Shows
The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast198 ⎸ Building toward an Exit with Maggie LordSend us a textIn this episode of the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast, Serena chats with Maggie Lord, a powerhouse entrepreneur who sold her media company to David's Bridal and now helps female founders do the same. Maggie shares her journey from starting a wedding blog in 2008 to selling her company 12 years later, and reveals insider knowledge about business valuations, exit strategies, and how bookkeepers play a crucial role in preparing businesses for sale.In this episode you’ll hear:Why Maggie is passionate about helping female founders prepare their businesses for acquisitionThe th...2025-05-0737 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast196 ⎸ The Comeback Blueprint: What Every Ambitious Man Needs to Hear with Cletus CoffeySend us a textIn this powerful episode of The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast, Serena Shoup chats with Cletus Coffey, former pro athlete, single dad, and founder of Torch Training. Cletus shares his remarkable journey from professional sports to entrepreneurial failures to finding his authentic purpose through personal transformation.In this episode you’ll hear:Cletus's journey from pro athlete to struggling entrepreneur to finding true alignmentPractical frameworks for balancing ambition, family, and personal growthHow to break free from achievement addiction and redefine success beyond the "scoreboard"The importance of ma...2025-04-2341 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast195 | Bookkeeping in the Fair Tax EraSend us a textIn this mini-episode, Serena shares her research on the Fair Tax Act and what it could mean for bookkeepers. She explains how this potential legislation would eliminate income tax and the IRS, replacing them with a national sales tax. Serena offers practical advice for bookkeepers to prepare for this potential shift and future-proof their businesses.In this episode you’ll hear:A breakdown of what the Fair Tax Act actually means (goodbye income tax, hello 23-30% national sales tax!)How bookkeeping services would evolve rather than disappear in th...2025-04-1613 min
The Courage Coalition3 Essential Tools to Power Your Small Business with guest Serena ShoupEntrepreneurship is a wild, exhilarating ride—one that often starts with passion, purpose, and a dream. But when it comes to money, many business owners find themselves feeling lost, overwhelmed, or downright intimidated. That’s where courage comes in. In my conversation with Serena Shoup, a corporate CPA turned entrepreneur and mentor for bookkeepers, we dug into the power of financial clarity and the simple yet essential tools that can help small business owners feel more in control of their money.One of the biggest mistakes business owners make? Avoiding their numbers. W...2025-04-0749 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast193 | Marketing without Social MediaSend us a textSerena dives deep into marketing strategies for bookkeepers and small business owners who are skeptical or overwhelmed by social media, sharing practical tips for building connections and growing your business.What You’ll Learn:Marketing isn't just about social media: Discover a multi-pronged approach including offline networking, online presence, and website strategyBuild your "circle of influence" by connecting with complementary professionals like insurance agents, bankers, and consultantsHow to start small and prioritize your marketing efforts without getting overwhelmedThe power of delivering exceptional service as your best marketing tool...2025-04-0215 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast191 | Setting up TaxJar for eCommerce BusinessesSend us a textIn today's bite-sized episode, we're diving into the nitty-gritty of setting up TaxJar for eCommerce businesses. Whether you're a bookkeeper with some eCommerce clients or an online seller yourself, stick around. Serena's got some super helpful insights coming your way, complete with screen sharing over on YouTube if you're up for it.Resources mentioned:TaxJarAvalaraShopifySquareLearn more about sales tax in the sales tax workshop: http://ambitiousbookkeeper.com/salestaxFor experienced bookkeepers & accountants:Learn how to start your bookkeeping business in The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator®: h...2025-03-1910 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast190 ⎸ Building Business Together with Megan ToblerSend us a textIn this episode, we're diving into a wonderful conversation between Serena Shoup and Megan Tobler. Megan shares her inspiring journey from corporate sales to building a vibrant business community for moms in entrepreneurship.In this episode you’ll hear:The reality of juggling motherhood and building a business from the ground up.How Megan leveraged her natural talents from sales to start her own podcast, create a community, and ultimately leave the corporate world behind.Megan's new community initiative, Together, which focuses on supporting women like us in th...2025-03-1234 min
BrandWhys®: The Healthpreneur’s Guide to Clients & Credibility10: The Strategy and Challenges Behind Serena Shoup's RebrandOur guest today is Serena Shoup, a corporate CPA turned CEO of her own bookkeeping business, a mentor for other bookkeepers and accountants, and a mom of three. Serena's rebranding journey is one of the most comprehensive we've featured, involving a total name change, a shift in services, and much more.
In this episode, Serena takes us through her transformation from freelancing under her own name to creating a brand that attracts her ideal clients while setting up her business for a potential future sell.
