Training Archives | Number Nerd Bookkeeping Solutions

May 17, 2021

How to Make Turnkey Systems Your Own

Solid turnkey systems are SO crucial for business owners. And adapting them properly to meet your needs is the key to streamlining, creating efficiencies, and gaining back your time. I love these kinds of systems so much, so I knew I needed to do a post on them.

In this one, I’m going over what these gem systems are, why they’re so essential to use and how to make them your own. Let’s not waste time; let’s get into it!

Turnkey Systems…Here’s The Down-Low

Plain and simple, turnkey systems are ready to go. You can use them as-is.

Turnkey systems are for busy entrepreneurs or solopreneurs that need to simplify things, get organized, or are frustrated that the systems they have in place now just aren’t working.

The advantage with these is that you get a system that someone else has taken the time to create, and they know that it works. It’s also an opportunity for you to use a turnkey system as a starting point and integrate your existing systems into it to make it your own.

Two worlds collide to create something that gives you exactly what you need! It is a win-win in my book.

For example, when it comes to onboarding or sales and marketing, I might do things one way, and someone else may look at my systems, have an ah-ha moment where they realize they hadn’t considered a process that I do. And vice versa!

Turnkey systems give you a different perspective on how to run your business more efficiently.

So Why Take The Time To Make A Turnkey System Your Own?

The truth is, there are limitations to turnkey systems because not every system is going to give you 100% of what you need. We all know there is no one-size-fits-all for onboarding, sales, and marketing or admin tasks.

But for most of us, the foundation of our processes are similar, and these tried-and-true systems that others have built may just help you avoid making a mistake or missing steps along the way to making a customized system that works seamlessly in your business.

You’re taking someone else’s systems, processes, and workflows, leveraging the work they have already done so you don’t have to, then making it all your own. When you put a turnkey system in place, it is a starting point for you to get back time, take on more clients and grow.

Soooo…How Do You Make A Turnkey System Your Own?

First of all…look at it. See what needs this system, process, or template serves and helps you improve your operations.

Second, ask yourself some questions like…

Does this solve a problem or fulfill a need that I have?
Am I doing any of these processes already?
If not, then why?
What in this process applies to my business and what does not? Even think of one-off tasks with this one. Say just one of your clients uses a different payment system than all the rest—that needs to added into your processes.

Third, go in and add the missing steps that relate to your business that you know need to be integrated.

Pro tip: talk out loud as you’re going through the work and even record yourself! Being able to hear your thoughts out loud and even go back to them is SO helpful!

Okay, now for the fourth step. When you’re going through a new system or template, make sure to base it on a complex client. Don’t default to an easy-peasy client where you might end up missing a step that will benefit you later on.

Finally, your fifth and ongoing step is to refine it over time. Remember that making templates, systems, and processes your own is a process. You’re not going to do this in a day.

Why it Matters

Ultimately, when you’re buying a template or system, you’re going to make a master process from it. After you have the master ready to go and where you need it to be, you can copy and customize it quickly for each project or client.

Using templates gives you back time, makes your clients’ experiences better, and organizes your business. That’s why you want turnkey systems and make them your own.

Not having efficient systems in place hinders your ability to grow your business. Whether it’s systems that make your onboarding easier, streamline your sales and marketing or put admin tasks on autopilot…when you don’t have good processes in place, there is chaos and no organization.

You can’t afford not to do it. It is so worth the investment of time and money.

To help you implement your own turnkey systems, I want to introduce you to the Number Nerd Template Lab…where all the process guesswork has been done for you. These are my tried-and-true systems. When you join the lab, you’ll…

Get access to all the templates and systems you need to improve your processes
Learn how to maximize those templates and systems
Understand how to modify them to suit your business so you can make them your own

If you want your business to benefit from my templates and systems, then join me in the lab. Leverage all the systems I have spent years developing and grow your business!

