Gentle Frog’s Bookkeeping Lily Pad

Bookkeeping Basics: Understanding Retained Earnings

What exactly is retained earnings, and how does QuickBooks Online handle it? In this short bookkeeping basics lesson, Rachel Barnett breaks down how retained earnings work, where to find it on your balance sheet, and why you don’t need to manually update it in QuickBooks. She also explains what a positive or negative retained earnings balance means for your business. Whether you're a bookkeeper or a small business owner, this quick explanation will help you understand this important accounting concept. Tune in and learn something new today!

Setting Expectations: How We Work with Clients

Clear communication sets the foundation for a great client relationship. In this episode, Rachel Barnett walks through her "How We Work" guide—a resource she shares with clients to outline expectations, processes, and policies. Learn why having a welcome document helps clients feel at ease, how to set boundaries around communication and scope, and what details you should consider including in your own version. Plus, Rachel shares insights on pricing, workflow transparency, and managing client responsibilities. Tune in and get ideas for your own bookkeeping business!Gentle Frog's How We Work document: https://www.gentlefrog.com/welcome-what-to-expect/

Surviving January as a Bookkeeper: Lessons & Strategies

January can be a stressful month for bookkeepers, but there are ways to make it easier! In this episode, Rachel Barnett reflects on what went well, what could improve, and how to simplify 1099 processing. She shares practical strategies, including W-9 collection tips, pricing structures, and the importance of setting boundaries for a smoother year-end. Plus, hear how blocking off time in December can set you up for success in January. Tune in and learn how to make next tax season better than before!

The Bookkeeping Lily Pad Podcast is Back!

Gentle Frog’s Bookkeeping Lily Pad podcast is back! This short teaser gives you a glimpse of what’s coming in Season 2—new episodes on accounting basics, bookkeeping business insights, and bite-sized lessons on accounting concepts. Whether you're a bookkeeper, small business owner, or just curious about bookkeeping, there’s something for you. Tune in for a fresh start and let us know what you’d like to hear next!

Episode Thirty Three - Bookkeeping Business Discussion: From Contractor Status to 1099s

In this episode join Rachel Barnett and the Bookkeeping Handmaid, Elizabeth Sims, in a discussion on the ins and outs of operating a small bookkeeping business. Tune in as they tackle common questions, and shed light on crucial aspects of running a successful bookkeeping venture. From addressing misconceptions about contractor status to unraveling the complexities of W-9s and 1099s. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this candid conversation is sure to provide valuable tips and inspiration to fuel your journey in the world of bookkeeping.

Episode Thirty Two - Unlocking Efficiency: The Roles of Admin Help in Business Operations

In this episode, Rachel dismantles the myth of the "super admin" and explores the various tasks that can be efficiently outsourced. From social media management to client communication oversight. Learn how strategic delegation can alleviate bottlenecks, empower your team, and propel your business forward. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just beginning to explore administrative support, tune in to uncover the secrets of maximizing efficiency with admin help.
 
Grow My Accounting Practice with Mike Michalowicz - https://growmyaccountingpractice.com/
Gentlefrog.com/about

Episode Thirty One - Identifying What Role to Fill First in Your Bookkeeping Business

As your business expands, you might find yourself at a crossroads, needing to bring on additional support. The first step? Figuring out which role to fill. It's important to identify exactly what you need and what will benefit you the most (not what’s trendy or popular). When Rachel embarked on her Gentle Frog journey, she didn't seek another bookkeeper. Instead, her initial hire was her former CRM manager (Nena) who was responsible for tracking incoming leads and nudging—sometimes pushing—her to follow up. This role was all about tying up loose ends. Spoiler: Rachel's need for someone to organize her loose ends hasn't changed in the past five years, this is why you hear about Jess so frequently!
 
Nena - my former “boss”, CRM manager, and right hand: https://www.linkedin.com/in/snezana-markoc-908124170/. If you are looking for someone to forcefully nudge you along, reach out to her and ask if she’s accepting clients.

Episode Thirty - Harmonizing Team Support in Your Bookkeeping Bookkeeping

In this episode, Rachel delves into setting clear expectations for working with your team and explores various strategies to support your team members effectively. She shares insights on creating a collaborative environment where both you and your team can thrive, achieving mutual satisfaction in the working relationship. Rachel highlights practical tools like Slack for communication and the importance of a thoughtful onboarding process.
Otter for transcriptions - https://otter.ai/home
Slack - https://slack.com/
The whole team - https://www.gentlefrog.com/about/
Nena, our former admin (CRM manager) who helped shape Rachel and Gentle Frog into what has become - https://www.linkedin.com/in/snezana-markoc-908124170/

Episode Twenty Nine - The Upsides of (Accidentally) Underbidding Projects

In this episode of Gentle Frog's Bookkeeping Lily Pad, Rachel Barnett dives into the silver linings of underbidding projects. Despite the initial feelings of disappointment, she highlights the benefits like cash flow, building relationships, gaining experience, and improving efficiency with software. Rachel also stresses the importance of learning from each project, whether it's mastering a new software or getting better at identifying things to look for when preparing your next proposal. Sometimes the win is that you’ve made someone else’s day better by offering them a screaming deal on their project.
Saasant: https://www.saasant.com/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gentlefrogsbookkeepinglilypad
Get on my calendar: https://gentlefrog.com/meeting
Interested in group coaching? https://gentlefrog.com/group-coaching

Episode Twenty Seven - Navigating Client-Caused Complications in Bookkeeping Projects

In this episode of Gentle Frog's Bookkeeping Lily Pad, Rachel Barnett talks about a bookkeeping dilemma: handling a client who messes up their financial records during the course of a cleanup, making it harder for the bookkeeper to finish the project because they’ve just created a bunch of extra work. Rachel gives an example where this happened (to someone else) and discusses possible ways to address this and other scope creep issues. 
 
Gentle Frog’s diagnostic review and clean up course: https://courses.gentlefrog.com/offers/AvrZAG8u/checkout
97 & Up — affiliate link & welcome offer: https://www.nerdenterprises.com/a/2147546802/DyoHDAZY
How we work and what to expect: https://www.gentlefrog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-Gentle-Frog-Welcome-and-What-to-Expect.pdf
My recent video on Rewind backup software: https://youtu.be/OjUpwlDaoHk?si=wcIu3NnNoG6XE_n1 (there are other videos on my YouTube channel)
My Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gentlefrogsbookkeepinglilypad
Wanna chat? Let’s grab Zoom coffee: https://gentlefrog.com/meeting