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:
256 | [AMA] Switching Workflow Softwares (Financial Cents vs. Double)
Épisode 256
mercredi 28 octobre 2026 • Durée 10:58
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If you have between 10 and 20 clients and you’ve been eyeing a new workflow software, hear me out before you hit “start free trial.” In this episode, I answer a question from my Ask Me Anything series: Stephanie is a solo bookkeeper with about 20 clients, trying to decide between staying on Financial Cents or switching to Double. Instead of naming a winner, I turn the question around and walk through how to tell the difference between being stubborn about your software and making a smart business decision. I also share my own shiny object syndrome story (hi, ClickUp) and why I stayed with Asana instead.
In this episode you’ll hear:
My Own Shiny Object Syndrome Story
The Questions to Ask Yourself Before Switching Software
We participate in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission from purchases made through the links above. However, our recommendations are based on our own research and expertise, and your trust is our priority.
255 | Brand New to Advisory? Start Here
Épisode 255
mercredi 21 octobre 2026 • Durée 10:45
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Advisory doesn’t have to be complicated.
In this episode, I’m breaking down the simplest way to start offering advisory services inside your bookkeeping packages. I call it “advisory lite,” and it’s included in every service tier we offer, even the lowest one. If you’ve been wanting to dip your toe into advisory but don’t know where to start, this is your starting point. And if enough of us start doing this, we can change how people see bookkeepers altogether.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Why even really good bookkeepers miss this one simple step that sets you apart
The 5 key reports I deliver to every client every month
How to templatize your monthly client email
Why you need to be priced right before you add advisory
254 | Trusting Your Team & Stepping into Advisory with Anne Napolitano
Épisode 254
mercredi 14 octobre 2026 • Durée 43:16
You don’t need to add budgeting and forecasting to your menu to start delivering advisory-level value.
In this episode, I sit down with Anne Napolitano, a former Hermès controller turned private chef turned owner of a 10-person restaurant-focused accounting firm. We get into the small shifts in your services and your marketing that change how clients see your value, plus how Anne went from doing everything herself to leading a team that has stuck with her for years.
Grab a notebook, my friend. This one is packed.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Why your first hire should be a bookkeeper (not an admin)
How Anne built a remote team with real longevity
Advisory services you can start offering right now
How niching down and advisory keeps you AI-proof
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Scaling New Heights
Woodard Summit
XeroCon
Meet Anne Napolitano
Anne Napolitano is the Founder and CEO of Anne Napolitano Consulting Inc., a Strategic Accounting & Advisory Firm. Before launching ANC in 2016, Anne served as Controller for the U.S. operations of Hermès and later worked as a personal chef, giving her a unique perspective that combines high-level finance with hands-on business operations. Today, she leads a team of accountants helping business owners gain clarity around cash flow, profitability, and growth while building a firm that moves beyond compliance and into meaningful advisory.
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
253 | Q&A: Xero Fresh Start or QBO Migrate, A2X, Gusto Payroll, and More
Épisode 253
mercredi 7 octobre 2026 • Durée 44:59
In this September live Q&A, we covered a lot of ground. We talked about whether to convert a client from QBO to Xero or start fresh, how to realistically land more clients heading into 2026, and how I handle clients who won't send receipts no matter how many times you ask.
We also got into Shopify bookkeeping, paying contractors, what to do when a credit union is making your life miserable, and the moment I know it's time to walk away from a client. Plus, I spill the tea on why creating a course is way less passive than running a bookkeeping firm.
In this episode you’ll hear:
My process for QBO to Xero conversions
How to get more clients without burning yourself out
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:
252 ⎸ Bookkeeping is NOT a commodity when done right with Katie Ferro Part 2
Épisode 252
mercredi 30 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:06:23
Katie Ferro is back for part two, and we picked up right where we left off with Katie's line that stuck with me all week: if you don't have a stance, it's because you're not in the room enough. The same goes for advisory. You won't feel confident until you put yourself in the room, and you can't get in the room until you build some confidence. So we talked about how to break that cycle. Katie shared three real client emails from the last 10 days that were quietly asking for more, and I shared how I built my own advisory process with a practice client.
