The Heart and Science Journey of
Building Your Bookkeeping Business

Do you run a bookkeeping service, and are tired of having all of your attention taken up by keeping your current clients happy, while actually needing to focus on growing your business?

You’re an outstanding bookkeeper and you’ve got an incredible knack for numbers. But you don’t know as much as you’d like to about how to run your business effectively.

Having your own business is turning out to be more difficult than you’d expected. And perhaps you’re not getting as many clients as you’d hoped and envisioned.

You need to get enough of the right clients without burning yourself out.

But you don’t want to work with just anyone who comes along asking for the lowest price.

You want to work with clients who will appreciate all that you have to offer.

You want to run a successful and profitable business.

And you want to still have time for your life too!

You just don’t know how to bring it all together!

“Jessica is a boon to my new business. I came across the link to her web site quite by accident while surfing the web one day right at the beginning of my journey. What a lucky occurrence! I looked at her web site and was impressed so contacted her to begin a coaching relationship. Dates were scheduled and off we went.

Each step of the way has been an adventure. The lessons have been expertly paced to keep pace with my growth as a freelance bookkeeper. Jessica has guided me through each step with skill and grace. I am so pleased with my progress. With Jessica’s help, in 2 and a half months, I already have 3 clients that are right for me, and the potential to add many more because I now have the tools I need to support that growth.

Jessica is so generous in sharing infrastructure of a small bookkeeping business. She has freely given examples of the documents and pricing formulas etc. that she uses in her own practice, saving me oodles of time in not having to invent them on my own.

In working with my new clients, sometimes I get carried away in my thinking about what I need to do to help them. When I discuss these issues with Jessica, in a very practical and gentle manner she redirects my thinking to put parameters around the problem, help me see who owns the problem, and supports my ability to come up with a solution that works for both me and the client. This is a talent I believe few people possess, but I cannot emphasize enough what a big help it is to me as a newbie to the freelance bookkeeping world.

I recommend Jessica wholeheartedly to anyone just starting out, or who has been at it awhile and needs a boost in a right direction, that is toward growth and success in their practice.”

Christine Kondo
Straight Forward Bookkeeping Services, LLC

You’ve tried to make it work. You’ve tried some or all of the following approaches:

Reading self-help and business books written by the gurus and experts
Working all hours (not to mention nights and every weekend)
Attending countless workshops, classes, and seminars
Staying in a dead-end job you hate while trying to run your business on the side
Continuing to work for someone else because you fear going out on your own
Hiring staff so you can focus on trying to bring in more clients without the work piling up
Advertising and networking, even though it feels icky or hasn’t worked well
Ignoring the call from deep within your heart that says “this isn’t working”

Maybe you’ve even decided that if you don’t find a way to make your business work, you’re going to give up on it. You’re going to let your dream die and go back to working for someone else.

You CAN have the bookkeeping business you’ve dreamed of having.

It takes a combination of practical and spiritual tools. This combined approach holds the key that can unlock the door to your dream business.

Spirituality? You might be wondering what the heck spirituality has to do with running your business.

What I’ve learned in my life and business is that the practical stuff is important, but the secret ingredient of most happy, successful entrepreneurs is that they can access peace and wisdom from within their hearts, instead of running on empty.

Personally, when I brought spirituality into my business life, I went from being crazily overworked – with never enough time to manage all the aspects of my business and still have time for my family and personal life – to actually spending a full hour during my workday in restful spiritual practice. And since then, my business is thriving and my life is so much more enjoyable!

So the big question is how do you bring both heart and science into your business?

You have all the knowledge, insight, wisdom, strength, and guidance that you need.

Right there, within you.

You only need to turn within and seek what you need most.

Here are the basic tools you’ll need:

Connect with the problems within your business. It may be hard to believe, but within our problems are gifts. This is true within your business and your life. That brick wall you’re always up against? It’s there to stop you in your tracks. It’s a sign to wake you up. And until you say “YES” and get curious about what’s really next, it’ll be there every time.
Create systems within your business. Marketing, getting the work done, bringing in new clients and keeping the ones you already have – none of those things happen automatically. They take work. Hard work. But having systems in place, systems that really work and help to lighten the load on your back, make the difference.
Connect with yourself. To help your clients, to help your business, and to make a better living, you must first help yourself. You must invite love in and wash away your fears. You must refuel, replenish, and get on solid ground. And you don’t have to do it alone. There are concrete action steps you can take to make it happen. And we can take those steps together.

On one level you need to address whatever isn’t working in practical and systematic terms within your business. And on another level you need to address the same issues within yourself. It’s so easy to live in fear and overwhelm. It’s so easy to stay where you are – where you’re familiar with your challenges and problems. And it’s normal to attempt to think your way out. But thinking alone hasn’t solved your problems.

So let’s take a radical new approach, return to the love you have within yourself and the love that brought you to your business in the first place, and let’s sort this all out – together.

Then you can move into truly utilizing your talents and skills to help your clients and make a profit, while also caring for yourself and your loved ones.

