The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast

Hosted by Serena Shoup, CPA

Business Entrepreneurship Education

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Episodes

262

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

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

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 21, 2026Episode 25510 min

255 | Brand New to Advisory? Start Here

some links are affiliate links Advisory doesn’t have to be complicated. In this episode, I’m breaking down the simplest way to start offering advisory services inside your bookkeeping packages. I call it “advisory lite,” and it’s included in every service tier we offer, even the lowest one. If you’ve been wanting to dip your toe into advisory but don’t know where to start, this is your starting point. And if enough of us start doing this, we can change how people see bookkeepers altogether. In this episode you’ll hear: Why even really good bookkeepers miss this one simple step that sets you apart The 5 key reports I deliver to every client every month How to templatize your monthly client email Why you need to be priced right before you add advisory Resources mentioned in this episode: Free KPI Guide: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/kpi Elevate Program: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate Xero**: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d For experienced bookkeepers & accountants: Learn how to start your bookkeeping business in The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator® Grab my FREE Start your Bookkeeping Biz Checklist Grab my FREE New Client Onboarding Templates For new bookkeepers: Learn the fundamental accounting skills in Katie Ferro's Become a Bookkeeper** For creators: Become a client at my firm, Of Course Financial >> https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/69b0bd05819ab2af03e9b73f For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit my website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Subscribe to my Newsletter https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Podcast Editing: Sabr Media LLC Descript ** Buzzsprout ** AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER We participate in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission from purchases made through the links above. However, our recommendations are based on our own research and expertise, and your trust is our priority.

October 14, 2026Episode 25443 min

254 | Trusting Your Team & Stepping into Advisory with Anne Napolitano

You don’t need to add budgeting and forecasting to your menu to start delivering advisory-level value. In this episode, I sit down with Anne Napolitano, a former Hermès controller turned private chef turned owner of a 10-person restaurant-focused accounting firm. We get into the small shifts in your services and your marketing that change how clients see your value, plus how Anne went from doing everything herself to leading a team that has stuck with her for years. Grab a notebook, my friend. This one is packed. In this episode you’ll hear: Why your first hire should be a bookkeeper (not an admin) How Anne built a remote team with real longevity Advisory services you can start offering right now How niching down and advisory keeps you AI-proof Resources mentioned in this episode: Scaling New Heights Woodard Summit XeroCon Meet Anne Napolitano Anne Napolitano is the Founder and CEO of Anne Napolitano Consulting Inc., a Strategic Accounting & Advisory Firm. Before launching ANC in 2016, Anne served as Controller for the U.S. operations of Hermès and later worked as a personal chef, giving her a unique perspective that combines high-level finance with hands-on business operations. Today, she leads a team of accountants helping business owners gain clarity around cash flow, profitability, and growth while building a firm that moves beyond compliance and into meaningful advisory. Connect with Anne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annenapolitano/ Website: https://www.napolitanoaccounting.com/ 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

October 7, 2026Episode 25344 min

253 | Q&A: Xero Fresh Start or QBO Migrate, A2X, Gusto Payroll, and More

In this September live Q&A, we covered a lot of ground. We talked about whether to convert a client from QBO to Xero or start fresh, how to realistically land more clients heading into 2026, and how I handle clients who won't send receipts no matter how many times you ask. We also got into Shopify bookkeeping, paying contractors, what to do when a credit union is making your life miserable, and the moment I know it's time to walk away from a client. Plus, I spill the tea on why creating a course is way less passive than running a bookkeeping firm. In this episode you’ll hear: My process for QBO to Xero conversions How to get more clients without burning yourself out How to keep month-end moving Shopify deposits and bills Contractors on Gusto Credit unions with no bank feeds How to know when a client has outgrown your firm. Resources mentioned in this episode: Elevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate Bookkeeping Business Accelerator (BBA): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba Confident Compliance Bundle: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/offers/tgPgMBJ7 Bookkeeping Client Closer mini course: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/closer 228| Increasing Your Sales with Hunter Rademacher: https://youtu.be/aKQMePlI8UM 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