In this episode you’ll hear:
How to recognize when a client is asking for advisory help
How a simple 30-minute conversation can turn an intimidating email into a quick win
Why calling it a "budget" might be killing client buy-in
Why you should bundling advisory into your packages
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Katie's post "Being cheap won't stop you from being broke":
225 ⎸ Recast: Become a Bookkeeper with Katie Ferro
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251 ⎸ Bookkeeping is NOT a commodity when done right with Katie Ferro
Épisode 251
mercredi 23 septembre 2026 • Durée 01:22:02
I've been connected with Katie Ferro since the very beginning of my business. I literally found her on a podcast while I was on maternity leave dreaming about starting a bookkeeping business, and I probably reached out to her like a weirdo on Instagram. We reconnected recently, had a conversation that was way too good to keep to ourselves, and decided to hit record. This one is a true coffee shop conversation between two industry friends who care a whole lot about competence, integrity, and the bookkeepers in this community. We get real about why our industry keeps telling you bookkeeping is a commodity (spoiler: usually to sell you something), why better books are already a form of advisory, what AI fear is actually costing you, and what I'm seeing firsthand inside a community college accounting class right now. Grab your favorite drink and join us.
In this episode you’ll hear:
Why the most profitable part of my firm is actually my simplest, lowest-priced bookkeeping
The low-hanging fruit that's causing clients to leave great bookkeepers
How to add advisory-level value without blowing up your business model, adding a ton of calls to your calendar, or burning out
Why I've changed my tune on recommending college accounting classes, and what I recommend instead
250 | X2Uno: The Chrome Extension for Xero with Mark Corum
Épisode 250
mercredi 16 septembre 2026 • Durée 49:39
What if the tool you've been waiting for, the one that finally makes Xero as efficient as QuickBooks with Right Tool, already exists, and it's being built by a former bookkeeper who accidentally fell into coding? In this episode, Serena sits down with Mark Corum, the developer behind X2Uno and Right Tool, to talk about building Chrome extensions for accounting software, the surprising parallels between bookkeeping and programming, and why the tech world's pricing model might be completely backwards. Whether you're a Xero loyalist, a QuickBooks refugee, or just curious about what happens when an accountant teaches themselves to code, then this conversation has something for you.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
X2Uno - What it is, how it differs from Right Tool, and why Mark felt a moral obligation to build something for Xero users
Right Tool & Monkbee
How Chrome extensions actually work
Xero vs. QuickBooks
The cost of switching platforms
AI and the future of accounting
Programming, bookkeeping, and music
Cleanup work as a niche
X2Uno availability — How to get it now (free beta on the Chrome Web Store), the MailChimp discount path, and the Facebook community for feature requests
I am Mark Corum. I went to college for accounting and decided to make my own bookkeeping company in my Junior year. Realized I like accounting, but I am not an accountant and transitioned out of it and stumbled into programming in late 2019 - vowing never to touch QuickBooks again.
2021 comes around and I am working on a chrome extension for QuickBooks called "MonkBe" that is discovered by Hector Garcia and remade into RightTool. Now that is used by about 50,000 people and I want the additional fun of working on Xero!
Connect with Mark
LinkedIn:
249 ⎸ [Q&A] Starting a Firm While Employed, Hiring Advice, and Employee Benefits
Épisode 249
mardi 8 septembre 2026 • Durée 51:57
This round of Live Q&A we got into some really good stuff: how to navigate starting your firm while you're still employed, why book to tax differences are completely normal and not something to lose sleep over, and how I approach the "can I afford to hire" conversation with clients (spoiler: it's rarely just about the numbers). I also pulled back the curtain on my monthly client newsletter, walked through my PTO and benefits setup for a part-time team, and gave a real update on the new version of Elevate that's dripping out in early September.