We'll dive into the reasons behind her rebranding decisions, the challenges o...2024-10-2223 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper PodcastBONUS ⎸ Scotty + Serena BTS of performing at XeroconSend us a textWe’ve just come back from Xerocon 2024 Nashville, and i’m giving you a backstage pass to the inner workings of how Scotty ’OKR’. Scarano secured the mainstage for one of his accounting raps—and included me in the ride!In this episode you’ll hear:the story behind Scotty & I performing at XeroconScotty’s journey rapping about accounting& you’ll get to see the actual performance (if you watch the episode on YOUTUBE HERE)Resources mentioned in this episode:Episode 200 of Accounting HighEpisode 72 with Scotty2024-08-2958 min
The Money DiariesEpisode 17: Bookkeeping for small businesses with Serena ShoupI loved this conversation with Serena Shoup about her money story and the importance of bookkeeping for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
You can connect with Serena below.
instagram.com/ofcoursebookkeeping
Website: http://ofcoursebookkeeping.com
Free DIY Bookkeeping Guide: http://www.ofcoursebookkeeping.com/guide2024-08-2654 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast160 ⎸ The Alyssa + Serena Show Part 1Send us a textIn this interview episode, I’m chatting with my biz bestie, Alyssa Lang (Workflow Queen)! Introducing…The Alyssa + Serena Show: Part 1. We reflect on personal & professional experiences, offering valuable insights and strategies for navigating the world of bookkeeping and entrepreneurship.In this episode you’ll hear:Serena's and Alyssa's business strategies & approachesFeeling overwhelmed and unmotivated after a breakEmpowering team membersSerena and Alyssa's evolving friendship & business relationshipReevaluating life experiences and priorities in work and lifeAdvice for setting up and delegating tasks in a firmResources mentioned in thi...2024-08-071h 02The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast161 ⎸ The Alyssa + Serena Show Part 2Send us a textThis interview episode is Part 2 of The Alyssa + Serena Show with my biz bestie, Alyssa Lang (Workflow Queen)! We talk about managing clients, offering advisory services, and the importance of SOPs in a bookkeeping firm. From practical business advice to lighthearted banter, you’ll wanna tune in to elevate your bookkeeping game!In this episode you’ll hear:the difference between consulting and advisory servicesstrategies for hiring and delegating taskshow to efficiently communicate advisory servicesthe importance of acknowledging & embracing personal life seasonsdifferent methods of documenting processesRe...2024-08-071h 03
The People Gardener Podcast with Rhonda DelaneyUnleash The Power Of Xero and Hubdoc! with Serena ShoupCan your small business afford to miss out on the financial tools that could save you time and money? Join us for an insightful conversation with Serena Shoup, an accomplished CPA turned small business owner, as she breaks down her top recommendations for small business finance management. Serena takes us through the benefits of using Relay, an online banking platform that supports the Profit First methodology, and shows how it seamlessly integrates with popular accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero. Learn why separating your business and personal finances is crucial and how Relay's features can simplify team spending management...2024-06-2029 min
The Marketing Freelancer: Unicorns Unite#196 Bookkeeping for Virtual Assistant Businesses with Serena ShoupAll of us are freelancers for a reason: we want freedom. We also envisioned financial freedom. We're diving deeper into the bookkeeping, the accounting, and the expenses we can write off so that we are not paying the IRS as much at the end of the year (and keeping more for ourselves). We're getting credit for running our business because we're already paying a self-employment tax. We might as well take off these additional write-offs so we're not penalized for making more money. But we're doing this so we face our numbers, learn our numbers, a...2024-02-2755 min
Courses and Funnels PodcastHow She Built a $500K Online Course Business | #8 with Serena ShoupJoin Lucas as he is joined by our guest Serena Shoup as they dive into how she built a thriving online course business teaching people how to start their own bookkeeping firms. They discuss how she started with a simple $27 PDF and has grown it into multiple courses and over $500k in sales. Key topics covered:· The importance of market research to identify what people really want and will buy· How she built her first product based on frequent questions in Facebook groups· Tips for transitioning customers from a low-priced intro of...2023-11-3036 min
