The Successful Bookkeeper Podcast

EP528: Teresa Slack - From $18/Hour To Million-Dollar Firm: The Pricing Shift

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 13:00:02 GMT

EP527: Justin Atherton - The Clarity Advantage Most Bookkeepers Ignore

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:06 GMT

EP526: David Homan - Why Networking Feels Broken & What Actually Works - Part 2

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:00:03 GMT

"This is how you look at success. It is only a narrative of people to people, to people. Why else wouldn't you wanna spend your time doing that more purposefully and intentionally?”
-David Homan

In the finale of our two-part series with community building strategist and author, David Homan, he will show you how to turn everyday interests into real connections and why the opportunities you’re looking for are already closer than you think.

You’ll learn how to move past hesitation, stop overthinking networking, and start building relationships that lead to real trust, referrals, and long-term opportunities.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why asking for help is less effective than offering it
How to overcome intimidation & connect with anyone
A simple habit that strengthens relationships & builds trust

EP525: David Homan - Why Networking Feels Broken & What Actually Works - Part 1

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:00:02 GMT

"There's all that magic that seems to happen by those who are born with relationship privilege, but we can all build it. It just starts with how you can become more purposeful and intentional with what you want out of not just your life, but the people around you that form your purposeful community.”
-David Homan

Community-building strategist and author of Orchestrating Connection, David Homan challenges the way you think about networking. He explains why traditional networking often feels forced and ineffective, and shows how shifting toward intentional, trust-based relationships can open doors you didn’t think were possible.

David shares how vulnerability, curiosity, and generosity create stronger connections, and why building a purposeful community matters more than collecting contacts.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why most networking fails & what to do instead
How to turn your existing network into a supportive community
A simple way to create opportunities without asking for anything

EP524: Gina Cotner – The Simple Accountability System That Gets Work Done

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 13:00:06 GMT

"High performers liked to be with high performers. So if you start to train yourself as a manager, as a boss, as a business owner, as an entrepreneur, in holding people accountable, you will notice who doesn't mind that, who kind of thrives around that, and those kind of people attract more people like that."
– Gina Cotner

In this episode, founder and CEO of Athena Executive Services, Gina Cotner shares a practical framework for holding your team accountable without creating tension or fear. She explains why delegation alone is not enough, how accountability builds stronger leaders inside your firm, and how small shifts in communication can dramatically improve follow-through and results.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What to say when deadlines are missed & how to fix the real issue
The simple question that drives ownership & initiative
How asking “when” changes your team culture

EP523: Spotlight - Joe Woodard - How To Stay Relevant In The AI Era

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:00:04 GMT

"At some point in the future, somebody's going to be watching a movie about our era and there's going to be a human bookkeeper. And they're going to turn to their parents 20 years from now, and they're gonna say, 'Bookkeepers used to be people? That's so weird. I thought they were always artificial intelligence. I thought they were always computers.'"
- Joe Woodard

In this spotlight episode, founder of Scaling New Heights, Joe Woodard shares a clear view of where the bookkeeping profession is heading as AI reshapes the industry. He breaks down how service models are evolving, why advisory must be structured differently, and what practical steps you can take today to stay relevant and valuable plus much more!

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to use AI safely while protecting client data
The difference between AI-enabled tools & native AI platforms
How to structure your services using “swim lanes” instead of pricing tiers

EP522: Linda Hunt - How To Price & Package Your Services Without Burning Out

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:00:00 GMT

"Oftentimes we get into burnout because we are saying yes to everything. We're getting scope creep, and we aren't billing for those extras.”
–Linda Hunt

In this episode, the author of The Money Conversation: Speak the Truth. Set the Standard. Get Paid Without Apology, Linda Hunt explains why burnout often starts with unclear boundaries and underpriced services. She shares practical strategies to help you calculate your true capacity, package your services properly, manage scope creep, and position yourself as a strategic partner without overextending yourself or your team.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to calculate your Minimum Aligned Price & set a sustainable pricing floor

How to recognize scope creep & confidently charge for extra work

How AI can free up time for deeper analysis & advisory conversations

EP521: Julee Gracey - How Bookkeepers Can Raise Prices & Win Better Clients

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:59:59 GMT

"We always say 'Motivation is like a shower. You should visit it daily.' You have to keep yourself motivated every day. How do I get myself motivated and sold back on myself so that I can be the best version of how I want to show up for my clients?”
– Julee Gracey

In this episode, sales and marketing coach, speaker, and author of Highly Confident, Julee Gracey explains why confidence is the foundation of pricing, pitching, and growing a bookkeeping business. She shares practical strategies to help you strengthen your internal dialogue, communicate your value clearly, and attract higher-quality clients who are willing to pay for your expertise.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to stop underpricing & stand firm behind your fees

Why you must get sold on yourself before you try to sell your services

How to identify your ideal clients & speak directly to their needs

EP520: Amy Jacobson - Emotional Intelligence For Bookkeepers

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 14:00:01 GMT

" In order to create that trust, you have to be honest enough to know that you're not the right person for everybody. But those people that you do connect with, when you find that connection, that is when you can start to go through that process.”
– Amy Jacobson

In this episode, Australian emotional intelligence expert, speaker, and author of The Emotional Intelligence Advantage: Mastering Change and Difficult Conversations, Amy Jacobson explains why technical skill alone will not build a strong, sustainable bookkeeping firm. She shares how emotional intelligence drives trust, strengthens client relationships, and improves leadership inside growing firms, along with a practical five-step framework you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How emotional intelligence builds client trust & retention
How to adapt your communication style to different clients
Why leadership requires a different skill set than bookkeeping

EP519: Teresa Slack - The Road To A Million-Dollar Bookkeeping Business - Part 4

michael@purebk.com (Michael Palmer) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 14:00:01 GMT

"The biggest one and the most impactful one is not making the time every week to work on the business. They get themselves into the rat race. They spend the money on these programs, and then they don't make the time to implement them. That's the biggest mistake that I see. Do the hard things 'cause we can all do hard things and it's okay if we screw up.”
– Teresa Slack

In the final episode of this four-part series, co-founder of Financly Bookkeeping Solutions, Teresa Slack shares how her bookkeeping firm shifted from survival to stability by building the systems, pricing, and team structure needed to scale. She breaks down the decisions that increased profitability, supported growth, and turned the firm into a sellable asset, along with the real challenges of restructuring roles, working through setbacks, and preparing for a successful exit.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What made the firm scalable & no longer dependent on the owners

Why systems, profitability & cloud operations increased business value

What buyers actually looked for when acquiring the firm