Grab a notebook and your favorite drink and let's go.
In this episode you’ll hear:
How to approach telling your current employer you're starting a firm
My take on where clients really come from and what to focus on first when you're trying to grow.
A full walkthrough of my client newsletter strategy
And how I do my part-time team's employee benefits
248 | How to Be a Collaborative Professional with Emily Bowie
Épisode 248
mercredi 2 septembre 2026 • Durée 35:41
I got to reconnect with Emily Bowie, a partner at Thorne Advisors, and someone I actually met years ago in a tiny mastermind back when she was doing something completely different in her business.
We talked about what actually makes a partnership work (and what makes it collapse), why staying in your lane protects your reputation, how bookkeepers can collaborate with tax pros instead of competing with them, and why quality standards matter so much in an industry where anybody can hang a shingle. We also went deep on personal finance, debt, and the soft skills that separate a good advisor from a great one.
In this episode you’ll hear:
What keeps a partnership from turning into a horror story
How to collaborate with tax preparers and other CFO professionals the right way
Why "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" applies to adding services to your firm
Why checking in on a client's personal finances pays dividends for the work you do on the business side
Emily Bowie is a Cash Flow Strategist with 15+ years of experience, including her time as an audit manager in Big Four accounting. She’s known for bringing calm, clarity, and structure to financial conversations that often feel stressful or avoided. Outside of Thorne Advisors, Emily leads her church’s financial ministry, is a mom to three young kids, and enjoys a good DIY project almost as much as a well-organized set of financials.
Co-led by founder Andrea Mason and CFO Emily Bowie, both CPAs, Thorne Advisors helps women protect what they earn while building sustainable wealth that actually supports their lives. They deliver a true 360-degree view of finances, spotlighting cash leaks, tightening income strategy, and creating tax plans that align with real goals, not just compliance checklists.
247 | Tax + Bookkeeping; Should You Do Both? With Nick Cobos
Épisode 247
mercredi 26 août 2026 • Durée 47:47
If you have ever had that passing thought of "should I add tax to my bookkeeping firm?" this is the episode you need to hear before you make a move.
In this one, I'm sitting down with Nick Cobos of Saga Accounting Solutions. Nick has built a five-person firm that does both tax and bookkeeping. We get into the real pros and cons of running both under one roof, and I share why I went down this exact rabbit hole myself and decided against it. This is a practitioner-to-practitioner conversation from start to finish, and I loved every minute of it.
Nick graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2019 and spent 5 years as an Army Officer. After graduating the US Army Ranger School Nick held assignments as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer with the 11th Airborne Division and later served as an Army ROTC instructor at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
After transitioning out of the Army, Nick earned his Enrolled Agent credential and jumped into the world of accounting. He now enjoys advising clients and helping them grow their businesses while saving on taxes.
When he's not working, Nick enjoys hunting, fishing, playing (admittedly terrible) golf, and spending quality time with his wife, Lisa, their three children, Lucy, Nathan, and Matthew, and their dog, Molly.
We participate in affiliate marketing programs, which means we may earn a commission from purchases made through the links above. However, our recommendations are based on our own research and expertise, and your trust is our priority.
For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:
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.
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.
Katie Ferro is a CPA, reformed rule follower, corporate escapee, and mama to three little ones.
She built her bookkeeping business to surpass her corporate tax manager salary, working only the hours she used to spend commuting and without giving up her stay-at-home mom crown.
Today, Katie runs her bookkeeping business while educating and empowering accountants and aspiring bookkeepers to build businesses that support their lives instead of keeping them from living them.
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:
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.
Katie Ferro is a CPA, reformed rule follower, corporate escapee, and mama to three little ones.
She built her bookkeeping business to surpass her corporate tax manager salary, working only the hours she used to spend commuting and without giving up her stay-at-home mom crown.
Today, Katie runs her bookkeeping business while educating and empowering accountants and aspiring bookkeepers to build businesses that support their lives instead of keeping them from living them.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
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