Conquering Workflows & Systems For Bookkeepers & Accountants | with Alyssa Lang (Workflow Queen)Uplevel Your Year End Client Experience with Serena ShoupAlyssa Lang interviews Serena Shoup, a full time educator and CPA who’s the owner and founder of both Ambitious Bookkeeper and Of Course Bookkeeping. Serena Shoup shares how she uplevels her year end client experience, she shares her year end process and tips and tricks to getting year end done smoothly.About our guest:Serena Shoup is a corporate CPA turned bookkeeping business CEO, mentor for other bookkeepers + accountants, mom of 3, and a closet musician! She built her business as a Sidehustle to motherhood when she left corporate to have her second da...2023-11-1450 minThe People Gardener Podcast with Rhonda DelaneyUnderstanding and Choosing the Right Bookkeeping Services for your Business with Serena ShoupEver felt lost in the maze of small business bookkeeping? Don't fret! We've got you covered as we sit down with Serena Shoup, a seasoned CPA and owner of a bookkeeping firm, to simplify the world of bookkeeping. Serena unravels the often-confusing role of a bookkeeper, helps you determine if your business needs one, and offers insights on the varying budget levels for bookkeeping services. If the thought of managing your own books feels like an uphill battle, stay tuned, as Serena shares a valuable lifeline - the benefits of a consult appointment with a bookkeeper.As...2023-11-0933 min
Course Creation Boutique's podcast#168: Profit-Conscious Business Decisions with Serena ShoupWhy Knowing Your Key Business Numbers Can Feel Empowering Are you paying attention to the numbers that make a difference in building your online, profitable business? CPA and bookkeeping expert Serena Shoup is on the podcast to highlight what it means to be a Profit Conscious CEO and the four numbers that matter when it comes to making the wisest business decisions. Talking numbers may not be as exciting as receiving the ping of every sale alert, but the bottom line matters as you’re growing a sustain...2023-11-0827 min
The New Generation Entrepreneur PodcastStreamlining Your Book Keeping, Write-Offs, and More with Serena ShoupWhen most people start a business, their focus is on revenue, sales, and bringing in money. Which is great (and necessary for running a business), but they also tend to overlook bookkeeping and taxes. This almost cost me tens of thousands of dollars, and it could cost you BIG money in savings, taxes, and more if you’re not careful. So on this episode of the podcast, I brought in a CPA and bookkeeping expert to talk about write-offs and healthy money management practices. Join me and Serena Shoup, the founder of Of Course Bookkeeping, who...2023-10-3156 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast115 ⎸ [SYSTEMS] Onboarding with Alyssa LangSend us a textIn this SYSTEMS episode, we have Alyssa Lang (Workflow Queen!) on with us again! We talk about ensuring clarity & efficiency in your client's onboarding journey, and we highlight the significance of creating seamless systems that allow for easier outsourcing or delegation.In this episode you’ll hear:the importance of separating processes in onboardingtech and tools we both use to automate onboarding as much as possiblea walk through of the onboarding process & touch points with clientsResources mentioned in this episode (some of these are affiliate li...2023-09-1335 min
Course Creator Community Podcast | Online Courses, Course Creation, Membership Sites and Online MarketingOrganising Finances for a New Online Business with Serena ShoupWelcome to the Course Creator Community PodcastIn this episode, Jono interviews Serena ShoupSerena is an accountant specifically for Course Creators. She’s also a Coach and a Mentor Dedicated to elevating the bookkeeping and accounting profession through mentoring & inspiring Bookkeepers. She’s the host of The Ambitious Bookkeeper® Podcast Connect with Serena:https://www.linkedin.com/in/serenashoup/https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper/---Want to connect with the Course Creator Community on Facebook?Join the Course Creator Community Facebook Group. We ha...2023-07-3045 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast103 ⎸ [Q&A] Why DIY E-Commerce is no-goSend us a textIn this Q&A episode, Serena talks about her experience taking a break from social media and how it benefited her mental health. She also shares tips on managing business social media pages and taking a closure period to focus on CEO work. Plus, you’ll hear her answer questions related to pricing and managing Ecommerce. Come get some actionable tips!In this episode you’ll hear:details on Serena’s social media hiatushow we handle holiday/closure periodshow to include software subscriptions in your pricingstrategies related to DIY Ec...2023-06-2142 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast102 ⎸ [Q&A] Simplify Your Clients Onboarding ExperienceSend us a textIn this Q&A episode, we’re tackling all things client onboarding. Serena shares tips on automating follow-ups, creating custom proposals, and scheduling follow-up appointments to gauge client interest. Plus, tips for recruiting and creating a checklist for future hires. This one is packed with goodies!In this episode you’ll hear:software recommendations for creating proposals & for HR supporthow to present multiple service options to potential clientshow to implement flat-rate pricinghow to establish credibility with new clientsResources mentioned in this episode:See how...2023-06-1427 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast101 ⎸ [Q&A] Keeping it Secure: File sharing for BookkeepersSend us a textOn this episode, we’re airing another Q&A! This time, Serena answers questions from our very own Ambitious community. She shares tips and tricks on file-sharing systems, backup software, core values, hiring strategies, and more.In this episode you’ll hear:how to utilize Google Drive and Hubdoc for your businessstrategies for finding quality candidates for hiringperks of being in BBA VIPResources mentioned in this episode:See how The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator® VIP