that gives you more freedom to live it. Listen to the full episode wherever you enjoy your podcasts. And if you enjoyed this conversation, take a screenshot, share it on Instagram, and tag me at @orderlyaccountingbykatie. CONNECT WITH KATIE Website: Katie Ferro Instagram: @orderlyaccountingbykatie Facebook: The Bookkeepers' Corner EPISODE RESOURCES Ask Me Anything Call: Sign up for a free AMA session Join Katie's Email List: Get episode updates and upcoming series information Kajabi: Learn more about Kajabi Financial Cents: Check out Financial Cents and get 10% off with discount code KD10.     About Katie Katie Ferro is a CPA who surpassed her corporate tax manager salary working only the hours she used to commute, while home with her 3 babies born within 4 years. To have a successful bookkeeping business that actually supports your life, you need to master two things: Your technical skills Your knowledge of growing a business My programs are always enrolling and ready when you are. Become a Bookkeeper The program that teaches you the technical skill of bookkeeping, from the lens of owning a simple, scalable bookkeeping business. Learn, shadow, apply. Life By the Books (aka "Libby") The program that takes those technical skills and helps you turn them into a business. Covering how to plan your business, find and sign clients, serve them well, and grow a team to support you so you can actually live your life. Interested in starting a simple, scalable bookkeeping business? Learn more about what it takes in my free 6 Secrets series.

Have you ever had a bookkeeping client ask you a question that made you immediately think, "I don't know if that's something I can help with"? Maybe they're struggling to pay themselves, they want to understand where their money is going, or they're asking for financial guidance that feels a little outside your usual bookkeeping services. In this episode of Profits + Prosecco, I'm continuing my conversation with Serena from Ambitious Bookkeeper about what it really looks like to step into advisory services. We're talking about the fears that keep bookkeepers from having these conversations, how to recognize opportunities to support your clients beyond their monthly reports, and why you don't have to know every answer before you're willing to explore a problem. I'm also sharing real situations from my own bookkeeping business, including a client who needed help figuring out how to pay herself and another who needed more customized financial reporting. Some of the topics we go over include: Why confidence in advisory services comes from real client experience. How to recognize when clients are asking for more financial support, even when they don't use the word "advisory." What to do when a client asks a question you don't immediately know how to answer. Using short client conversations to explore opportunities without overcommitting your time. How customized reporting can help clients and their advisors make better use of financial information. Why you get to decide how much advisory work belongs in your bookkeeping business. Here's what I really want you to remember: You don't have to turn your bookkeeping business into something you never wanted just because your clients need more support. But if you're avoiding conversations because you're afraid you won't have the answer, you might be missing opportunities to help your clients and grow your own confidence. To hear the full conversation with Serena, listen to this episode of Profits + Prosecco on your favorite podcast platform. CONNECT WITH KATIE Website: Katie Ferro Instagram: @orderlyaccountingbykatie CONNECT WITH SERENA Instagram: @ambitiousbookkeeper EPISODE RESOURCES 🎧 The Advisor Activation Audio Series Explore ELEVATE     About Katie Katie Ferro is a CPA who surpassed her corporate tax manager salary working only the hours she used to commute, while home with her 3 babies born within 4 years. To have a successful bookkeeping business that actually supports your life, you need to master two things: Your technical skills Your knowledge of growing a business My programs are always enrolling and ready when you are. Become a Bookkeeper The program that teaches you the technical skill of bookkeeping, from the lens of owning a simple, scalable bookkeeping business. Learn, shadow, apply. Life By the Books (aka "Libby") The program that takes those technical skills and helps you turn them into a business. Covering how to plan your business, find and sign clients, serve them well, and grow a team to support you so you can actually live your life. Interested in starting a simple, scalable bookkeeping business? Learn more about what it takes in my free 6 Secrets series.  

