EP507: Lisa Campbell - How To Build A Business Beyond Bookkeeping - Part 1

"You learn, you read, you surround yourself with other people. Don't stay isolated behind your computer. You come to things like this. You join groups, you learn what other people are doing, and a lot of it is just understanding the value yourself.”
- Lisa Campbell

Lisa Campbell, author of Beyond Bookkeeping and longtime bookkeeping mentor, joins host Michael Palmer for a special two-episode series recorded live at Accountex Canada 2025 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. She shares how a single “midnight moment” pushed her to rebuild her business, break free from burnout, and step confidently into advisory work.

In this interview, you’ll learn:

  • What finally broke the cycle of burnout & overwork
  • How systemizing business unlocked time, freedom & new opportunities
  • Why shifting from compliance to advisory starts with mindset

To learn more about Lisa, click here.

Connect with her on LinkedIn.

Order a copy of Beyond Bookkeeping.

Time Stamp

01:16 – Lisa shares her “midnight moment” & the push to change everything
03:14 – The shift from having a job to building a business
06:16 – How burnout & overwork showed up in her daily life
07:03 – The mindset change that unlocked growth
08:12 – What “beyond bookkeeping” really means
09:17 – The moment she realized her systems were working
10:26 – How long it took to make the shift & why timing is different for everyone
11:46 – Breaking through time constraints & building structure
12:44 – How she stayed connected to her why during tough seasons
15:11 – How Profit First transformed her business & her clients’
16:20 – Why more clients doesn’t equal more profit
18:10 – Moving from hourly work to value & subscription pricing
18:53 – The hidden gold bookkeepers give away for free
20:12 – Why learning, community & awareness help you charge your value
21:23 – Lisa’s exercise to uncover value adds
24:12 – How she rewired her thinking & found new opportunities
25:16 – Shifting from compliance work to advisory
26:50 – Building an ecosystem for the entire client journey

Business Management