The Bookkeeper Basecamp Podcast

My special guest on this week's episode is Nicole Barham, founder of Design Your Wealth and the insanely popular, 5MinuteBookkeeper program. Today, Nicole is sharing her story of how she launched her business despite the struggles that she faced in her previous business venture, and how building a solution for herself morphed into the user-friendly bookkeeping solution that is creating buzz throughout the online space.  This episode is part inspiration/motivation, part technical, part strategy, and all evolutionary.  I wanted to bring Nicole on the show to show just how critical it is, for the survival of this industry, for us to assess, to strategize modernization plans, and to evolve – so we can all elevate in our businesses.  Tune in to hear Nicole's thoughts around: How she created a solution that she needed in her own business that led her to her breakthrough ideaHow marketing and doing business online doesn't always align with traditional ways of doing bookkeeping How simplifying her product and strategy led to more income The mindset shifts that were necessary and how her network marketing background helped her in her bookkeeping business  About Nicole:  Nicole Barham is the founder and CEO of Design Your Wealth® and creator of 5 Minute Bookkeeper®. She works with women entrepreneurs showing them how to go from being stressed-out about business finances and scrambling at tax time to being on top of their finances like clockwork. She's been featured in Time, Essence, Black Enterprise, First for Women and Medium and seen on Good Morning America and The Breakfast Club sharing her secrets to getting and staying on top of your finances in just a few minutes a day. Connect with Nicole: Visit her website: https://www.designyourwealth.netWatch a demo of her signature system: https://5minutebookkeeper.com/Follow her on Instagram: @5minutebookkeeper   Join the Free Online Community for Virtual Bookkeepers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bookkeeperbasecamp Want to share your bookkeeping success story with our listeners?Visit our website: https://sparkhustleflow.com/podcast-app/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode I'm chatting with Joyce Washington: a business strategist and virtual CFO who helps small business owners keep more of their profits, pay less in taxes, and earn more money through savvy money management. She is a licensed Certified Public Accountant, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, and she is a certified advisor for Xero. And that's what this episode is about -- we talk all about how she helps her clients using Xero, why she decided to focus solely on that platform instead of QuickBooks, and what the transition was like as she made the switch.So if you have been considering niching your virtual bookkeeping business by way of the financial platform you're using, this is the episode for you.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Organic Ways to Get More Eyeballs on Your Virtual Bookkeeping Business On today's episode I'm sharing with you 5 organic ideas and ways to get more eyeballs on your virtual bookkeeping offers.If you want to build an audience, you need to come out from behind the keyboard. You cannot hide behind your computer screen anymore. It's going to take you doing some things that might be outside of your comfort zone. It's going to take you letting go of perfectionism, letting go of what other people might think of you, and just sharing your message and talking to your audience.And your audience not only wants to hear your voice, they want to see your face.Static posts are good, but they no longer work as well to extend our reach and fill out pipeline like they used to. So that's why today I'm sharing with you 5 organic ways that you can get eyeballs on your offer.Resources mentioned:Tanya Smith's Stream Bosses Academy — join this program to help you get over the fear of going live on video Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, I'm talking with K. Nicole Turner, owner of TKO Solutions, LLC – a full service virtual bookkeeping firm specializing in working with marginalized operators in the transportation industry. Nicole shares her personal journey on how she came to focus on this niche market and the lessons she learned along the way.Listen in as Nicole shares how she infuses her personality into her business and how she serves her clients, providing valuable insights and strategies for those looking to do the same.Key takeaways from this episode include: The importance of finding a niche market and understanding the unique needs of your clients.How Nicole came to specifically work with women and minorities. The value of infusing your personality into your business and how it can help you stand out in a crowded marketThe lessons Nicole learned about working with different types of clients and how it helped her to better serve her clients.If you're a virtual bookkeeper looking to serve marginalized operators in the transportation industry or simply interested in learning more about this niche market, be sure to tune in to this episode of The Bookkeeper Basecamp Podcast.About Nicole: K. Nicole Turner has over 20 years of accounting and bookkeeping experience within various industries to including oil and gas, manufacturing and commercial real estate. TKO is a full charge bookkeeping firm dedicated not only to tracking the financial position of your business but also to ensuring your business is in position to grow and scale. Connect with Nicole: FB & IG @TKOFinancialSolutionsLLCClubhouse @TKONicoleTurner 281-944-8440tkofinsol@gmail.comNicole is also a member of the Bookkeeper Evolution™: The Incubator – our business training program for emerging virtual bookkeepers who are prioritizing business strategy and client attraction in their business, so they can quickly grow with ease. Keywords: Virtual bookkeeping, transportation industry, marginalized operators, trucking industry, niche market, serving clients, personality in business, lessons learned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of the Bookkeeper