There's a lot of noise in the bookkeeping industry right now. Bookkeeping is being called a commodity, AI is supposedly going to replace bookkeepers, and it seems like everywhere you look, someone is telling you that you need to start offering CFO or advisory services if you want to make good money. But is any of that actually true? In this episode of Profits + Prosecco, I'm joined by Serena for a conversation about the value of bookkeeping, why we're both so passionate about doing it well, and the different ways you can build a successful bookkeeping business without feeling like you have to follow someone else's business model. We're talking about everything from the importance of accurate financials and meaningful client reports to building a team, offering advisory services, and why neither of us believes bookkeeping is going away. Some of the topics we go over include: Why bookkeeping isn't a commodity when you're providing a quality service. The relationship between bookkeeping and CFO or advisory services. How better processes, client communication, and meaningful reports can make your bookkeeping services more valuable. Why you don't have to change your entire business model to increase your income. Our thoughts on AI and the future of bookkeeping. Why learning the actual skill of bookkeeping matters more than simply learning software. I hope this conversation reminds you that there isn't just one way to build a bookkeeping business. You can offer bookkeeping, advisory services, or a combination of both. What matters is that you're doing good work, meeting your clients' needs, and building a business that works for your life. To hear the full conversation with Serena, be sure to listen to the entire episode of Profits + Prosecco on your favorite streaming platform. If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot, share it on your Instagram stories, and tag me! CONNECT WITH KATIE: Website: https://www.katieferro.com/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/orderlyaccountingbykatie The Bookkeepers' Corner Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebookkeeperscorner/ CONNECT WITH SERENA: Instagram: @ambitiousbookkeeper 🎧 The Advisor Activation Audio Series: Listen Here ELEVATE: Learn More Here  

In this episode, I'm closing out The Next Step series by talking about what I believe is the biggest bottleneck for so many aspiring bookkeepers and business owners: belief. We've already talked about skills, systems, and scaling throughout this week, but today we're getting honest about the fears, perfectionism, and self-doubt that keep people stuck even when the opportunity is right in front of them. I share how fear of failure, thought spirals, and caring too much about what other people think can quietly keep you playing small. We also talk about the hidden cost of inaction, why permanent preparation is still doing nothing, and how your beliefs shape your thoughts, actions, and results. I walk you through the four self-reflection questions I believe can completely shift the way you think about your future and what's actually possible for you. If you've been feeling stuck between wanting more and being afraid to take the next step, this episode is for you. Listen to the full episode and decide what your next step will be.   EPISODE RESOURCES: If you want to take the next step, go to katieferro.com/step. Sick of imposter syndrome keeping you stuck? Join the new + improved BECOME A BOOKKEEPER now: https://www.katieferro.com/become  Learn how to take your bookkeeping skills and turn them into a business that can replace or surpass your corporate salary, give you more presence in your life, and let you support your clients without burning out inside Life by the Books (LIBBY): https://www.katieferro.com/life   CONNECT WITH KATIE: Want to get notified when I'm about to go live? Subscribe to the Profits and Prosecco YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@profitsandprosecco Website: https://www.katieferro.com/ For first dibs (and the best prices!) on new offers from me, follow me on Instagram, then subscribe to my email list:  IG: www.instagram.com/orderlyaccountingbykatie Email Opt In: www.katieferro.com/email

In this episode, I'm talking about the difference between imposter syndrome and a real skills gap, because so many people think they just need more confidence when really they need to close the skills gap. I share why confidence is built on competence, why bookkeeping is not a fake-it-til-you-make-it industry, and why fear and inaction often come from knowing there's probably something missing. The good news is that skills gaps can be closed. I also walk through the three-step process I believe actually helps you become confident in bookkeeping: learning, shadowing, and applying. We talk about the accounting basics that actually matter, the bookkeeping process, understanding tax, onboarding clients, and the systems that help you work more efficiently and accurately. I also share the story behind BABS and why I created it to follow the real-world process that helped me become a bookkeeper. If you've been wanting to start a bookkeeping business but keep feeling stuck, doubting yourself, or wondering whether you're really ready, this episode is for you. Listen to the full episode and learn how to break the skill bottleneck so you can confidently move forward.   EPISODE RESOURCES: If you want to take the next step, go to katieferro.com/step. Sick of imposter syndrome keeping you stuck? Join the new + improved BECOME A BOOKKEEPER now: https://www.katieferro.com/become  Learn how to take your bookkeeping skills and turn them into a business that can replace or surpass your corporate salary, give you more presence in your life, and let you support your clients without burning out inside Life by the Books (LIBBY): https://www.katieferro.com/life   CONNECT WITH KATIE: Want to get notified when I'm about to go live? Subscribe to the Profits and Prosecco YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@profitsandprosecco Website: https://www.katieferro.com/ For first dibs (and the best prices!) on new offers from me, follow me on Instagram, then subscribe to my email list:  IG: www.instagram.com/orderlyaccountingbykatie Email Opt In: www.katieferro.com/email