September 30, 2026Episode 2521 hr 6 min

252 ⎸ Bookkeeping is NOT a commodity when done right with Katie Ferro Part 2

Katie Ferro is back for part two, and we picked up right where we left off with Katie's line that stuck with me all week: if you don't have a stance, it's because you're not in the room enough. The same goes for advisory. You won't feel confident until you put yourself in the room, and you can't get in the room until you build some confidence. So we talked about how to break that cycle. Katie shared three real client emails from the last 10 days that were quietly asking for more, and I shared how I built my own advisory process with a practice client. In this episode you’ll hear: How to recognize when a client is asking for advisory help How a simple 30-minute conversation can turn an intimidating email into a quick win Why calling it a "budget" might be killing client buy-in Why you should bundling advisory into your packages Resources mentioned in this episode: Katie's post "Being cheap won't stop you from being broke": KPI Download: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/kpi Elevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate Xero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d Dubsado: https://www.dubsado.com/?c=shoupcpa Content Snare: https://contentsnare.com/#_r_serena58 Previous Episodes with Katie Part 1 of this conversation with Katie Ferro ( https://youtu.be/to3aHJXefPI ) 225 ⎸ Recast: Become a Bookkeeper with Katie Ferro ( https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774460/episodes/18369393 ) 44 ⎸ Best Advice from Accounting Course Creators ( https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774460/episodes/10445058 ) Meet Katie Ferro Katie Ferro is a CPA, reformed rule follower, corporate escapee, and mama to three little ones. She built her bookkeeping business to surpass her corporate tax manager salary, working only the hours she used to spend commuting and without giving up her stay-at-home mom crown. Today, Katie runs her bookkeeping business while educating and empowering accountants and aspiring bookkeepers to build businesses that support their lives instead of keeping them from living them. Connect with Katie 🌐 Instagram: https://instagram.com/orderlyaccountingbykatie 🎙️ Katie’s Podcast: https://profitsprosecco.libsyn.com/website 📈 Become a Bookkeeper Program (BABS): https://www.katieferro.com/a/38894/2PQNgtvv 🧾 Life by the Books: https://www.katieferro.com/life 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link) #bookkeepingbusiness #ambitious #bookkeeper #accountant #accounting

September 23, 2026Episode 2511 hr 22 min

251 ⎸ Bookkeeping is NOT a commodity when done right with Katie Ferro

I've been connected with Katie Ferro since the very beginning of my business. I literally found her on a podcast while I was on maternity leave dreaming about starting a bookkeeping business, and I probably reached out to her like a weirdo on Instagram. We reconnected recently, had a conversation that was way too good to keep to ourselves, and decided to hit record. This one is a true coffee shop conversation between two industry friends who care a whole lot about competence, integrity, and the bookkeepers in this community. We get real about why our industry keeps telling you bookkeeping is a commodity (spoiler: usually to sell you something), why better books are already a form of advisory, what AI fear is actually costing you, and what I'm seeing firsthand inside a community college accounting class right now. Grab your favorite drink and join us. In this episode you’ll hear: Why the most profitable part of my firm is actually my simplest, lowest-priced bookkeeping The low-hanging fruit that's causing clients to leave great bookkeepers How to add advisory-level value without blowing up your business model, adding a ton of calls to your calendar, or burning out Why I've changed my tune on recommending college accounting classes, and what I recommend instead Resources mentioned in this episode: Bookkeeping Business Accelerator (BBA): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba Elevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate Xero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d Kajabi: https://app.kajabi.com/r/SLFEMUL4/t/uiptq7nu Previous Episodes with Katie: 225 ⎸ Recast: Become a Bookkeeper with Katie Ferro ( https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774460/episodes/18369393 ) 44 ⎸ Best Advice from Accounting Course Creators ( https://www.buzzsprout.com/1774460/episodes/10445058 ) Meet Katie Ferro Katie Ferro is a CPA, reformed rule follower, corporate escapee, and mama to three little ones. She built her bookkeeping business to surpass her corporate tax manager salary, working only the hours she used to spend commuting and without giving up her stay-at-home mom crown. Today, Katie runs her bookkeeping business while educating and empowering accountants and aspiring bookkeepers to build businesses that support their lives instead of keeping them from living them. Connect with Katie 🌐 Instagram: https://instagram.com/orderlyaccountingbykatie 🎙️ Katie’s Podcast: https://profitsprosecco.libsyn.com/website 📈 Become a Bookkeeper Program: https://www.katieferro.com/a/38894/2PQNgtvv 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link) #becomeabookkeeper #bookkeepingbusiness #firmowner #entrepreneur #ambitious #bookkeeper #accountant #accounting

