The Better Bookkeeper Show

Think you need a fancy website, a fully decked-out office, or a thousands of dollars worth of software to start your bookkeeping business? Think again!

In this episode, I’m sharing the 10 essentials to get your bookkeeping business off the ground. Everything from the exact tech stack I use, to the legal steps that protect you, to the confidence you’ll need to land your first clients, and much more!

Whether you’re fresh out of the corporate world or side-hustling your way to freedom, this checklist will help you start smart and build a business that actually works.

Timestamps:

[2:00] Must-Have #1

[2:42] Must-Have #2

[3:29] Must-Have #3

[3:52] Must-Have #4

[9:31] Must-Have #5

[11:02] Must-Have #6

[13:25] Must-Have #7

[17:09] Must-Have #8

[20:03] Must-Have #9

[24:47] Must-Have #10

[26:10] Recap + Closing Thoughts

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level, you can join my private Training Circle here: coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

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I’m Lynn Talbott, the Bookkeeper’s Coach. My podcast, The Better Bookkeeper Show, is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You probably didn’t wake up and say, “Today feels like a great day to write a business plan.”

But if you’re tired of winging it, saying yes to the wrong clients, or wondering where your profit went… It's time to create a plan that actually works for you.

In this episode, I’m breaking down 7 practical, tactical steps to help you build a bookkeeping business that’s aligned with your goals, your values, and the lifestyle you’re working toward.

Whether you're just getting started or ready to scale, this will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Timestamps:

[02:19] Step 1

[05:30] Step 2

[08:18] Step 3

[13:30] Step 4

[17:58] Step 5

[21:26] Step 6

[25:15] Step 7

Want to follow along? Grab my free Bookkeeping Business Plan Template at https://coachingbookkeepers.com/business-plan and start building your roadmap today!

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I’m Lynn Talbott, the Bookkeeper’s Coach. My podcast, The Better Bookkeeper Show, is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever undercharged a client? Lost track of your growing team? Or worse: hired someone who nearly tanked your reputation?

In this episode, George Wilson is back as a guest and we get real about the mistakes that cost us money, time, and sleep while building our bookkeeping firms… and how we finally got it right.

These are the painful (and painfully common) missteps that almost every bookkeeper faces when trying to grow, and this episode will help you get back in control!

We’re sharing:

• How to stop underpricing and start charging for the real value you provide
• What healthy oversight looks like as your team grows (and how to build it in from the beginning)
• How to avoid fast hires that backfire
• Why vague scopes, messy files, and “cheap” clients are a recipe for burnout
• What to do now to avoid major headaches later

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level, you can join my private Training Circle here: coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

Timestamps:

00:28 – What We’ll Cover In This Episode

04:24 – Mistake #1: Underpricing Clients Early On

17:20 – Mistake #2: Losing Oversight as the Business Grew

22:56 – Mistake #3: Hiring Too Fast and Regretting It

27:59 – How to Get Help Fixing These Mistakes

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I’m Lynn Talbott, the Bookkeeper’s Coach. My podcast, The Better Bookkeeper Show, is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thinking about adding payroll to your services? This episode breaks down what bookkeepers really need to know before diving into payroll, from pricing and platforms to managing tricky client expectations.

Our guest is George Wilson, owner of Southern Payroll & Bookkeeping, who brings hard-earned insights from years of processing payroll across multiple industries, including one of the most complex: restaurants.

Here’s what we cover:

• How to choose the right payroll platform (Gusto, ADP, QBO, and more)
• What most bookkeepers miss about tip reporting and employee classification
• Why your pricing may not reflect the actual work you’re doing
• The key contract clauses that protect you from payroll headaches
• When to say yes and when to walk away from a payroll client

Payroll can be a profitable service… but only if you do it on your terms. Listen in to learn how to avoid burnout, choose better clients, and grow your bookkeeping business with confidence.

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level, you can join my private Training Circle here: coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

Timestamps:

00:37 – What We’ll Cover In This Episode

01:43 – Meet George Wilson: Payroll Expert

05:34 – The One Shift That Changed How We Do Payroll

08:22 – The Business Model That Nearly Bankrupted Us

11:39 – What “Full-Service Payroll” Really Looks Like

15:24 – This Industry Should Not Be Your First Payroll Client

17:01 – The Easiest Payroll Clients to Start With

20:04 – How to Avoid Last-Minute Payroll Panics

24:02 – The Overlooked Scheduling Mistake That Can Derail Your Week

27:15 – Why Your Bookkeeping May Not Match the W-3

30:25 – The One Tax Mess You Don’t Want to Clean Up

33:16 – The Line You Must Draw With Payroll Clients

34:06 – How to Assess Client Complexity Before Saying Yes

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I’m Lynn Talbott, the Bookkeeper’s Coach. My podcast, The Better Bookkeeper Show, is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you struggling to let go of control as your bookkeeping business grows? Leading a team requires a completely different skill set than being a solo practitioner. In this episode, I share my tried-and-true strategies for building a motivated, happy, and high quality bookkeeping team (while also maintaining your sanity).