You’ll learn new skills that you can practice, develop, and embrace. You’ll be well on the road to creating a business that incorporates heart and science to make magic really happen!

An exchange of messages in March of 2010 that I think you may find helpful and insightful as you evaluate my Heart and Science Journey of Building Your Bookkeeping Business offer:

“Dear Stacy,

I am in the beginning process of starting a home based bookkeeping service and employing Jessica Salzman to coach me. She gave your name and e-mail address as a reference. What can you tell me about Jessica?”

Stacy’s response:

“Hi,

Jess has been my bookkeeper for a bit more than a year, and she’s the very first person who ever made me feel safe with regard to my books and the financial picture of my business. She’s awesome–as a person, as a bookkeeper, and as someone who has the ability to impact the lives and businesses of her clients.

I can only imagine that she would bring all of that to whatever she would teach you.

And that brings me to another point. In case you don’t know who I am, I’m the chick who formalized the Virtual Assistance profession 13 years ago. I’ve trained more than 1000 people to own and operate their own successful VA practices. And if *I* wanted to learn to run a bookkeeping service, I’d ask Jess to help me. That’s really about the highest praise I can give anyone. 🙂

Good luck with creating the business you most want!

Warmly,
Stacy”

Stacy Brice
Founder of AssistU.com

Introducing: The Heart and Science Journey of Building Your Bookkeeping Business

The four-month journey to building your dream business

Building a business that loves you back while you serve your clients and make a profit

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Why I created the Heart and Science Journey of Building Your Bookkeeping Business

I have been a bookkeeper and business manager for over thirteen years (and counting!). In January of 2006 I started my own bookkeeping service, Heart Based Bookkeeping, and began my incredible journey of growing my business from a small, profitable, solopreneur business, into a team-driven nationwide virtual services firm. I then made a huge decision in January of 2009 to return to running my business as a soul proprietor.

(Wondering what that is? “soul proprietor: A noun, meaning a business person or entrepreneur who balances work with emotional and spiritual growth.”)

Along the way I’ve learned critical lessons that I was never taught in bookkeeping training school, nor did I learn these lessons while working for other small businesses throughout the years. This course incorporates a unique blend of the extensive trainings and personal lessons I have been exposed to along the way.

You can cut your learning curve in half by joining us on The Heart and Science Journey.

A cross-country journey is similar to growing a business. When you first set out, you only need the map for the state you’re currently in. But once you get to the border and cross over into a new state, you need a new map.

The Heart and Science Journey provides you with the multiple maps you need to get where you want to be in your business.

The MAPS of The Heart and Science Journey

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Marketing

How to reach your ideal client
How to fill your practice with clients you love
How to set yourself apart from the competition (hint: there isn’t any competition!)

Accounting

How to price your services profitably
How to understand the Story Behind the Numbers within your business
How to run your business like a business and in return, get much more out of your time and efforts

Productivity

How to add clients without losing your work/life balance
How to grow at the right pace for you
How to track all the things that need your attention without becoming overwhelmed

Spirituality

How to have a solid foundation by using a simple, non-religious daily practice
How to sustain and nourish yourself and your business
How to replenish your body, mind, and soul so your business can thrive and grow

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“My favorite thing about working with Jessica is how easy she makes a laid out plan. Working with her has helped my business because all the answers I need to the questions I have about my business are simplified and the answers are now right in front of me.

When asking Jessica questions, she brings things to a level of what makes sense to you. She adapts to your learning style. One of the special and unique things about working with Jessica is how she is very open minded and very easy to work with.

I feel comfortable working with her because she is honest and very kind, and she has a lot of patience dealing with hard or easy tasks.Ã‚Â Also, she has always been available to answer any questions or concerns we have in a timely fashion.

Jessica has addressed unique problems and my specific needs in our work together. I would absolutely recommend Jessica’s help, teaching, and training!”

James O. Thorndike III, President,
Thorndike Corporation

Because this is the very first time I’m offering this course in this in-depth and all inclusive format, you’ll receive the incredible benefit of having this course tailored to exactly meet your needs as we work together as a dynamic group. I’ll provide the teachings, systems, and exercises and together we will implement them in a way that works for you and your unique business. Your questions will be welcomed and encouraged and I’ll ensure you receive the information you need to build your business with heart and science.

You will also qualify for future discounts on our new offers for bookkeepers as we create and offer them.

Each session will have ample time for questions and answers, and our class forum will also provide a place for collaboration with your classmates. No questions will be considered off limits and you’ll be free to inquire about whatever is challenging you within your business.

You will also have the option to schedule 1-on-1 sessions to work closely with me on your most challenging issue within your unique business. I’ll also be available to answer those pesky questions you may have about a complicated accounting challenge or a QuickBooks conundrum that no one else has been able to figure out yet.

Regardless of what stage your practice is in, The Heart and Science Journey will provide you with the building blocks to creating a sustainable and fulfilling bookkeeping business that will support you while you do the work you love. You CAN grow your business while still having a life too.