Basecamp Podcast we’re talking about two critical strategies for virtual bookkeepers growing successful bookkeeping practices. Those two strategies are narrowing your bookkeeping niche and using diagnostic reviews as a part of your client acquisition strategy. My guest for today’s episode is Alita Hall of AMH Bookkeeping and she happens to also be a Founding Member of Bookkeeper Evolution™: The Incubator - our group coaching container where we help emerging bookkeepers develop their business strategy and their marketing plans, design their long-term goals for scaling, and overcome the mindset obstacles that come on the journey to becoming a successful bookkeeper CEO. In this episode, we hear about why Alita decided to narrow her niche, what considerations she had to make when making the decision and how she targets her ideal client. We also learn her take on using paid diagnostic reviews, how they benefit virtual bookkeepers and how you can put them to work for your business. We wrap up the episode with a candid discussion about her experience being a Founding Member of The Incubator and the tremendous impact the program has had on her and her business. Tune into this expert-led discussion on topics that you need to help you start and grow your virtual bookkeeping business to 10k months and beyond!About Alita Hall: Alita is a veteran accounting professional with 20 years experience who helps short-term and long-term rental property owners alleviate financial stresses one cashflow problem at a time. Known on social media as The RE Bookkeeper, Alita has an AAS Degree as an Accounting Specialist, a BS Degree in Accounting & Operations Management, and is the Creator of the True Accounting Cycle. When she is not helping clients, Alita spends her time laughing and making memories with her children. Connect with Alita on her website: https://www.amhbookkeepingllc.com Join Bookkeeper Evolution™: The Incubator: https://SparkHustleFlow.com/IncubatorKeywords: Bookkeeper, Virtual Bookkeeper, Bookkeeping Niche, Narrowing Niche, Diagnostic Review, Targeting Tips Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm so excited to be spotlighting one of my clients in our group coaching and business development program, the Incubator. For those of you who may not have heard about it before, the Incubator is a coaching container where I help emerging virtual bookkeepers develop their business strategy and marketing plans, design their long-term goals for scaling, and overcome the mindset trash that often accompanies you on that journey.  Amira Scott is one of our founding members, so we have been working together for a little while. And she's had some pretty incredible business breakthroughs during that time period. And like so many of you podcast listeners, Amira is building her business in parallel with a demanding 9-5 corporate job.  On this episode, Amira and I discuss some of the challenges (the ones she expected and the ones that seemingly came out of nowhere), and what she does to get around the obstacles as they come up.  Before we closed out this episode, we spent some time talking about what she's accomplished and loves about being a founding member of Bookkeeper Evolution Incubator. So if you're on the fence about joining us when the doors re-open, you definitely want to hear what Amira has to say.  About Amira: Amira F. Scott is a skilled accounting professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the finance industry. Scott has helped both small businesses and million-dollar companies be more mindful of their finances in order to reach their goals.By using mindfulness tools and resources, Scott has helped clients change the trajectory of their financial livelihood. Her extensive background in accounting gives her a foundation to help businesses large and small scale and grow. Visit Amira's website to schedule a consultation: www.mindfulcashflow.com  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is a replay of a live training I did over in the free Bookkeeper Basecamp community on Facebook.Paying attention to, and then implementing the principles I share in this training will help position you for success in 2023.If you're a virtual bookkeeper running your own business, or you aspire to start your own virtual bookkeeping business, you really ought to check out the community: I go live in that group at least 3 or 4 times per month to share my insights, offer free trainings, and host office hours to help you launch and grow your own successful bookkeeping business.These are the things I want you to focus on for the next 60 days or so:1. The Law of TransformationTransformation beats transactions, when it comes to business.2. The Law of OwnershipUnderstand the pieces of the process that you own vs your client owns, and set expectations and boundaries accordingly during onboarding.3. The Law of OptimizationHave processes in place that help you manage your time so you are as efficient as possible.4. The Law of AppreciationRecognize the value that your results create for your clients.5. The Law of LeadershipPosition yourself as the CEO of your company, not an employee or technician of your company. Resources mentioned: Scribe - Turn your processes into step-by-step guidesGet on the waitlist for the Bookkeeper Evolution Incubator: https://SparkHustleFlow.com/Incubator_Waitlist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the biggest challenges that virtual bookkeepers have is overcoming their discomfort or fear of selling their services. It's a huge challenge because as we all know, if you're not selling, you're not making any money in this business.  In this episode, my guest, client attraction and sales coach Leigh Ann Heil and I, break down some of these challenges and how you can overcome any fear you may have around selling. We also talked about how changing how you think about selling is absolutely critical for going from sales-challenged to sales-savvy. When you have an ability to authentically share stories about yourself and your experiences, selling is much easier. Leigh Ann shares just how much easier it can be by sharing how her experiences as a musician helped shape what she does as a client attraction coach. With all the gems she drops during our conversation, you'll want to listen to this more than once, so be sure to bookmark it so you come back to it often.  