The Business BFF with the Women's Accountant

In this episode, host Emma Bowdler, Founder of The Women’s Accountant, debunks the romanticised view of business ownership often portrayed by business gurus and motivational speakers. They share several harsh realities that new business owners face, such as tax bill shock, working with undesirable clients, making poor hires, investing in irrelevant systems, and working harder for less money initially. The speaker emphasises that these challenges are part of the learning process and provide valuable lessons that employees would miss. The goal is to prepare and inform potential and current business owners about the unglamorous aspects of running a business while fostering a community for shared experiences and support.

00:00 The Harsh Reality of Business Ownership

01:50 Tax Bill Shock: The Unseen Burden

03:38 Dealing with Difficult Clients

05:43 Hiring Mistakes: Lessons Learned

07:02 Investing in the Wrong Resources

08:20 The Hard Work and Low Pay Paradox

10:42 Learning from Mistakes: The Silver Lining

In this episode, host Emma Bowdler, founder of The Women's Accountant, challenges the traditional professional services culture that equates long hours and physical presence with professional value. Through personal anecdotes and alarming industry statistics on burnout, the host argues that this mentality is driving talented individuals away from professions like law, accounting, and allied health. Advocating for a balanced work-life approach, the host shares insights on setting boundaries, choosing energising clients, and redefining success. The episode calls for a shift in mindset to prioritise sustainable success without sacrificing personal well-being. 

00:00 Introduction and Personal Story 

01:12 The Toxic Culture of Professional Services 

03:51 The Impact on Future Professionals 

05:12 Choosing a Different Path 

05:29 The Glorified Job Trap 

07:35 Working Differently 

09:27 What Needs to Change 

In this episode of 'The Business BFF,' host Emma Bowdler, founder of The Women's Accountant, discusses the harsh reality businesses face in the current challenging landscape. She shares actionable insights and strategies for businesses in crisis, emphasising the importance of brutal honesty, stopping financial bleeding, engaging with creditors early, eliminating problematic clients, and investing in professional help. Emma also emphasises the importance of maintaining marketing efforts, building financial reserves, and knowing when to close a business strategically. Tune in for practical advice on navigating through tough times and ensuring business continuity. 

00:00 Introduction: The Brutal Business Landscape 

01:01 Key Differences Between Survivors and Failures 

01:42 Welcome to the Business BFF Podcast 

02:17 Step 1: Brutal Honesty 

04:09 Step 2: Stop the Bleeding 

05:40 Step 3: Addressing Tax Obligations 

06:29 Step 4: Letting Go of Problem Clients 

06:58 Step 5: Seeking Professional Help 

08:09 Step 6: Focusing on Revenue Recovery 

09:08 Step 7: Building Financial Buffers 

10:20 When Business Isn't Viable

In this episode, host Emma Bowdler, founder of The Women's Accountant, discusses the often-overlooked benefits of running a business as a mother. She challenges the societal notion that working mums might be negatively impacting their children. Instead, she argues that children are gaining invaluable lessons through witnessing their mothers handle real responsibilities, solve problems, and exhibit strong work ethics. These kids are learning critical life skills, including accountability, problem-solving, confidence, financial literacy, and setting boundaries. The episode emphasises that entrepreneurship teaches children resilience and that mothers can successfully balance a thriving business with being present and loving. The host invites listeners to share their own experiences on Instagram.

00:00 Introduction: The Guilt of Working Mums

01:40 Teaching Accountability Through Business

03:27 Instilling a Strong Work Ethic

05:35 Problem-Solving Skills in Action

07:42 Building Confidence and Leadership

09:14 Fostering Entrepreneurial Thinking

11:10 Prioritising Family Over Work

12:48 Conclusion: Raising the Next Generation

In this special episode of the Business BFF Podcast, host Emma Bowdler pulls back the curtains to introduce Emily, the practice manager and operations ninja at The Women's Accountant. Emily shares her journey into accounting and business operations, her role within the firm, and the systemsshe has implemented to keep things running smoothly. The discussion also dives into the dynamics of their working relationship, the human side of business, and what makes their practice unique. Tune in to learn about Emily’s role inmaintaining structure, the importance of having processes in place, and their plans for the future. Join us for an open and honest conversation on achieving success in the world of women-led businesses.

 00:00 Introduction to the Business BFF Podcast

01:51 Meet Emily: The Operations Ninja

02:42 Emily's Journey into Accounting

04:54 Joining the Women's Accountant

08:27 A Day in the Life at the Women's Accountant

10:15 The Importance of Systems and Processes

16:21 Balancing Work and Personal Life

20:37 Celebrating Milestones and Looking Ahead

28:43 Advice for Aspiring Leaders

30:41 Conclusion and Farewell

In this episode of the Business BFF podcast, host Emma Bowdler, founder of The Women's Accountant, tackles the harsh reality that often the biggest obstacle in a woman's business success is herself. Emma discusses five common self-sabotaging behaviours—winging it without a plan, letting fear take control, chasing someone else's version of success, trying to do everything alone, and avoiding financial numbers. Providing real-life examples and actionable steps, Emma empowers listeners to recognise and address thesehabits to build fulfilling and profitable businesses. Grab a coffee, get cozy, and join the conversation about building a business that truly works for you.

