---
title: "EP476: Nacondra Moran - How An Ex-IRS Employee Built Bookkeeping Success - Part 1"
description: Nacondra Moran, a former IRS employee, shares how she built a high-touch bookkeeping firm, overcame mindset blocks & learned from pricing & hiring mistakes.
---

[Episodes: Listen Now to The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast — The Successful Bookkeeper ](https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast)

# [EP476: Nacondra Moran - How An Ex-IRS Employee Built Bookkeeping Success - Part 1](https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast/nacondra-moran-part-1-leaving-government-job-bookkeeper-irs)

 Written by [Michael Palmer](https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast/author/michael-palmer) | Jun 3, 2025 1:00:00 PM

**“ I had a lot more of mindset issues than the actual execution because I felt like I could provide good services. I had a certain level of confidence. But it doesn't matter really how much confidence, if you do also lack that critical mindset piece to really help you move forward.”**  
**-Nacondra Moran**

In part 1 of thie great 2-part series, Nacondra Moran, founder of Exceptional Tax Services, shares the mindset shifts, fears, and learning curves she faced after leaving her job at the IRS. From struggling with perfectionism to embracing entrepreneurship, she opens up about the messy middle of building a firm that works on her terms.

In this interview, you’ll learn:

- **What mindset shifts helped Nacondra transition from employee to entrepreneur**
- **Pricing mistakes, hiring lessons & boundaries**
- **What it means to design a boutique, high-touch bookkeeping firm**

To learn more about Nacondra, click [**here**](https://nacondramoran.com/).

Connect with her on [**LinkedIn**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nacondramoran/).

Listen to her podcast, The House of CEO, [**here**](https://nacondramoran.com/podcast/).

You can also subscribe to her substack at **[this link](https://nacondra.substack.com/)**.

**Time Stamp**

00:01:00 – Introduction to Nacondra & her IRS background  
00:05:00 – The mindset challenges of leaving a “safe” job  
00:08:00 – Overcoming perfectionism & finally launching  
00:11:00 – Freelancing, finding clients & learning on the fly  
00:17:00 – Building systems, refining offers & setting boundaries  
00:20:00 – Dealing with legacy clients & the “messy middle”  
00:22:00 – The value of a waitlist & staying boutique  
00:27:00 – Mistakes in pricing, hiring & client management  
00:30:00 – Preview of part 2: burnout, alignment & content strategy

**This episode is brought to you by our great friends at Sage!**

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[View full post](https://www.thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/podcast/nacondra-moran-part-1-leaving-government-job-bookkeeper-irs)

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