After listening, you'll walk away knowing:

• How to address mistakes constructively without damaging team morale
• Techniques for creating a supportive environment where bookkeepers thrive
• Ways to spark curiosity and engagement in team meetings
• The mindset shift needed to stop taking employee actions personally
• How to help disengaged team members reconnect with their goals

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level, you can join my private Training Circle here: coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

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The Better Bookkeeper Show is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The demand for bookkeepers is skyrocketing! Every small business needs someone to manage their books, and CPAs are retiring at a record pace. This episode reveals why NOW is the ideal time to launch your bookkeeping business, with real insights from my own journey, including actual client ratios and service offerings. Plus:

• How to differentiate your services in a competitive market
• Specific strategies for landing your first paying clients
• How to hit the “easy button” and quickly set up your business
• Why AI is your friend, not your replacement

The barrier to entry for starting a bookkeeping business has never been lower, while demand has never been higher. Start now, bootstrap your way to success, and build a flexible business that supports your ideal lifestyle. Your future self will thank you for taking action today!

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level, you can join my private Training Circle here: coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

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The Better Bookkeeper Show is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if your biggest obstacle in bookkeeping isn't your technical skills, but your mindset? Because the biggest difference I see between struggling bookkeepers and thriving ones often comes down to one thing: how they approach challenges. 

In the last episode, Ashley LaMar-Morris and I discussed how to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. Today we’re sharing the practical applications of a growth mindset that you can start doing NOW, such as using affirmations and planning your exit strategy.

You’ll learn:

• How to strive for happiness, not perfection
• Why attitude has a bigger impact on your business than technical bookkeeping skills
• How to reframe challenges so they energize you rather than discourage you
• Why you should create an exit strategy when you first start your business

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level, you can join my private Training Circle here: coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

Learn more about Ashley LaMar-Morris at purrrfectbookkeeping.com

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The Better Bookkeeper Show is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you willing to unlock your potential? The first step is identifying the limiting beliefs that you’re telling yourself.

In this episode, Ashley LaMar-Morris and I discuss how to embrace challenges and overcome your fear of failure, why you should recognize your own strengths while staying humble, and ultimately how to shift from a “fixed” mindset to a “growth” mindset so you can achieve greater success.

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level, you can join my private Training Circle here: coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

Learn more about Ashley LaMar-Morris at purrrfectbookkeeping.com

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The Better Bookkeeper Show is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’ve ever felt intimidated when working with a client’s CPA, this episode is your guide to building that relationship! There’s no reason to be nervous, and working as a team with them will benefit you *and* your client!

In this episode, Brian Moyer of Moyer & Co. and I discuss how a bookkeeper and a tax preparer can work together year-round (not just during tax season!)

Key Takeaways:

• Common mistakes you can avoid when working with a CPA
• Balancing what the business needs vs. what the CPA needs
• How to set boundaries with your client to maintain a positive reputation
• Strategies for year-round communication that will strengthen your professional network

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level too, you can join my private Training Circle here: coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

You can learn more about Brian Moyer and Moyer & Company at moyerco.com!

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The Better Bookkeeper Show is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather Moreland is back as a guest to share the rest of her story! She didn’t stop at becoming an independent bookkeeper, she wanted to keep growing and knew that meant she had to hire employees.

After listening to this episode, you’ll know how to go from solo to CEO, including:

• How to hire your first employee
• The importance of delegating
• How to properly handle mistakes that employees make
• What processes to implement to minimize mistakes altogether

If you’re ready to take your bookkeeping business to the next level too, you can join my private Training Circle here: https://coachingbookkeepers.com/membership

You can learn more about Heather Moreland and Lakesite Accounting at lakesiteaccounting.com!

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The Better Bookkeeper Show is your guide to growing your bookkeeping business in a thoughtful and sustainable way. I fully believe that anyone has what it takes to make a living from bookkeeping, whether that means being a solopreneur or building a 7-figure firm like me. So follow along, and let’s get your bookkeeping business where you want it to be!

Produced by SpeakEasy Productions and hosted by Lynn Talbott of The Bookkeeper’s Coach.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.