April 5, 2021

Less-Stress Systems For Bookkeepers

Nobody Likes Stress…Especially in Bookkeeping Systems

I know you don’t like feeling that awful stress, where your schedule is too packed, but you’re trying to onboard clients and get systems that make your workflows more efficient. It’s a LOT.

That’s why I wanted to address the stress today. Especially after the last year we have all had, the last thing any of us need is more pressure. So in this post, I am introducing you to my less-stress bookkeeping systems. When I say bookkeeping systems, I mean putting processes in place to find your right bookkeeping clients and get them onboarded and what to look for if you think you might be dealing with the wrong clients.

I’m also introducing you to my template lab that helps bookkeepers streamline their business operation processes.

Time to de-stress! Let’s get to it.

Your Bookkeeping System to Finding the Right Clients and Weeding Out the Wrong Ones…

Nothing is more stressful than trying to find clients and not finding the right ones for your business. That is why I believe in systems to help business owners roadmap out what their ideal clients look like, so the stress is taken out of wondering who they will attract.

This includes getting you to…

- Hone in on what you’re willing to do and not willing to do. Think about your schedule, scope of work…everything that goes into what you provide for clients and what you have learned is a hard nope.

Identify what kind of client you want to work with, personality-wise.

Make sure new clients see the value in your services… I mean staying away from clients that lowball you on pricing. You know what you’ve got to offer and you should be paid for it.
Get clear about boundaries. No answering calls when you’re marked as unavailable.
Understand that it’s okay to say no if a client doesn’t value the services being provided!!

We all want to get clients….but sometimes not every client is the right match, which is why I ask the above questions. It’s important to have a system in place to figure out if a client isn’t right for you. And don’t forget, they could have been an ideal client at one time but are now causing you stress.

Bookkeeping Systems for De-Stressing Onboarding…

In my business, I have a very clear lead questionnaire that asks potential clients very specific questions so I can get an initial sense of whether or not they will be a good fit for my business. I actually made my onboarding process a part of my template lab, which you should probably join, because it’s great.

Once they fill it out + hit submit, my calendar appears and they are able to schedule a call. They also receive an automated email with the same calendar link prompting them to schedule a call if they have not already. The other great thing about the questionnaire is it allows me to get an idea of where their problem areas are so I can guide the conversation, as opposed to spending half the call asking questions that they could have already given me the answers to ahead of time.

Saves me a ton of time and energy, and lets the client take their time to think about their answers, instead of watching the clock on a call and scrambling to describe their goals to me.

Finally, my questionnaire also includes my onboarding questions, so by the time we are done with our initial call I have all the information I need to move forward, so there is no need for that second follow-up call.

Once we’re done, I choose a workflow for the client based on the service we are starting with, it automates their quote, then they sign their contract, pay their invoice, and then a to-do list is automatically sent to them.

The other thing I want to drive home about gaining new clients and getting them onboarded is that there is NO NEED to reinvent the wheel. Having set prices, contract templates and lists of services saves you so much time. I talk to business owners who are drawing up new contracts for every single client.

I always wonder why. There is no need to do that and once you template those contracts and pricing, it’s as easy as pressing send to get it out to your new clients.

This system reduces my stress immensely because it’s literally a few clicks of a button and entering some client info, instead of spending 45 minutes writing up a new contract.

System wins!

Bookkeeping Systems at Tax Time

Plain and simple – having systems in place at any time, but particularly at tax time is a lifesaver for any bookkeeper or CPA. They save you time…and we all know time is money. It also means less stress. I always ask my clients, “If I can give you this time back, what will you do with that?”

Some people take on more clients and grow their business, some spend more time with their family…however people spend that time is fantastic. The important thing is they have more time to do whatever they want.

So in Closing…

Not having bookkeeping systems increases your stress – whether that’s systems for finding your ideal clients, weeding out the ones that don’t work for you or admin systems that help you streamline all your other business processes. When you don’t have good systems, there is chaos and no organization.

Systems = workflow = supreme organization and efficiency.