Here's how to connect with Leigh Ann: Sign up for a guide on how to attract higher end clients: leighannheil.comJoin her FB group for new trainings every month – Clients, Cash, and CredibilityListen to her podcast – Clients, Cash, and Credibility Watch her masterclass all about her predictions about the client attraction landscape for the next 6 months – over in her free FB group  About LeighAnn: LeighAnn Heil helps coaches attract high-ticket clients using luxury marketing techniques simple sales strategies and prestige positioning. Her clients refer to her as their fairy godmother because she weaves magic in their business with her sales psychology techniques. LeighAnn spent 20+ years as a pro musician, director and promoter. She has been featured in media such as NBC, Forbes, and Billboard Top 100. She is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine. LeighAnn also enjoys going to Caribbean beaches, playing guitar, making people laugh at inopportune moments, and watching her clients step into wealth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are 2 things that I hear all the time from new virtual bookkeepers for when it comes to finding and connecting with clients: 1 – the market is so saturated that it's hard to stand out2 – they have chosen to not specialize in any one particular area or industry because they're afraid that the pool, that already seems small, will become even more crowded  If you have been around me for a while, you'll know that I am a huge supporter of knowing your strengths, and applying them when it comes to designing your marketing strategy. And a big part of a successful marketing strategy that makes you money is deciding what types of businesses you want to serve.  My guest this week agrees with me – and she did it herself. That decision has propelled her to create a successful financial services practice, and make some significant lifestyle changes at the same time.  During our chat, Simone and I talk about: what it's like being a digital expat, what it's like working in an emerging industry, and how you, too, can carve out a lane all of your own in that same space. If you've been thinking about going from a general bookkeeper to one so specialized that your client roster is, as we like to call it, hooked, booked, and busy, then you definitely want to listen in as we talk with Simone about how she found success by niching down in the cannabis industry. Check out The Cannabis Business Minds Podcast here: https://cannabisbusinessminds.com/category/podcast/Follow CBM on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/cannabisbusinessminds/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm sharing with you some of the details about taking a step back, pausing, and rebooting my personal life, spiritual life, and business.  Content warning: grief, anxiety, depression/sadness. Because of what's been going on in my personal life, I had to make some changes in my business. In the past 18 months, we've really focused on growing one platform: The Bookkeeper Basecamp Facebook Community. During that time, we launched our first and second cohort of the Bookkeeper Evolution Incubator. The next cohort will start in January, and will launch in December – make sure you join the waitlist.  As for the podcast, we will be talking more to other service providers in the bookkeeping space, so be on the lookout for more great conversations, with more small, bite-sized solo episodes sprinkled in between. We will also be switching to a seasonal format of 8-9 months with a break in between seasons. We want to create programs and offers that are accessible at every stage of business growth, from just starting out all the way to Bookkeeper CEO.  In addition to the Incubator program already running, we will offer more on-demand courses, low-price and high-value membership offers for those who are just getting started and want to work with a coach, and masterminds for folks in the finance space.   Join the waitlist for The Bookkeeper Evolution Incubator - click here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are continuing our short rewind series and sharing another incredible interview that we did a little over a year ago.Just like last week, I chose this episode because I've been getting a lot of questions and comments which are directly addressed in this episode: how to confidently sell your virtual bookkeeping services. Sara Dann is the queen of confidence, in my opinion. While Sara was my coach, my attitude changed from "Oh my gosh, you're picking me? Thank you so much!" to "You're f-ing welcome!" – with Sara's help. This is such a badass way of doing business with an attitude I will NEVER let go of again! It has absolutely changed my approach to business development, client fulfillment, and how I generally show up in life. And I'm sure it'll help you, too!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever taken a trip down memory lane, and thought, wow, that was really fun, I should do it again? Well, that's what's happening on this week's episode. I've been answering a lot of questions about one of my favorite ways to build a network: referral marketing. And I've been referring people back to a past podcast episode I did with my good friend Nikki Tucker, who is a financial strategist for female breadwinners who are considering divorce. After about the 4th or 5th time I mentioned this episode, I realized I should just do a rewind episode and let you all listen to it again. Nikki's zones of genius are strategic thinking and training, and she uses that to show women how to confidently maintain their financial security whether they end up divorced or not. Nikki and I have known each other for years, so we had a great time talking about how she got started on her career path, how referrals play a role in her business, how she works with other financial professionals, and tips on how to develop professional relationships! