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PODCAST

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast

Serena Shoup, CPA

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.comBBA:

business careers

All Episodes

60:51

209 ⎸ How to stop procrastinating with Robin Emdon

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/07/30

Send us a text In this episode, I had an incredibly insightful conversation with Robin J. Emdon, author of "GetResultsology - The Science of Getting Stuff Done" and a productivity coach who specializes in helping people overcome procrastination. In this conversation Robin dives deep into the psychology behind why we procrastinate and provides concrete strategies to break free from it. In this episode you’ll hear: The neuroscience behind procrastinationThe three neurotransmitters you need to g...

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44:27

208 ⎸ Social Media Marketing in 2025 with Grace...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/07/23

Send us a text In this episode, Serena sits with Grace Costa, founder of Social Mixed Media and the Social Accountant, to dive deep into what's working in social media marketing right now. Grace shares her journey from accountant to marketing agency owner and gives us the real scoop on how AI is changing the game for bookkeepers and accountants trying to land clients online. In this episode you’ll hear: - 4 core organic marketing strategies for bookkeepers and accountants in 2025 - How AI an...

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41:05

207 ⎸ [Q&A] Accrual Accounting and Client Management...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/07/16

Send us a text Hey everyone! This month's live Q&A was packed with so many good questions from the community. We covered everything from client communication systems to accrual accounting transitions, and I even got to address some pricing questions that I know so many of you struggle with. In this episode you’ll hear: Client request systems and processesXero migrations and software recommendationsAccrual accounting deep divePricing strategies and business growthResources mentioned in thi...

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87:11

206 | 2025 The State of Virtual Bookkeeping &...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/07/09

Send us a text Join Serena and Alyssa Lang, the Workflow Queen, as they dive deep into the results of the first-ever State of Virtual Bookkeeping and Accounting Industry Report! We collected over 200 responses from bookkeepers and accounting firm owners like you, and the data is honestly eye-opening. This isn't your typical corporate survey - this is BY us, FOR us small firm owners. In this episode you’ll hear: The advisory services reality check - Why 41% of you are probably already doing ad...

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46:01

BONUS | Ambitious Wave Queen Show - Live at WAVE...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/07/07

Send us a text This bonus episode features the live recording from Wave Seattle, where I joined forces with Alyssa Lang (the Workflow Queen) and event host Erin Pohan for an authentic conversation about business, friendship, and finding your people in the accounting industry. We shared our "biz bestie" origin story, talked about navigating personal setbacks as business leaders, and answered real questions from the audience about everything from hiring to burnout. In this episode you’ll hear: ...

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60:21

205 ⎸ Protecting Your Clients from Audits with Ex-Irs...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/07/02

Send us a text In this episode, I had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Adrian Lopez, a former IRS revenue agent turned CPA, who just left the IRS last month to start his own practice. Adrian pulls back the curtain on what really happens during IRS audits and shares insider secrets that every bookkeeper and business owner needs to know. In this episode you’ll hear: The real audit triggers that most people don't know about (hint: it's not filing extensions!)Why construction contracto...

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16:58

204 ⎸ Q: How long should we retain client documents?

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/06/25

Send us a text In this episode, I'm tackling a listener question about document retention in our digital age. You know how we used to worry about keeping physical files for 3, 5, or 7 years? Well, now that everything's digital and stored in the cloud, does that change our retention strategy? Spoiler alert: it's way more complex than I initially thought! I'm breaking down both IRS guidelines for small businesses AND AICPA guidelines for accounting firms, plus sharing exactly what we do in our ...

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13:51

203 ⎸ Q: Is the NonProfit Sector a Viable Niche?

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/06/18

Send us a text In this episode, I'm answering an audience question about whether the nonprofit sector is a viable niche for a new bookkeeping firm. I dive deep into the pros and cons of specializing in nonprofits and share actionable strategies for making this niche work. What You Can Expect to Hear How to overcome the common challenge of nonprofits expecting discounted pricing through value-based pricing strategiesSpecific scalability tactics including productizing services, choosing special...

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34:26

202 ⎸ Healing Money Trauma with Meenadchi

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/06/11

Send us a text In this eye-opening episode, Serena sits down with Meenadchi, an ancestral healing practitioner, to explore how intergenerational trauma impacts our relationship with money. This isn't your typical business conversation - we're diving deep into the personal stuff that affects how you run your business and serve your clients … and get a little woo! In this episode you’ll hear: How trauma from your ancestors (even great-grandparents) lives in your body and affects your money deci...