I know creating systems sometimes is frustrating and time-consuming. If you need some help, I want to introduce you to the NumberNerd Template Lab… where all the systems guesswork has been done for you. It’s got all the templates and step-by-step guidance you need to…

Take inventory of your current processes to see where you can create efficiencies
Improve your workflows and gain back your time, so you can take on more clients
Eliminate backtracking so you can efficiently manage all of your clients’ needs

And so much more. There are even templates that will help you create a lead generation system that seriously works to get you new clients.

Ultimately, it will help you streamline your work and just get things done faster.

If you want your business to benefit from my templates, then I want to invite you to join me in the lab. Take advantage of all the systems I have spent years developing and grow your business!

February 22, 2021

5 Reasons Why You Should Be Your Own Bookkeeper

I know bookkeeping isn’t everyone’s jam, but it sure is mine, and what I’ve learned from my clients over the years is how important it is for small business owners to know how to do their own bookkeeping. It not only keeps your costs down but also helps you really understand your business finances so you can make the right decisions.

In this post, I am going over five reasons why you should be your own bookkeeper and the consequences of ignoring those reasons.

Ready to learn more? Then keep on reading.

Be Your Own Bookkeeper Reason 1: Cost

It costs a lot to have someone else do your numbers for you…and as small business owners, I don’t need to tell you that every dollar counts.

It seems tempting to hire someone because you might not feel confident in doing the books yourself, but trust me, those dollars spent on bookkeeping add up.

I know some bookkeepers charge really low rates so you think it’s a justifiable expense, but remember, just because it’s cheap, it doesn’t mean it’s the best. You get what you pay for…and even sometimes when you pay the premium price you still don’t get the quality you need.

Also…when we hire bookkeepers, we need to find people who can really explain and break down the reports on our finances so we understand them completely. A lot of times that doesn’t end up being something that is included in bookkeeping services, leaving business owners in the dark on their numbers.

In my opinion, it’s worth it to spend the money to educate yourself on your books instead of passing it off to someone else when you’re only hitting a certain income threshold.

Be Your Own Bookkeeper Reason 2: Understanding

Plain and simple – you have to understand what you’re looking at when you go over your numbers, not just trusting that someone else is handling everything for you.

Having a solid understanding of the money coming in and the money going out allows you to make the best decisions possible for your business today, avoid bad ones (I cannot stress that enough) and also plan for the future.

More understanding = greater success.

That is why I offer things like the Number Nerd Bookkeeping Academy. It helps business owners get that solid understanding of their numbers, so when they look at the books they know EXACTLY what is going on.

Be Your Own Bookkeeper Reason 3: Awareness

This one is closely tied to Reason 2…because understanding creates awareness.

Do you ever wonder if maybe there is a chance that you’re missing out on money you could be making or spending too much on something? Well, being aware of your numbers and what they mean can help prevent situations like that.

Giving your numbers a quick once-over every month doesn’t give you enough awareness to…

See if there are ways things can be adjusted so you’re making more and spending less
Identify problems and fix them quickly
Find new opportunities to create more income

And ultimately, that’s what we want you to do….make money!

Be Your Own Bookkeeper Reason 4: Planning

The more you know about bookkeeping, the better positioned you are to make good decisions. When you know your numbers inside and out you can determine if your marketing is working, whether you’re charging enough money or spending too much time on business activities not contributing to your bottom line.

Say if you want to invest in a product or service, or you want to focus more on one aspect of your business, planning is the only way to make those things happen successfully.

When you do your own books, you’re getting down and dirty with your numbers. You know your analytics and that makes it SO much easier to plan and strategize for how you want to move forward, invest in your business and spend your time.

You didn’t start your business willy nilly, without a plan. You know how important it is to have solid plans in place rather than making knee-jerk decisions without all the information. Knowing your books will ensure you make solid, informed decisions that set you up for success.

Be Your Own Bookkeeper Reason 5: Ditching The Fear

When you fear your books, you’re not going to dive in and really commit to getting to know them the way you need to in order to make the best decisions possible.

