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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
  • 226 | Need to know OBBBA highlights for Bookkeepers Adrian Lopez
    Jan 14 2026

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    The 'One Big Beautiful Bill' introduces significant tax changes for 1099s, depreciation, and employer credits, emphasizing meticulous bookkeeping for compliance and savings. Listen in to the conversation with Adrian & Serena as they unpack the need-to-know highlights for bookkeepers and how you can stand out in the industry by making a few small changes to your processes.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • 1099 Reporting Changes
    • Bonus Depreciation and Section 179
    • Tips and Charitable Contributions
    • Employer Tax Credits and Deductions
    • Pass-Through Entity Tax and Reconciliation

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • → want to see that ‘tax package’ in action? Grab the Confident Compliance Bundle
    • 205 ⎸ Protecting Your Clients from Audits with Ex Irs Auditor Adrian Lopez

    Meet Adrian

    I’m Adrian Lopez, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and former IRS Revenue Agent.

    During my tenure as a Revenue Agent in the IRS Small Business / Self-Employed Division, I audited self-employed and small business taxpayers like restaurants, construction contractors, real estate agents & brokers, wealth managers, tax preparers, and farmers.

    Now, I help individuals, families, small businesses, and non-profits thrive by providing quality tax return preparation, tax planning & advisory, bookkeeping & accounting, and tax representation.

    Connect with Adrian

    Website: https://anlcpa.com/

    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianl1996/

    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)
    Show More Show Less
    58 mins
  • 225 ⎸ Recast: Become a Bookkeeper with Katie Ferro
    Dec 17 2025

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    Before we close things down for the holidays, I decided to bring back one of my favorite interviews from the vault. In 2021 during one of our Bookkeeping Biz Workshop rounds, I brought Katie on to chat about a program she had just created—which is still going strong today—in fact, has been revamped and redesiged since she created it, and I want to make sure you all know about it. But more so than that, I wanted to bring this conversation back to you in case you’re planning for the new year. This will give you some things to consider, especially if you’re balancing motherhood with building your business, or dreaming of starting your business in 2026.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Katie’s background: CPA → corporate → motherhood → bookkeeping business (and how she was “paid to quit” at the perfect time)
    • The emotional reality of leaving corporate—even when it’s the right move
    • Why the early seasons of motherhood are intense, and how that shapes business decisions
    • How Katie’s bookkeeping business grew: referrals, small beginnings, pricing lessons, and early client expansion
    • The mindset shift: bookkeeping as a stable, scalable foundation (especially once you hire a team)
    • Hiring earlier than feels comfortable: babysitters, cleaners, and bookkeepers as “buying back time”
    • Why working at home with kids around can be harder than being fully out of the house
    • Office space + opportunity cost: how one monthly client can fund the setup that changes everything
    • Training a team the right way: slow client-by-client handoff, upfront time investment, long-term payoff
    • Client continuity + freedom: not being the only person clients rely on
    • Katie’s Become a Bookkeeper (BABS) course overview: Learn → Shadow → Apply (practicum)

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • Become A Bookkeeper

    Connect with Katie: : instagram.com/orderlyaccountingbykatie

    Listen to Katie’s Podcast: Profits & Prosecco

    Sign up for Become A Bookkeeper

    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:
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 10 mins
  • 224 | Using Human-First AI for Visibility with Kelly Sinclair
    Dec 10 2025

    Send us a text

    I had the best conversation with Kelly Sinclair about something that's been on my mind (and probably yours too): how to actually use AI without losing the human connection that makes your business YOU. We dive deep into why social media might not be the lead generator you think it is, how to build visibility strategies that don't rely on the algorithm, and how AI can actually help you show up MORE human, not less.

    In this episode you’ll hear:

    • Why taking a break from social media might be the best business decision you make
    • How to flip your AI mindset from "polish my work" to "support me first"
    • The three ways to monetize AI in your business

    Resources mentioned in this episode:

    • 90 Day Visibility Sprint Starter Kit https://kellysinclair.thrivecart.com/the-90-day-visibility-sprint-podcast/?coupon=SERENAPOD
    • Valerie
    • Brand Calibrator
    • Notebook LM
    • ChatGPT
    • MindPal
    • ManyChat
    • Zapier
    • QuickBooks Online

    Meet Kelly

    Kelly Sinclair is a visibility strategist, AI-powered marketing expert, and host of Entrepreneur School. An accidental tech nerd and professional mom taxi, she helps entrepreneurs ditch random acts of marketing, build visibility habits that actually work, and grow through intentional visibility—not by selling their soul to social media.

    Connect with Kelly

    Podcast: https://entrepreneurschool.ca/podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksco_kelly/

    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)
    Show More Show Less
    43 mins
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