Here’s what comes with this program:

Teleclasses: A total of eight 90-minute to 2-hour teleconference calls in four months. All classes will meet on Wednesdays at 12 noon Eastern time. To find out what time that is in your part of the world, click to see the world clock.

Dates of all classes:

Wednesdays 12 PM – 2 PM Eastern
January 21, 28
February 4, 18
March 4, 18
April 8, 22

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Class recordings: MP3 recordings of each class. Within a few days of each class, you will have access to the live recording of each group call as an MP3. This way, you’ll never miss out, even if something comes up and prevents you from attending the call. You’ll also be able to listen to the class as many times as you want again in the future as your business continues to grow and change.

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Partnered exercises: In between our group calls, you’ll be paired up with another class participant to work together on the class materials. While group sessions and online feedback are really powerful, they aren’t enough. You need one-on-one time for compassionate, accountable support to actually get things done. You’ll be partnered with other participants to get that one-on-one support.

Exercise worksheets: While working with your partner and on your own in between classes, you’ll have the support of exercise worksheets to guide you. The worksheets will include exercises we’ll be doing together in class and they will also become a long-term resource for you as you re-visit particularly helpful exercises again and again.

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Class forum: Your class will have access to a private, online discussion forum. Rather than filling your inbox with a flood of emails from the group, we’ll use a powerful online discussion forum that keeps posts grouped by subject, with easy-access archives, and lots of opportunity for detailed feedback, collaboration, and support. I’ll be present in the forum to support you as we progress through The Heart and Science Journey.

mini-mini-scorecardphoto Customized report: Our Story Behind the Numbers Report–customized for your bookkeeping practice–will allow us to compare your business to others within the industry and target specific areas of your business for improvement. We’ll be able to identify concrete action steps that you can take, now and in the future, to increase profits, reduce expenses, and create a stronger company. (The results of your personalized report will be held in strict confidence and the information will not be shared with anyone but you.)

Click here to review a sample Story Behind the Numbers Report.

And there are premium bonuses too:

Why premium bonuses? You get these bonuses with the premium version of the class, and they are intended to help solidify, strengthen, and support the implementation of everything you’ll be learning and integrating over the four months of the class.

By including them as premium bonuses, I can get them to you without you having to guess what you need, and you save hundreds of dollars.

1-on-1 sessions: You’ll be able to schedule 2 private 1-on-1 sessions (60 minutes in length) with me during the course of our four-month Heart and Science Journey. 1-on-1 sessions are a powerful way to address challenging areas of your business and work closely with me to really go deep with the implementation of the Journey’s teachings in your business and life.

Follow up teleclass: After a month of integrating what you’ve learned, you’re bound to have questions about specific issues you’ve come up against in your business. Come to the follow-up teleseminar and ask about those issues, and I’ll help you work through them. 1 month after the course ends, on May 20, I will be hosting the follow up teleclass.

Follow up 1-on-1 session: As an additional bonus, premium participants will be able to schedule a follow up 1-on-1 session (60 minutes) with me. This session will be scheduled within the three months following the course and it can focus on any aspect of your business that’s challenging you.

So here it is:

What’s Included	Core Class	Premium
Teleclasses, a total of 8 strongly facilitated group meetings on the phone. Wednesdays 12 PM Eastern Click to convert time zones. January 21, 28 February 4, 18 March 4, 18 April 8, 22	YES!	YES!
Class MP3 recordings. Never miss a class!	YES!	YES!
Partnered exercises between classes.	YES!	YES!
Exercise worksheets.	YES!	YES!
Online discussion forum.	YES!	YES!
Customized business report.	YES!	YES!
Premium Bonus: Two 1-on-1 sessions	Â	YES!
Premium Bonus: Follow up teleclass Wednesday, May 20, 12 PM Eastern	Â	YES!
Premium Bonus: Follow up 1-on-1 session	Â	YES!
Price (Paid per month for four months.)	$1,098 total at $275.50/mo	$1,298 total at $324.50/mo
Early-bird Price (If registered by Dec 29 – save $200) (Paid per month for four months.)	$898 total at $224.50/mo	$1,098 total at $275.50/mo
To apply for one of the 8 spots, please fill out the application below. This course is also available in a teleclass format for healing/helping professionals and as a one-on-one coaching program for all small business owners.

The 87.5% Total Guarantee (87.5%?)

It’s very important to me that this course helps you get where you want to go. You can decide, for any reason, up to six months after the end of the class, that the class didn’t work for you and you want a refund. But, there are some conditions.

That’s where the 87.5% comes in. This class works, but only if you attend and follow-through. If you complete 87.5% of the class: attending 7 out of the 8 classes, showing up for 7 out of the 8 partner exercises, and complete 87.5% of the assignments, and you are still unhappy with the results, then I’ll be happy to refund any tuition you paid towards this course.

Fill out the application below, and you’ll be joining us on this amazing journey shortly.

Ready to apply?

Please answer the following questions in as much detail as you like. The more I know, the better I can understand what you need. I’ll review your answers in confidence.