Plus, nobody likes being afraid! It’s not a fun feeling and it holds you back from up-leveling your business!

Let’s end the guessing game on your numbers too! No more guessing on whether or not you are doing things the right way.

The more you know, the less fear you will have and you’ll become empowered to make solid, confident choices or ask for help when you need it! Fear has no place in your business and by kicking it to the curb, you will become a better, more successful CEO.

Ready to Become Your Own Bookkeeper?

Most businesses that fail do so because they don’t have a handle on their numbers. I have made it my mission to try and prevent that from happening. Everyone needs education around their numbers so they’re able to notice problems and clean up any trouble spots or dig into things that don’t look right.

And there’s no shame in needing a little help! None of us are born with all the bookkeeping knowledge pre-programmed into our brains. We all learn it at some point.

I created the Number Nerd Bookkeeping Academy for business owners just like you, who need that guidance and to empower you to know how to do your own bookkeeping. It’s an online academy that gives you the education, know-how, on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis to get and keep your bookkeeping in tip-top shape.

Your business is your livelihood. You owe it to yourself to understand it completely so you can take charge of it and grow. Learn more about the academy now.

February 8, 2021

Behind-the-Scenes of the Number Nerd Bookkeeping Academy

The Number Nerd Bookkeeping Academy is Opening…

As a self-proclaimed number nerd, I have a passion for business and helping business owners master their books, which is why I started the Number Nerd Bookkeeping Academy. I believe that business owners who have a solid understanding and awareness of their numbers and what they mean have a WAY better chance of succeeding.

In this blog post, I am giving you a behind-the-scenes look at everything I’m including in the academy in order to set you the CEO up for success.

I’m talking….

Why entrepreneurs should join the bookkeeping academy
What’s in the bookkeeping academy
What you’ll do in the first few weeks in the academy
What you’ll do monthly
How it will help you grow your business and master your books

Want to learn more? Then keep reading, biz whiz.

Why Join the Number Nerd Bookkeeping Academy?

Well for starters, if you want to have the confidence to make informed financial decisions that help you grow your business and ditch your number fear, then you should join.

I set up the academy to help business owners like you do just that, and more. It will help you set up and manage your bookkeeping system so you know where your money is coming from, going to, how to identify problems and seize new opportunities.

What Will You Do in the Number Nerd Bookkeeping Academy?

In your first few weeks, you’ll start by going through the videos I’ve put together for the academy. You can do it at your own pace but it will give you a solid base of knowledge for when you start diving into the rest of the content.

After you get through the videos, then it’s on to the real work (don’t worry, it’s not as scary as it sounds). Again, this program is totally self-paced but there are live working groups every month that you can join to ask questions if you get stuck, and have a solid routine to keep your bookkeeping up-to-date.

These working groups will bring academy members together to get through their bookkeeping so that you have a set time to do your bookkeeping each month. Plus, you get support from me ‘cause I’m in the group too!

There’ll also be breakout sessions during the live sessions with me, so you can ask me anything that you might not feel like sharing with the group.

Monthly working groups like this are so helpful because they keep you up-to-date on your books, build good habits and let you learn from other business owners. Triple win!

Sounds Good…But What’s Included?

This one-year membership includes everything you need to set up an easy-to-use, sustainable bookkeeping system for your business.

When you sign up for the academy, you’ll start off doing a quiz so we can see just where you’re at in terms of knowledge and what your bookkeeping needs are.

After that, you’re getting access to a series of QuickBooks®️ Online tutorial(s) so you can get set up right from the beginning.

Then, you’ll go over bookkeeping fundamentals that set the foundation for your bookkeeping success.

Attend the live working sessions to get your bookkeeping maintenance on point and get any questions answered. These sessions will also include how to read and understand your financial reports. The additional support inside the academy includes the ability to answer questions at any time, easy-to-follow video tutorial(s), weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual checklists, quarterly workshops….and tons more.

