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Ever feel like you’re playing Marco Polo in the dark, trying to figure out how much more you need to learn before you’re “ready” to serve clients?
In this Ask Me Anything episode, I’m answering a question from a listener who’s working part-time at an accounting firm, taking accounting courses, and dreaming of a bookkeeping business that serves creative small businesses and e-commerce sellers. I’m sharing the accounting fundamentals that actually matter for small business owners (and the corporate stuff you can stop stressing about), plus how to keep learning without getting stuck in learning mode forever.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
For experienced bookkeepers & accountants:
Learn how to start your bookkeeping business in The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator®: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
Grab my FREE Start your Bookkeeping Biz Checklist: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/checklist
Grab my FREE New Client Onboarding Templates: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/onboard
For new bookkeepers:
Learn the fundamental accounting skills in Katie Ferro's Become a Bookkeeper**
https://www.katieferro.com/a/38894/2PQNgtvv
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:
Podcast Publishing Tools we use:
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.
some links are affiliate links
This live Q&A started with tactical bookkeeping questions and ended with me on my soapbox about AI. We covered capital loans, payroll, pricing, statement of cash flows, and how I balance running two businesses with my family.
Then someone asked how I’m using AI in my practice, and I gave the honest answer: Real talk, I hope I don’t get canceled for this one.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
For experienced bookkeepers & accountants:
Learn how to start your bookkeeping business in The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator®
https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
Grab my FREE Start your Bookkeeping Biz Checklist
https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/checklist
Grab my FREE New Client Onboarding Templates
https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/onboard
For new bookkeepers:
Learn the fundamental accounting skills in Katie Ferro's Become a Bookkeeper**
https://www.katieferro.com/a/38894/2PQNgtvv
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:
Podcast Publishing Tools we use:
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.
some links are affiliate links
If you have between 10 and 20 clients and you’ve been eyeing a new workflow software, hear me out before you hit “start free trial.” In this episode, I answer a question from my Ask Me Anything series: Stephanie is a solo bookkeeper with about 20 clients, trying to decide between staying on Financial Cents or switching to Double. Instead of naming a winner, I turn the question around and walk through how to tell the difference between being stubborn about your software and making a smart business decision. I also share my own shiny object syndrome story (hi, ClickUp) and why I stayed with Asana instead.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
For experienced bookkeepers & accountants:
Learn how to start your bookkeeping business in The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator®: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
Grab my FREE Start your Bookkeeping Biz Checklist: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/checklist
Grab my FREE New Client Onboarding Templates: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/onboard
For new bookkeepers:
Learn the fundamental accounting skills in Katie Ferro's Become a Bookkeeper**
https://www.katieferro.com/a/38894/2PQNgtvv
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:
Podcast Publishing Tools we use:
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.
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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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:
Podcast Publishing Tools we use:
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.
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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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:
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:
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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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:
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:
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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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:
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:
#bookkeepingbusiness #ambitious #bookkeeper #accountant #accounting
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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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:
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:
#becomeabookkeeper #bookkeepingbusiness #firmowner #entrepreneur #ambitious #bookkeeper #accountant #accounting
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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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:
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:
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:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
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:
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:
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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…
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