can help you start or grow your bookkeeping business ↗️Th...2023-06-0742 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast98 ⎸ Balancing Client Acquisition with Delivering on PromisesSend us a textIn this episode, Serena talks about how to balance gaining new clients with delivering on promises for current clients.In this episode you’ll hear:Prioritize communication with current clientsSchedule specific times for client acquisition effortsConsider outsourcing non-essential tasksExperiment with different strategies to find what works best for your businessSet realistic expectations for yourself and your clientsDon't be afraid to ask for help or advice from others in the industryResources mentioned in this episode:The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator - Open for enrollment on sal...2023-05-1820 min
Mamas Making MoreMama Minisode with Serena ShoupThis is the very first Mama Minisode bonus episode! I wanted you to hear directly from moms who are running successful online businesses. In each Mama Minisode episode I'm asking my guests the same two questions: 1. What advice would you give to moms just starting out or in the newer phase of their online business journey?2. What has your online business meant for you and your family?My first guest is Serena Shoup, CPA. Serena is a CPA turned bookkeeping business CEO, mentor for other bookkeepers and accountants, mom of 3, and...2023-05-0104 min
Accounting High127 Ambitiously Crossing the Burnout Bridge (feat. Serena Shoup, CPA)Episode 127 | Recorded November 18, 2022
In this episode, Scott talks to Serena Shoup, CPA about her journey from college to becoming a CPA and eventually starting her own business. They also discuss motherhood, work-life balance, personal branding, and the importance of being intentional with social media. Tune in to learn more about Serena's story and insights on building a successful career while still prioritizing family and personal growth.
Who is Serena?
Ambitious side hustles to motherhood
Building the business so that there was more family time
Business development and helping others2023-04-141h 42The Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast88 ⎸ Creating a Plan for Taking the Leap with Meriah & SerenaSend us a textIn this episode, our leadership coach, Meriah, is interviewing ME, Serena, on my full story & journey on getting to where we are today!In this episode you’ll hear:How I got into accountingTips for managing a sidehustle/studying for the CPA examCreating a plan to leave your 9-5and much more!Resources mentioned in this episode:The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator🎙️ Should you get your CPA license?Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listeni...2023-03-0853 minConquering Workflows & Systems For Bookkeepers & Accountants | with Alyssa Lang (Workflow Queen)What to Expect When Your Priorities Change From When You First Started Your Business with Serena ShoupI interview Serena Shoup, a full time educator and CPA who’s the owner and founder of both Ambitious Bookkeeper and Of Course Bookkeeping. She shares what business is like when your priorities shift throughout the years, exercises you can do to align yourself with your priorities and what her word of the year is.In this episode you’ll hear:The difference in priorities at the start of your business vs when you’ve been doing this a whileAn easy exercise to put your priorities into perspectiveHow we shifted the Breakthrough retreats to help s...2023-02-1452 min
The Ramble Refinery with Heather SagerLet's Talk Money: Confidently Handling Your Business Financials with my CFO, Serena ShoupWhether you’re just getting started as a business owner or you’ve been at it for years, it’s essential to have a firm grasp and a complete understanding of your business financials. Part of being confident in your brand is also understanding your finances—and there’s no one I trust more when it comes to this than my CFO, Serena Shoup.I ask Serena, who you might remember from episode 140, has graciously taken the mic while I rest and recover my voice.Serena is a founding member from our program, The Speake...2022-10-1830 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast68 ⎸ Client turned Bookkeeper with Austen & GinaSend us a textIn this episode, Serena Interviews former Clients: Austen & Gina Meier and they discuss some effective ways to market (especially if you have a niche) and tips for getting on your client’s level with how you talk to them.In this episode you’ll hear:strategies for niching downwhere to find your clientswhat business owners struggle with — where you can help!Connect with Austen and Gina here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/austenmeierThanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a scre...2022-10-0543 minThe Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast64 ⎸ How we collaborate with clients Part 2Send us a text This is part 2 of our previous episode where Meriah (my Director of Operations at Team Shoup) and I are breaking down how we collaborate as a team to get everything done and maintain our team culture. In this episode you’ll hear:the tech and tools we use to collaborate externally(client-facing) and a few that we use to collaborate both internally and externallyhow we get the most out of these toolsour favoritestips to handle learning new toolsProducts Mentioned (some are affiliate lin...2022-09-0750 min