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41:14

201 ⎸ [Q&A] Nonprofit Niche, Software, and Standing...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/06/04

Send us a text In this May Q&A episode, Serena dives deep into the practical side of building a bookkeeping business, covering everything from software partnerships and pricing strategies to finding your niche and standing out from the competition. She shares real-world advice on working with Xero and Gusto, addresses common struggles with client onboarding, and provides actionable tips for bookkeepers at every stage of their journey. In this episode you’ll hear: How to handle software co...

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53:27

200 ⎸ What I Learned in 2024 & Q1 of 2025

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/05/28

Send us a text It’s the 200th episode of The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast and Serena pulls back the curtain on her bookkeeping firm's 2024 performance, sharing both the wins and challenges. She gets real about client churn, revenue growth, personal struggles with mold toxicity, and the hard lessons learned about communicating with clients who aren't taking crucial financial advice. In this episode you’ll hear: Client management reality check - How one client's bankruptcy and fraud issues led ...

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37:11

199 | [Q&A] Handling Clients, Cash vs Accrual,...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/05/14

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 underchargingDiscover effective ways to present financial statements that truly benefit your clientsFind out how to balance multiple professional iden...

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37:28

198 ⎸ Building toward an Exit with Maggie Lord

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/05/07

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 M...

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39:20

197 ⎸ [Q&A] Tech, Pricing, Client Acquisition, &...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/04/30

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 servicesPractical meth...

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40:32

196 ⎸ The Comeback Blueprint: What Every Ambitious...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/04/23

Send us a text In this powerful episode of The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast, Serena Shoup chats with Cletus Coffey, former pro athlete, single dad, and founder of Torch Training. Cletus shares his remarkable journey from professional sports to entrepreneurial failures to finding his authentic purpose through personal transformation. In this episode you’ll hear: Cletus's journey from pro athlete to struggling entrepreneur to finding true alignmentPractical frameworks for balancing ambition, ...

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12:26

195 | Bookkeeping in the Fair Tax Era

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/04/16

Send us a text In this mini-episode, Serena shares her research on the Fair Tax Act and what it could mean for bookkeepers. She explains how this potential legislation would eliminate income tax and the IRS, replacing them with a national sales tax. Serena offers practical advice for bookkeepers to prepare for this potential shift and future-proof their businesses. In this episode you’ll hear: A breakdown of what the Fair Tax Act actually means (goodbye income tax, hello 23-30% national sales...

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7:18

194 | Organizing and Managing Work Production in Your...

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/04/09

Send us a text Running a bookkeeping or accounting firm means juggling multiple clients, deadlines, and deliverables - often leading to that feeling of "I'm drowning in work!" As someone who's built a successful practice while working 20 hours or less per week, I've discovered that how you organize and manage your workflow makes all the difference between constant overwhelm and smooth operations. Whether you're flying solo or leading a small team, these three actionable strategies will help y...

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16:30

193 | Marketing without Social Media

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/04/02

Send us a text Serena dives deep into marketing strategies for bookkeepers and small business owners who are skeptical or overwhelmed by social media, sharing practical tips for building connections and growing your business. What You’ll Learn: Marketing isn't just about social media: Discover a multi-pronged approach including offline networking, online presence, and website strategyBuild your "circle of influence" by connecting with complementary professionals like insurance agents, bankers...

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10:33

192 | How to Combat Imposter Syndrome

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/03/26

Send us a text In this episode I’m tackling a listener ‘struggle’: Imposter Syndrome. This is also a MINI episode, which means you can view the video on YouTube! While you’re there, make sure to subscribe! Resources mentioned in this episode: The Bookkeeping Biz WorkshopsMy FREE TrainingThanks 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 abou...

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9:33

191 | Setting up TaxJar for eCommerce Businesses

The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast ·

2025/03/19

Send us a text In today's bite-sized episode, we're diving into the nitty-gritty of setting up TaxJar for eCommerce businesses. Whether you're a bookkeeper with some eCommerce clients or an online seller yourself, stick around. Serena's got some super helpful insights coming your way, complete with screen sharing over on YouTube if you're up for it. Resources mentioned: TaxJarAvalaraShopifySquareLearn more about sales tax in the sales tax workshop: http://ambitiousbookkeeper.com/salestaxFor e...

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245 results

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