September 16, 2026Episode 25049 min

250 | X2Uno: The Chrome Extension for Xero with Mark Corum

What if the tool you've been waiting for, the one that finally makes Xero as efficient as QuickBooks with Right Tool, already exists, and it's being built by a former bookkeeper who accidentally fell into coding? In this episode, Serena sits down with Mark Corum, the developer behind X2Uno and Right Tool, to talk about building Chrome extensions for accounting software, the surprising parallels between bookkeeping and programming, and why the tech world's pricing model might be completely backwards. Whether you're a Xero loyalist, a QuickBooks refugee, or just curious about what happens when an accountant teaches themselves to code, then this conversation has something for you. In this episode you’ll hear about: X2Uno - What it is, how it differs from Right Tool, and why Mark felt a moral obligation to build something for Xero users Right Tool & Monkbee How Chrome extensions actually work Xero vs. QuickBooks The cost of switching platforms AI and the future of accounting Programming, bookkeeping, and music Cleanup work as a niche X2Uno availability — How to get it now (free beta on the Chrome Web Store), the MailChimp discount path, and the Facebook community for feature requests Resources mentioned in this episode: X2Uno → sign up for beta her: https://mailchi.mp/x2uno/ambitious Meet Mark Corum I am Mark Corum. I went to college for accounting and decided to make my own bookkeeping company in my Junior year. Realized I like accounting, but I am not an accountant and transitioned out of it and stumbled into programming in late 2019 - vowing never to touch QuickBooks again. 2021 comes around and I am working on a chrome extension for QuickBooks called "MonkBe" that is discovered by Hector Garcia and remade into RightTool. Now that is used by about 50,000 people and I want the additional fun of working on Xero! Connect with Mark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markcorum/ 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

September 8, 2026Episode 24951 min

249 ⎸ [Q&A] Starting a Firm While Employed, Hiring Advice, and Employee Benefits

This round of Live Q&A we got into some really good stuff: how to navigate starting your firm while you're still employed, why book to tax differences are completely normal and not something to lose sleep over, and how I approach the "can I afford to hire" conversation with clients (spoiler: it's rarely just about the numbers). I also pulled back the curtain on my monthly client newsletter, walked through my PTO and benefits setup for a part-time team, and gave a real update on the new version of Elevate that's dripping out in early September. Grab a notebook and your favorite drink and let's go. In this episode you’ll hear: How to approach telling your current employer you're starting a firm My take on where clients really come from and what to focus on first when you're trying to grow. A full walkthrough of my client newsletter strategy And how I do my part-time team's employee benefits Resources mentioned in this episode: Elevate https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate Bookkeeping Business Accelerator (BBA): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba Take Command (medical expense reimbursement program for the team) Xero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d QuickBooks Online: https://www.referquickbooks.com/s/Serena4 Squarespace: https://squarespace.syuh.net/AgROVN GoCardless: https://manage.gocardless.com/refer/us/serena/ygvg9o-amz Gusto : https://gusto.com/partners/i/serena591 Liz Wilcox's Email Marketing Membership: https://serenashoup--lizwilcox.thrivecart.com/list-building-live/ Alyssa Lang / Workflow Queen's Breakthrough: https://serenashoup.krtra.com/t/IKUxtNZoz7lF Kajabi: https://app.kajabi.com/r/SLFEMUL4/t/uiptq7nu Max Emery / GoPro Bookkeeping: https://www.skool.com/go-pro-bookkeeping/about?ref=216fd17bf3b64591bbd1f284f72ae8b7 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

