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The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast

By: Serena Shoup CPA
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About this listen

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

© 2025 The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast
Career Success Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
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Episodes
  • 199 | [Q&A] Handling Clients, Cash vs Accrual, Inventory, and Solo Bookkeeper Vacation Planning
    May 14 2025

    Send us a text

    This episode comes from April’s Live Q&A session, where Serena answered various questions from bookkeepers about pricing strategies, software recommendations, financial statement presentation, and business growth challenges.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Learn how to confidently set your prices for bookkeeping setups and avoid undercharging
    • Discover effective ways to present financial statements that truly benefit your clients
    • Find out how to balance multiple professional identities on LinkedIn
    • Get strategies for taking a break from your bookkeeping business without losing clients

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Podcast episode: "177 | Crafting Deliverables That Matter" https://youtu.be/sb_9SYI82h0
    • The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
    • Elevate program: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
    • Email subscription: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/subscribe
    • Payment processors: Stripe, PayPal, GoCardless, Pluto
    • Workflow Queen (Alyssa Lang): https://www.workflowqueen.com
    • Accounting software: Xero, QuickBooks, Wave
    • Payroll: Gusto
    • Client management: Dubsado
    • Spotify playlists for The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast

    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)

    To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

    For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

    Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • 198 ⎸ Building toward an Exit with Maggie Lord
    May 7 2025

    Send us a text

    In this episode of the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast, Serena chats with Maggie Lord, a powerhouse entrepreneur who sold her media company to David's Bridal and now helps female founders do the same. Maggie shares her journey from starting a wedding blog in 2008 to selling her company 12 years later, and reveals insider knowledge about business valuations, exit strategies, and how bookkeepers play a crucial role in preparing businesses for sale.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Why Maggie is passionate about helping female founders prepare their businesses for acquisition
    • The three common scenarios when founders seek M&A help
    • How bookkeepers play a key role in successful M&A transactions
    • Beyond-the-numbers valuation factors that founders often overlook

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • The Whisper Group: https://www.wearethewhispergroup.com/

    Meet Maggie

    Maggie Lord was an early pioneer in the online digital wedding media space establishing her media company, Rustic Wedding Chic in 2008. As the founder + CEO of Rustic Wedding Chic, Maggie led the company for 12 years before it was acquired by David’s Bridal in 2020. Maggie is also the author of 6 books. Today, Maggie has become a sought-after strategic advisor to female founded brands allowing her to focus on sharing her knowledge and expertise with other like minded entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. Maggie and her businesses have been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, Success Magazine and much more. Maggie is a partner at The Whisper Group, working daily with female founders to help them sell their companies and close the exit gap.

    Connect with Maggie

    📱 IG: https://www.instagram.com/maggielordandcompany/

    🌐 Website: https://maggielord.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.co

    To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

    For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

    Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • 197 ⎸ [Q&A] Tech, Pricing, Client Acquisition, & Services
    Apr 30 2025

    Send us a text

    Are you dreaming of starting your own bookkeeping business but feeling overwhelmed by all the decisions you need to make? You're not alone. As someone who's built a successful bookkeeping practice from scratch, I know firsthand that figuring out what services to offer, how to price them, where to find clients, and what technology you need can feel like navigating a maze.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Advice on determining pricing strategies for bookkeeping services
    • Practical methods for finding clients
    • Recommendations for essential tech tools for new bookkeepers
    • What bookkeeping services are most in-demand and how to decide which ones to offer

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Ambitious Bookkeeper Free Training: http://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training
    • Mini Courses: http://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/store
      • Pricing for Profit
      • Bookkeeping Client Closer
    • Bookkeeping Business Accelerator: http://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
    • Software tools mentioned:
      • QuickBooks
      • Xero
      • Shopify
      • TaxJar
      • A2X
      • Hubdoc
      • Calendly
      • Google Suite/Workspace
      • Zoom
      • Loom
      • Asana
      • Canva
      • Dubsado


    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)

    To fill out The State of Virtual Bookkeeping Survey, click HERE.

    For each response, I'll be donating $1 to charity: water. Learn more here.

    Join the next free training at ambitiousbookkeeper.com/training

    Show More Show Less
    39 mins

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