Gentle Frog’s Bookkeeping Lily Pad

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

Episode Twenty Eight - I’m Considering Offering Group Coaching. Help Me Decide!

Hey there, it's Rachel from Gentle Frog! I'm super excited to share a little something I've been pondering – a group coaching program designed specifically for new bookkeepers.
Imagine a space where we tackle those first-client jitters together, with live support and a treasure trove of resources.
Curious? Click here to learn more let me know if you’re interested.
https://gentlefrog.com/group-coaching

Episode Twenty Six - Marketing Tips For Small Business with Jodi Snow

In this episode of Gentle Frog's Bookkeeping Lily Pad, Rachel Barnett and Jody Snow dive into the challenges entrepreneurs face, regardless of their business's size. They share insights on creative, budget-friendly marketing strategies that work for people who want to attend in person events as well as for folks who are more inclined to market virtually.
1,000,000 cups: https://www.1millioncups.com/s/
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: https://10ksbapply.com/
SCORE workshops: https://www.score.org/workshops-events
Texas Woman’s University, Center for Entrepreneurs: https://twu.edu/center-women-entrepreneurs/

Episode Twenty Five - I Was Wrong About Course Pricing

Join Rachel Barnett as she delves into the challenges and revelations of reevaluating her pricing model. This episode offers a candid look at the trial and error behind optimizing course offerings, the power of listening to one's audience, and the importance of being flexible in business strategy. A journey of discovery for bookkeepers and entrepreneurs alike.
“Before You Stop Posting On Instagram or Youtube... You NEED to Watch This.” by Vanessa Lau https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyLTuw8d12I
12 week year: https://12weekyear.com/
Gentle Frog’s Courses: https://www.gentlefrog.com/qbo-courses/

Episode Twenty Four - What is a Niche?

In this episode, Rachel Barnett explores the concept of niches in the context of owning and operating a small bookkeeping business. She discusses the flexibility of niches, how they can be based on factors like geography or software preference, and the importance of working with clients you enjoy.
 
Why Kate Josephine Johnson niched in Freshbooks: https://www.freshbooks.com/blog/kate-josephine-johnson
Kate’s bookkeeping website: https://heritagebusinessservices.com/
Accounting Coach: https://www.accountingcoach.com/
Julie and Julia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_%26_Julia
Moroccan cookbook that I’ve used for years and love: Amazon Cookbook
Here is a 10 min YouTube interview that I found about niches and I really liked it, I found it after recording or I would have mentioned it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgerS0pPxP8
Nerd Enterprises aka Seth David’s 97 and Up group (affiliate link): https://www.nerdenterprises.com/a/20214/DyoHDAZY

Episode Twenty Three - Clarifying Your Subcontracting Journey: Expectations vs. Reality

In this episode Rachel talks about managing your expectations as a person who goes to work as a subcontractor for someone else. Specifically, thinking about what you’re hoping to get out of the experience of subcontracting. In her experience most subcontracting gigs are just to pass off overflow work and not to provide mentorship to others but those opportunities do exist. She talks about feedback she’s been given when she mentors others, this is shared so that the listener can perhaps use it to identify what they’re hoping to get out of a relationship with others.
Gentle Frog’s VIP offer: https://www.gentlefrog.com/vip-offer/
Fake check scam: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-report-fake-check-scams
Goodreads about The One Thing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16256798-the-one-thing
QuickBooks Online Apps: https://apps.com/
‘Appy Hour: https://www.facebook.com/qbappyhour and https://www.theappyhour.com/
SCORE mentors: https://www.score.org/find-mentor
Facebook group for this podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gentlefrogsbookkeepinglilypad
Our other podcast, Gentle Frog’s Bookkeeping Landing Pad: https://gentlefrogslandingpad.podbean.com/

Episode Twenty Two - Navigating Doubts and Seeking Experienced Guidance in Bookkeeping

In today's episode of Gentle Frog's Bookkeeping Lilypad, Rachel Barnett dives into the parallels between learning Pilates and learning to be a bookkeeper for small businesses. She shares her personal experience of doubting her Pilates technique based on seeing others perform an exercise differently and applies this to the experience of seeing answers in online forums and how just because someone is confident, doesn’t make them right. 
Rachel encourages listeners to seek advice from those who've truly walked the path before, highlighting the value of authentic experience over mere opinion.
 
Facebook Community Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gentlefrogsbookkeepinglilypad
Pilates machine: https://www.pilates.com/collections/pilates-reformers/
Seth David / Nerd’s Guide to the Galaxy:
https://www.nerdenterprises.com/a/2147522163/DyoHDAZY (affiliate link but it’s free)
Becky Frampton / Pachira Business Solutions: https://pachirabusinesssolutions.com/
Gentle Frog VIP offer: https://www.gentlefrog.com/vip-offer/
Varonica Wasek / 5 MB Academy course: https://courses.5mbacademy.com/courses/shopify-bookkeeping-method
Seth David / Nerd Enterprises courses: https://www.nerdenterprises.com/a/2147505668/DyoHDAZY (affiliate link)
Ron Baker and Ed Kless / The Soul of Enterprise Podcast: https://www.thesoulofenterprise.com/
Mark Wickersham / Value Pricing: https://www.wickersham.co.uk/
Ski Skirt Example: https://www.columbiasportswear.ca/en/c/women-bottoms-shortsskorts/?prefv1=Warmth&prefn1=productTechnology
My other podcast, Gentle Frog’s Landing Pad: https://gentlefrogslandingpad.podbean.com/

Episode Twenty One - Discussion: Anne Little & Rachel Barnett on Navigating Price Increases

In this episode, Anne Little and Rachel Barnett chat about how to handle price increases with clients. They talk about timing, minimums and the challenges of raising the price when you’re a new bookkeeper. 
The podcast is a bit of Anne interviewing Rachel but more it’s two friends talking about the challenges of raising the price and the legacy clients who get special treatment as a way of saying “thank you”.
Little Details Bookkeeping: https://littledetailsbookkeeping.com/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/gentlefrogsbookkeepinglilypad
Varonica Wasek: https://www.vmwasek.com/
Dawn Brolin: https://www.dawnbrolin.com/
Seth David’s 97 & Up Group: https://www.nerdenterprises.com/a/2147546802/DyoHDAZY (Affiliate link)

Episode Twenty - Assessing the Need for Time Tracking in Bookkeeping

In this episode of "Gentle Frog's Bookkeeping Lily Pad," Rachel Barnett delves into the subject of time tracking for bookkeepers. She opens up about her personal choice of not tracking time and explores the motivations behind bookkeepers opting to track their time, such as identifying wasted time, improving quote accuracy, and reevaluating pricing strategies. Rachel also discusses a range of time tracking tools available, including traditional options like Excel and more modern apps like Clockify and Timely, highlighting their ability to assist in monitoring different aspects of work, including client-related tasks and administrative duties. Throughout the episode, Rachel emphasizes the significance of making an individual decision regarding time tracking practices.
Timely - https://timelyapp.com/
Clockify - https://clockify.me/
Toggl - https://toggl.com/
QuickBooks Time - https://quickbooks.intuit.com/time-tracking/timesheets/
The Soul of Enterprise Podcast - https://www.thesoulofenterprise.com/
Seth David’s free group - https://www.nerdenterprises.com/a/2147522163/DyoHDAZY