In an episode of The Successful Bookkeeper podcast, Lisa Campbell shared the strategies she used to grow her solo bookkeeping practice into a scalable business with a team—and how other bookkeepers can do the same.
With 25 years in the industry, Lisa began like many others: overworked and overwhelmed. She had a full roster of clients but struggled with inconsistent processes, constant deadlines, and no clear path for growth. Like many solo practitioners, she was working evenings and weekends just to keep up. The business relied entirely on her.
Everything started to change when she realized that to create a sustainable business—and a better life—she needed to shift from technician to business owner. That meant creating structure, building systems, and eventually stepping away from day-to-day bookkeeping.
Step 1: Systematize Your Work
Lisa’s first priority was documenting every task she did. She created step-by-step procedures for each client and moved everything to a cloud-based workflow system. This made it possible to:
- Track progress in real time
- Ensure consistency across all clients
- Delegate tasks without constant oversight
This foundational work allowed her to add team members who could follow her processes exactly, maintaining quality while freeing up her time.
Step 2: Delegate Effectively
With documented workflows in place, Lisa started handing off small tasks to team members. Over time, she transferred entire client files. By training team members to follow her systems, she effectively “cloned” herself—without sacrificing control or accuracy.
She stresses that hiring doesn’t require finding the most experienced bookkeepers. With a clear process and the right tools, you can train staff to deliver high-quality results.
Step 3: Shift to Value-Based Services
As her team handled the transactional work, Lisa focused on learning new skills. She began offering advisory services and strategy, helping clients use their financial data to grow their businesses. This shift not only increased the value she offered—it also increased what she could charge.
Lisa no longer bills by the hour. She sets fees based on value, using fixed pricing models that reward efficiency and expertise. She encourages other bookkeepers to do the same.
Step 4: Build a Scalable Business Model
Lisa’s business now operates with a team that follows her systems, a pricing model based on value, and a service structure that includes both compliance and advisory work. With these pieces in place, she has time for mentorship and higher-level strategy—and she helps other bookkeepers make the same transition.
Her “Seven Steps to Scale Your Bookkeeping Business” program is built around a clear order of operations:
- Define your role and goals
- Create and test systems
- Move to fixed-fee pricing
- Automate workflows
- Begin delegating
- Develop advisory skills
- Scale and refine your business
She emphasizes that order matters. Skipping steps or tackling the wrong problems first can slow down your progress.
Common Roadblocks & How to Overcome Them
Lisa frequently hears from bookkeepers who say they’re too busy to scale, don’t want to “babysit” new hires, or believe no one else can do the work their way. She challenges those assumptions. With the right systems and tools, delegation becomes manageable and effective.
Another common issue is pricing. Many bookkeepers undervalue their services or continue billing hourly. Lisa argues that hourly billing limits income and rewards inefficiency. Value-based pricing, paired with automation tools like Dext or Hubdoc, can increase margins without adding more clients.
She also points out that many bookkeepers accept every client who comes through the door, regardless of fit. Instead, she recommends filtering leads, working only with clients who value your services and fit your ideal client profile.
Why Community Matters
Lisa strongly encourages bookkeepers to join communities and professional groups. Isolation is a major challenge for solo practitioners, and learning from others shortens the learning curve. Whether through Facebook groups, industry organizations, or mentorship programs, surrounding yourself with like-minded professionals can accelerate growth and provide much-needed support.
Final Thoughts
Lisa’s story is a real-world example of what’s possible when you treat your bookkeeping practice like a business. She didn’t grow overnight—but through consistent action, clear systems, and a willingness to invest in herself, she built a business that supports her goals.
Bookkeepers who want more time, more income, and more impact need to take control of their operations. That starts with small, strategic steps—and a mindset shift away from doing everything alone.
To learn more about Lisa’s framework and access her masterclass, visit https://www.accelerate2advisor.com
For more great content, check out The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast!