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is different from every other episode on this podcast, because it's a re-share of a training I've done inside of the Bookkeeper Basecamp. So, if you haven't joined us yet inside our community, this will give you a taste of what you're missing. Check below for the link to join our private Facebook group! The focus tonight is on early-stage virtual bookkeepers, but folks at any stage will find valuable nuggets in this one. Things you should STOP doingThe proper way to niche and specializeHow to approach your tech stack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's episode is exciting for 2 reasons: First, I'm excited to share the first Spotlight on Success episode. These types of episodes are meant to motivate and inspire you, and to give you a backstage pass into the strategy behind a successful bookkeeping business. They are meant to show you that being a high-earning virtual bookkeeper is more than just possible – it's actually being done every day, by entrepreneurs just like you. Second, I'm excited that the first Spotlight on Success is about a woman on practice, and run by a dynamic and energetic woman of color. Octavia offers bookkeeping, income tax prep, and virtual CFO services to companies across the country. In this episode, we chat about: the types of clients Octavia serveshow she became an entrepreneurhow she bounced back from some pretty intense business setbacks, andwhy your mindset is just as important as your skillset on the journely to becoming a virtual bookkeeper CEO.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, Lindsay and I talk about what showing up authentically really means for so many of us today, and how to tell when you are not standing in your true self, full of confidence. We also talk about: Balancing your personality and professionalism as a finance professional, How being an introvert doesn't need to stop you from doing big things in your business, andWhat authenticity really is, and how it can help you reach that 6-figure milestone with ease and flow. Join us for a real conversation about the things that we all deal with in these businesses we are building.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I want to share the stages you'll likely go through from beginning bookkeeper to Bookkeeper CEO. This is what I teach my clients in a much more detailed way, but what you'll hear on this episode will give you some insight into the real reason why you might be struggling to see progress in your business right now. This episode will help you narrow down the stage that your virtual bookkeeping business is in right now, and it will help you understand what to do as you move through each stage. I also want to make sure that what you are doing at this moment is laying a strong foundation, so that you can know that the business you're building is not only profitable, but also scalable, and that those activities, revenue, and profit is sustainable for the long-term foreseeable future. Tune in to get the low-down on these stages:- the Planning stage,- the Launch stage, - the Growth stage, and- the Scaling stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is dedicated to our listeners who are a bit newer to starting their virtual bookkeeping businesses. Our guest today is Debby White, a systems and automations expert who helps service-based businesses create streamlined processes so that they spend less time on the tech and more time servicing their clients' needs and making more money. Tune in to hear: How to make big decisions in growing your business,What things tend to come up when you think about systems and automation, What you should be thinking about on a regular basis,How to make sure you have a solid system with yourself first, before you hire, andWhy you should have some CEO time to think about all of these things. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When I ask folks in my free Facebook group, The Bookkeeper Basecamp, what is one thing that they are struggling with right now, the answer that I get most often by far is: finding clients. In this episode, we talk about a language reframe of that, from "finding" to "attracting," and we explore 4 of the things that stop us from attracting the clients we want: Lack of clarityLack of confidence InconsistencySamenessIf any of these are hitting home for you, then you need to make some changes in your client attraction strategy. I also have a free quiz that will help you better understand your unique strengths as a bookkeeper, and what areas you should focus your strategy on. Find the Revenue Rock-Star Quiz on the website here: https://sparkhustleflow.com/revenuerockstarquiz/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest today is Liku Madoshi, a licensed attorney based in California. She takes an educational approach so clients understand the why for a legal need, rather than just checking a box. We're going to talk about things to think about as you're structuring your business: When is the best time to formalize your businessWhat to do if you miss that windowHow virtual bookkeepers can benefit from having attorneys in their network Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're talking about how to identify and understand your strengths to help you on your journey to become a bookkeeper CEO. Often, entrepreneurs spend time identifying their weaknesses and how to fix them, but if you focus on applying your strengths instead, you'll see more progress. This is necessary to understand if you want to shorten your journey to bookkeeper CEO. Hear from our special guest, Denitresse Ferrell, all about:the Gallup CliftonStrengths assessment and what it can help you uncover,why it's still important for you to know your strengths as a solopreneur, even if you don't have a team, the difference between skillsets and strengths,how to work around tasks that are not in your zone of genius,why you say yes to work you end up hating, andwhat you need to do first and foremost to get to your zone of genius. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.