00:00 Introduction: The Real Reason Your Business Feels Stuck

01:00 Welcome to Business BFF: Meet Your Host Emma Bowdler

01:35 Self-Sabotage #1: Winging It Without a Plan

04:37 Self-Sabotage #2: Letting Fear Run the Show

07:24 Self-Sabotage #3: Chasing Someone Else's Version of Success

09:53 Self-Sabotage #4: Doing It All By Yourself

12:48 Self-Sabotage #5: Avoiding Your Numbers

15:36 Conclusion: Taking the Next Right Step

In this episode of the Business BFF podcast, host Emma Bowdler, founder of The Women's Accountant, discusses a common but sneaky issue faced by many growth-minded business owners: growing broke. Despite increasing sales, client lists, and team sizes, many business owners find themselves struggling with profits. Emma identifies four primary reasons for this phenomenon: outdated pricing, absorbing rising costs without adjusting prices, forgotten subscriptions, and reinvestment without clear ROI. She offerspractical tips for sustainable growth, including rebuilding pricing structures, conducting regular money audits, understanding cash conversion cycles, and updating service packages. The episode emphasises the importance of maintaining strong profit margins and operational clarity to achieve stable and meaningful business growth.

00:00 Introduction to Growing Broke

01:35 Defining Growing Broke

03:08 Common Reasons for Growing Broke

09:59 Conscious Scaling: The Solution

13:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of Business BFF, host Emma Bowdler, founder of ⁠The Women's Accountant⁠, shares a practical step-by-step framework to reset your business at the start of the new financial year in July. Emma discusses the importance of a year-end review to identify what worked and what didn't, the significance of revisiting and realigning your goals, the necessity of simplifying and streamlining processes, the need for resetting habits and structuring time effectively, and the critical role of accountability in ensuring progress. These strategies are designed to help business owners stay focused on their goals, enhance client relationships, and create a business that supports their desired lifestyle. This episode is packed with actionable advice to help you refresh your business and set it up for success in the months ahead. 

00:00 Introduction: Resetting Your Business for Success 

00:41 Welcome to the Business BFF Podcast 

01:17 Realigning and Resetting for the New Financial Year 

01:45 Year in Review: Analysing Past Performance 

04:34 Revisiting and Realigning Your Goals 

09:17 Simplifying and Streamlining Your Business 

12:51 Resetting Habits and Structuring Time for Growth 

15:23 The Importance of Accountability 

17:40 Conclusion: Taking Charge of Your Business 

In this episode of Business BFF, host Emma Bowdler, founder of The Women's Accountant, shares a practical step-by-step framework to reset your business at the start of the new financial year in July. Emma discusses the importance of a year-end review to identify what worked and what didn't, the significance of revisiting and realigning your goals, the necessity of simplifying and streamlining processes, the need for resetting habits and structuring time effectively, and the critical role of accountability in ensuring progress. These strategies are designed to help business owners stay focused on their goals, enhance client relationships, and create a business that supports their desired lifestyle. This episode is packed with actionable advice to help you refresh your business and set it up for success in the months ahead. 

00:00 Introduction: Resetting Your Business for Success 

00:41 Welcome to the Business BFF Podcast 

01:17 Realigning and Resetting for the New Financial Year 

01:45 Year in Review: Analysing Past Performance 

04:34 Revisiting and Realigning Your Goals 

09:17 Simplifying and Streamlining Your Business 

12:51 Resetting Habits and Structuring Time for Growth 

15:23 The Importance of Accountability 

17:40 Conclusion: Taking Charge of Your Business 

In this episode of the Business BFF podcast, hosted by Emma Bowdler, founder of The Women's Accountant, we dive into understanding and overcoming the role of a bottleneck in your business. Emma shares personal insights and practical tips to help you identify if you are the one holding your business back. You'll learn about common signs of being a bottleneck, including a lack of delegation, perfectionism, and micromanaging. Emma provides actionable steps, like conducting a role audit, empowering your team, and creating efficient systems, to help you step back from daily operations and focus on strategic growth. Tune in for honest advice and real talk to help your business flourish.

00:00 Introduction: Are You the Bottleneck?

00:59 Welcome to Business BFF

01:35 Understanding the Bottleneck

02:47 Signs You're the Bottleneck

05:57 Overcoming Fear and Letting Go

06:55 Practical Steps to Delegate and Empower

10:19 Benefits of Not Being the Bottleneck

11:36 Conclusion: Lead, Don't Control

12:54 Final Thoughts and Farewell