There’s also things like Q+A sessions with me and the quarterly workshops will cover things from budgets to pricing for profit. Whew!

How Will It Grow Your Business?

When you sign up for the academy, you’re going to quit waiting until the end of the year to do your bookkeeping! No more mad dash at the end of the year to get it all done, which often leads to things getting missed. You’ll be all caught up on your bookkeeping each month—and you have the systems and workflows in place to stay caught up.

You’re going to learn to understand where your money is coming from and where it’s going so you can make the right decisions for your business and confidently plan for the future. Knowing your books will empower you as a CEO to up-level your business – plain and simple. The transformation you go through will be eye-opening and amazing!

So in closing….

You might have no clue about what your numbers are or what they mean right now. Maybe numbers and money evoke feelings like angst, overwhelm, fear, frustration, and shame.

I get it, but there is help out there. When you have a solid system for doing your bookkeeping correctly, you also gain powerful data to help make strategic business decisions in your business, such as:

How much you need to work to reach your financial goals
Understanding your budget and being able to plan for your business investments
Pricing your offers to support your personal and business goals
And so much more!

Knowledge is power, and knowing your numbers is an important part of running a successful and fulfilling business.

The Number Nerd Bookkeeping Academy will have you mastering your books and help guide you to having a solid foundation of financial knowledge. Learn more about the Academy here!

October 24, 2018

What It’s Like To Work With A Consultant

What's it like to work with a consultant? There’s a big difference between coaching and consulting, and both are vitally important to the success of your business–no matter what stage you’re in.

A coach is a good investment when you’re looking to jump a mindset or business hurdle, like getting to the next income bracket or overcoming a challenge with pricing your services. They’re often certified in coaching and work with businesses across a wide range of industries. A coach will talk you through decisions and then help you come to an outcome that feels right for you.

But a consultant is different. They’re still a good support system in your business, but they’re truly an expert in their industry. A consultant has had measured success in what they do and can look at your business and really analyze the steps you need to take to meet the goals you want to reach.

A consultant isn’t going to help you decide what feels good. A consultant is going to tell you what you need to do to get where you want to go. It’s more strategic and it’s more definitive.

A consultant isn’t going to help you decide what feels good, they’re going to tell you what you need to do. Click To Tweet

If you’re feeling stuck in your business because you’re not reaching the goals you defined for yourself, you may need to invest in a consultant. Especially if you want to be in a growth phase of your business.

What should you look for when hiring a consultant?

Accounting and bookkeeping consultants come in all shapes and sizes, just like any business owner. I recommend doing your research to find a few consultants that resonate with you, then getting on the phone or Zoom with them to make sure that you have a camaraderie with them. The consultant you hire should have documented experience in reaching goals similar to what you’d like to do.

Any consultant you hire should have documented experience in reaching goals similar to what you want to do. Click To Tweet

Aren’t consultants my direct competition?

It’s true that consultants should have expertise in your field and in the specific goals you want to reach, but that doesn’t make them your competition. Many consultants are no longer practicing in their industry, preferring instead to help others get on their feet. And those who do still work in the industry tend to work with higher-end clients who you likely won’t pursue. Either way, you should be careful that the consultant you hire have a confidentiality agreement and non-compete clause in their contract.

What if I don’t want to do what my consultant recommends?

Of course, your business is yours to do with what you’d like. But candidly, you hired the consultant for a reason. And consultants aren’t cheap. If you’re morally or professionally opposed to the consultant’s recommendations, have a conversation about it and see if something else fits better for your business. Remember, too, that you’ll want to do a lot of research on your prospective consultant before plunking down money on a large consultation package.

What resources will a consultant bring me, aside from ideas?

Since consultants have been in their fields for many years, many have systems and workflows they’ll help you implement in your business. Personally, I have a Business Workflow Template Shop and I often share these templates with my consulting clients–so they can quickly and effectively implement the strategies I recommend.