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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
Episodes
  • 213 | Building a Bookkeeping Business From Scratch
    Aug 27 2025

    Send us a text

    Today I'm re-airing one of my favorite spotlight episodes featuring two incredible BBA students - Erin and Misa. These ladies built thriving bookkeeping businesses from absolutely nothing, and I'm sharing their real, raw stories plus giving you an update on where they are now (spoiler alert: they're both crushing it!). If you've been wondering whether you can actually make this work while juggling life, work, and family, this episode is going to give you all the inspiration you need.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Erin's journey from corporate burnout to 11 clients in 6 months
    • Misa's strategic approach to building her business
    • Real talk about overcoming limiting beliefs and handling rejection
    • The power of community and external accountability

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Bookkeeping Business Accelerator: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/vip
    • Asana, QBO, UpWork
    • Gretchen Rubin, Human Design, Cloud Accounting Podcast

    Meet Erin

    As Founder of UpKeeping® and a proud student in The Ambitious Bookkeeper community, Erin is changing the old & boring stereotypes of the accounting industry. Erin and her team support new entrepreneurs and already-established small business owners by being their #1 financial cheerleader/concierge/communicator.

    Connect with Erin

    👥 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinpohan/

    Meet Misa

    As the founder and CEO of Perfectly Kept Books®, she is on a mission to help women get comfortable with their numbers so they can feel empowered to make better business decisions. Misa knows that bookkeeping can be a real barrier to success, and she is passionate about removing that barrier by making bookkeeping easy and stress-free.

    Connect with Misa

    🌐 Website: www.perfectlykeptbooks.com

    📱 Instagram: @perfectlykeptbooks

    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:

    Join this cohort of The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator®️>

    Register for the Information Session HERE>
    August 26th - 5 PM PST

    Show More Show Less
    37 mins
  • 212 | Q&A How to Get Clients to Respond, Creating Budgets, & Accounting for Startup Expenses
    Aug 20 2025

    Send us a text

    Hey everyone! This month's live Q&A was packed with so many golden nuggets for your bookkeeping business. We covered everything from client management to getting started with confidence - basically all the real stuff you're dealing with day-to-day.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Getting Clients in Niche Markets
    • Handling Unresponsive Clients
    • Recording Startup Expenses
    • Bookkeeping Practice Tests
    • Using Airtable, Asana, and Dubsado
    • Client Management and Team Structure
    • Migrating New Clients to Xero from QBO
    • Connecting Credit Unions to Xero
    • And More!

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Bookkeeping Business Accelerator: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/vip
    • Bookkeeping Biz Workshops: http://bkworkshops.online/
    • One-on-one mentoring sessions: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/contact
    • Xero: https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d
    • Dubsado: https://www.dubsado.com/?c=shoupcpa
    • Open Phone: https://openph.one/referral/XA0kFFR
    • Excel, Asana, Airtable, QBO, Jet Convert

    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)

    Join this cohort of The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator®️>

    Register for the Information Session HERE>
    August 26th - 5 PM PST

    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • 211 ⎸ Now is Always the Best Time to Start
    Aug 13 2025

    Send us a text

    Hey ambitious bookkeepers! In this episode, I'm getting real about my "accidental" start in accounting and why NOW is always the best time to start your bookkeeping business. I'm sharing my journey from elementary education major to single mom working at a health food co-op, all the way to building my own virtual bookkeeping firm while raising kids. Spoiler alert: success doesn't require a perfect plan!

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • How I got into accounting
    • The exact steps I took to transition from corporate controller to freelance bookkeeper
    • Lessons I learned the hard way so you don’t have to
    • and much more!

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator
    • 🎙️ Should you get your CPA license? - Not sure if getting your CPA license is the right step for you? Listen to 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:

    • Visit our website: ambitiousbookkeeper.com
    • Follow the Blog: ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
    • Connect on Instagram: instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
    • Connect on LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/SerenaShoup
    • Connect on Facebook: 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:

    • Podcast Editing: Sabr Media LLC
    • Descript (affiliate link)
    • Buzzsprout (affiliate link)

    Join this cohort of The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator®️>

    Register for the Information Session HERE>
    August 26th - 5 PM PST

    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
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