I'm joined in person by my biz bestie Alyssa Lang of Workflow Queen, and we are SO pumped to talk about the return of the Virtual Bookkeeper Industry Survey round two, baby! We're going bigger, better, and more intentional this time around, with a goal of 2,500 responses, a charity donation tied to Make-A-Wish Foundation, and a brand new interactive data bot that lets you dig into the results yourself. Oh, and we may have gone down a rabbit hole or two about AI, pricing, and what it actually means for running a boutique firm. You're welcome.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• A breakdown of the survey format, what questions changed from last year, how this data compounds over time, and why your honest answers help the whole industry
• How AI should actually be affecting your pricing
• How people are (and aren't) implementing AI in their firms, and the offshoring and automation data we're dying to dig into
• The trust recession around AI, what it means for your client relationships

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• TAKE the Survey: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/survey
• Or take it Here: https://www.workflowqueen.com/survey
• Last Year’s Results: https://youtu.be/L0nwFo5A7xM

Connect with Alyssa

🌐 Website: workflowqueen.com

📱 IG: @workflowqueen

🎙️ Podcast: Conquering Workflows & Systems with the Workflow Queen

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

Respond to The State of the Virtual Bookkeeping Industry Survey: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/survey

Opt in to get the report or just skip straight to the survey! Either way, we appreciate your support.

Get access to the Dubsado Decoded Private Podcast Series here>>

This episode is a replay of my April 2026 live Q&A, and we cover a ton of ground that I know so many of you are dealing with right now.

Whether you're just starting out and trying to figure out where to even begin with automation, or you're in the thick of building a team and wondering why delegating feels harder than just doing it yourself, this one's for you. We also get into some juicy topics like QBO Payroll versus Gusto, how to handle S-Corp clients who are flying under the radar on reasonable salary, and what to do when a competitor is trying to tank your reputation online.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• The very first thing I recommend automating in your bookkeeping practice
• How to confidently ask a prospective client for access to their books
• QBO Payroll versus Gusto
• How to advise S-Corp clients on taking a reasonable salary

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Elevate: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/elevate
• The Bookkeeping Business Accelerator: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/bba
• Emailing List: ambitiousbookkeeper.com/subscribe
• Dubsado (free audio series): https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/dubsado
• Dubsado (affiliate link): https://www.dubsado.com/?c=shoupcpa
• Dubsado Decoded: https://kendracourtney.com/dubsado-decoded/
• Breakthrough by Workflow Queen: https://serenashoup.krtra.com/t/IKUxtNZoz7lF
• YouTube: "Is It Time to Move My Clients to Xero?"
• Xero Partner Program (affiliate link): https://xeroamericas.partnerlinks.io/79afz10exu7d
• Gusto (affiliate link): https://gusto.com/partners/i/serena591

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow me on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

Respond to The State of the Virtual Bookkeeping Industry Survey: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/survey

Opt in to get the report or just skip straight to the survey! Either way, we appreciate your support.

Get access to the Dubsado Decoded Private Podcast Series here>>

This episode is a behind-the-scenes conversation with Max Emory.

We get into the nitty gritty of what it actually takes to serve REI clients, how he built his team, the new community he's launching for bookkeepers who want to level up their marketing and sales game, and how he manages it all with two boys under two at home.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why real estate investing is one of the most complex niches a bookkeeper can serve
• How overcomplicated entity structures are hurting real estate investors
• The behind-the-scenes of Time Capital University and GoPro Bookkeeping community
• How Max runs a lean, profitable firm with strong boundaries around his time

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Bookkeeper Launch: https://bookkeepers.com/bookkeeper-launch/*
• Skool Community: https://www.skool.com/bookkeeping-for-rei/about*
• Nuts and Bolts Course - Max's REI bookkeeping training course inside his Skool community
• Multi Six Figure Bookkeeper Playbook - also inside the Skool community
• Spark Email App
• Loom
• Xero
• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
• 10x Is Easier Than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy

Meet Max Emory

Max Emory is the founder of Time Capital Bookkeeping and Time Capital University, a bookkeeper-turned-real-estate-expert who went from Marine Corps officer and mechanical engineer to building a thriving virtual bookkeeping firm that specializes in real estate investors and he has two boys under two at home!

Connect with Max Emory

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/millionairebookkeeper/
• Time Capital Bookkeeping : https://www.timecapitalbcs.com/
• Time Capital University: https://www.timecapitaluniversity.com/

Thanks for listening. If this episode inspired you in some way, take a screenshot of you listening on your device and post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @ambitiousbookkeeper

For more information about the Ambitious Bookkeeper Podcast or interest in our programs or mentoring visit our resources below:

• Visit our website: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com
• Follow the Blog: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/blog
• Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ambitiousbookkeeper
• Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serenashoupcpa

Thank you for your support of our show. If you haven’t left a review yet it’s super simple. Please go to ambitiousbookkeeper.com/podcast and leave your review.

Podcast Publishing Tools we use:

• Editing → Sabr Media LLC: https://www.iangilliam.com/sabr-media-llc
• Descript: https://get.descript.com/u7lubkx09073 (affiliate link)
• Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1753696 (affiliate link)

Respond to The State of the Virtual Bookkeeping Industry Survey: https://www.ambitiousbookkeeper.com/survey

Opt in to get the report or just skip straight to the survey! Either way, we appreciate your support.

Get access to the Dubsado Decoded Private Podcast Series here>>