In an episode of The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast, Billie Anne Grigg shared her path from undercharging and overwhelm to running a streamlined, profitable bookkeeping business. Her experience reflects common struggles—and solutions—bookkeepers face as they grow.
1. Low Pricing Leads to Burnout
Charging too little might help you land early clients, but it rarely covers the real cost of delivery. Time, subscriptions, and mental load all matter.
What to do:
- Track every cost involved in serving each client.
- Assess profitability regularly.
- Adjust rates to reflect the value you deliver—not just the hours you spend.
2. Not Every Client Is Worth Keeping
Some clients push boundaries, ignore advice, or simply drain your energy. Holding on to them out of loyalty or fear of lost income can stall your business.
What to do:
- Identify clients that consistently cause stress or scope creep.
- Have a clear offboarding process.
- If appropriate, refer them to someone better suited.
3. Stop Rebuilding the Wheel
Customizing everything for each client makes scaling nearly impossible. Without standardized systems, quality slips and capacity maxes out quickly.
What to do:
- Create repeatable workflows for onboarding, reconciliation, and reporting.
- Use automation where possible.
- Document processes so others can step in confidently.
4. Growth Requires Outside Support
Running solo doesn’t mean going it alone. Communities, frameworks, and mentorship can accelerate clarity and reduce costly trial and error.
What to do:
- Invest in training that aligns with the kind of service you want to offer.
- Join peer groups for support, accountability, and shared tools.
Most growing pains in bookkeeping stem from three things: pricing too low, doing too much manually, and serving the wrong clients. Addressing these areas with clear systems and firm boundaries creates space—for better work, better clients, and a more sustainable business.
For more great content, check out The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast!