September 2, 2026Episode 24835 min

248 | How to Be a Collaborative Professional with Emily Bowie

I got to reconnect with Emily Bowie, a partner at Thorne Advisors, and someone I actually met years ago in a tiny mastermind back when she was doing something completely different in her business. We talked about what actually makes a partnership work (and what makes it collapse), why staying in your lane protects your reputation, how bookkeepers can collaborate with tax pros instead of competing with them, and why quality standards matter so much in an industry where anybody can hang a shingle. We also went deep on personal finance, debt, and the soft skills that separate a good advisor from a great one. In this episode you’ll hear: What keeps a partnership from turning into a horror story How to collaborate with tax preparers and other CFO professionals the right way Why "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" applies to adding services to your firm Why checking in on a client's personal finances pays dividends for the work you do on the business side Resources mentioned in this episode: Thorne Advisors: https://www.thorneadvisors.com/ Elevate 2.0 → learn the skills to become an advisor https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate 5 Cash Leaks & 5 Missed Tax Deductions - https://www.thorneadvisors.com/cashleaks Meet Emily Emily Bowie is a Cash Flow Strategist with 15+ years of experience, including her time as an audit manager in Big Four accounting. She’s known for bringing calm, clarity, and structure to financial conversations that often feel stressful or avoided. Outside of Thorne Advisors, Emily leads her church’s financial ministry, is a mom to three young kids, and enjoys a good DIY project almost as much as a well-organized set of financials. Co-led by founder Andrea Mason and CFO Emily Bowie, both CPAs, Thorne Advisors helps women protect what they earn while building sustainable wealth that actually supports their lives. They deliver a true 360-degree view of finances, spotlighting cash leaks, tightening income strategy, and creating tax plans that align with real goals, not just compliance checklists. Connect with Emily 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thorneadvisors/ 🌐 Website: https://www.emilyvbowie.com/ 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link) #businesspartnership #advisoryfirm #personalfinance #debt #bookkeepingbusiness #ambitious #bookkeeper #accountant #accounting

August 26, 2026Episode 24747 min

247 | Tax + Bookkeeping; Should You Do Both? With Nick Cobos

If you have ever had that passing thought of "should I add tax to my bookkeeping firm?" this is the episode you need to hear before you make a move. In this one, I'm sitting down with Nick Cobos of Saga Accounting Solutions. Nick has built a five-person firm that does both tax and bookkeeping. We get into the real pros and cons of running both under one roof, and I share why I went down this exact rabbit hole myself and decided against it. This is a practitioner-to-practitioner conversation from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it. In this episode you’ll hear: The breakdown of adding tax to a bookkeeping firm How Nick got his first clients Why I decided against adding tax to my firm Growing a firm and delegating Resources mentioned in this episode: Saga Accounting Solutions: https://sagaaccounting.com/ Between 2 Firms: https://open.spotify.com/show/71gGjmatd829DB8IrJdI9T?si=bbb9deb996d74f56 Meet Nick Nick graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2019 and spent 5 years as an Army Officer. After graduating the US Army Ranger School Nick held assignments as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer with the 11th Airborne Division and later served as an Army ROTC instructor at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). After transitioning out of the Army, Nick earned his Enrolled Agent credential and jumped into the world of accounting. He now enjoys advising clients and helping them grow their businesses while saving on taxes. When he's not working, Nick enjoys hunting, fishing, playing (admittedly terrible) golf, and spending quality time with his wife, Lisa, their three children, Lucy, Nathan, and Matthew, and their dog, Molly. Connect with Nick Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickcobos/ 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

August 19, 2026Episode 24636 min

246 | Q&A - Transitioning to Advisory, Xero Integrations Disengaging with Clients, and More

We're back from summer break with a live Q&A with SO much good stuff in this one. This was one of those episodes where the questions kept getting better and better, and I got to go deep on the things that trip us all up: running an advisory firm, getting your pricing right, Xero integrations, closing out clients the right way, and knowing when to make your first hire. If you've ever felt awkward quoting a higher fee or weren't sure how to structure your revenue side when a client's processor data lives inside their CRM, this one's for you. And if advisory is even a tiny blip on your radar, I've got a free audio series you're going to want to grab before it disappears. In this episode you’ll hear: Connecting Stripe and PayPal inside Xero Is $350 too much for basic bookkeeping? The right way to disengage with clients When to make your first hire How to support a team that's feeling overwhelmed Resources mentioned in this episode: Elevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate BBA: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba Xero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d Kajabi: https://app.kajabi.com/r/SLFEMUL4/t/uiptq7nu Content Snare: https://contentsnare.com/#_r_serena58 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 Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below: Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review. Podcast Publishing Tools we use: Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link) Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

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