Be Proud Of What You Did, Not What You Wish You Had Done
I'm not really into spring cleaning.
In fact, I'm not into summer, fall, or winter cleaning either.
::Together With Financial Cents::
Financial Cents has a library of templates built by accountants and bookkeepers!
I was recently invited to chat with Luke Templin on his podcast. It was a lovely invitation, as I always enjoy conversations with Luke. He’s a smart, kind, interesting fella (and the owner of FinDaily, one of my favourite apps).
This is how a part of our convo went:
Luke: What’s one thing you wish you had done sooner in your firm?
Me: Hired an admin.
Also, me: Can I say what worked well, that I’m glad I did do early?
Adopted cloud tech early
The timing was right, and I already had that mindset because the marketing industry I was in before my bookkeeping life was light years ahead of the accounting world on cloud tech
Billed mostly fixed fee, with some menu and hourly for OOS work
This was already in my mindset from my marketing biz, which was all scoped projects
Found a mentor, joined an association, and began attending live events where I met my tech partners
So, built industry relationships
Implemented my practice management app, Financial Cents
Actually, I wish I had done this even sooner…
Took on only great fit clients
I had an advantage with a going-concern marketing company, and the bookkeeping side could grow organically
I realize this is hard if you are trying to get started with no financial foundation
What I didn't say, but on reflection, what I should have done much earlier:
Hired a cleaning service - for our home.
I know that doesn't sound like a business improvement, but it is. It cleared my mind of the thoughts of what was going on with the house.
Like the tasks my admin does (or like firm owners handling their own books - by themselves or with the help of their Aunt/Mother/Uncle/team member), I can clean our home, so can my husband.
We are actually decent at it, but we would put it off till the dust & dog fur would start winning, because it was something we loathed doing. Hiring a home cleaning service was one of the best dang things I have done for my business.
What have you been putting off? Is it putting a practice management app in place, documenting processes, hiring, delegating, sending videos, defining ideal clients, re-homing clients?
Is it doing your firm’s own books, cause I know a gal who would love to do them…
Make a list of what you would like to do, what you wish you had done already and pick the things off your list. One step at a time, one small change at a time and then I hope the next time you reflect back, you will be proud of what you did, not what you wish you had done.
Financial Cents is running a low-effort, high-reward way to clean up your ops, and discover tools that firm owners like you actually love using. You’re one quiz away from a better tech stack (and a shot at $1,000 to build it).
Ask any accounting firm owner what’s slowing them down, and you’ll rarely hear just one thing.
It’s not just the proposals. Or just the client docs. Or just the messy handoffs.
It’s the way all those moving parts don’t connect.
That’s why this campaign from some of the most trusted names in accounting technology brings you The Flavor Stack, a fun quiz that helps firm owners discover their “tech flavor” and build a stack that actually fits how they work.
Here’s how it works:
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These aren’t generic recommendations. The stack is curated from tools trusted by thousands of accounting and bookkeeping firms:
✔ Financial Cents (workflow and practice management)
✔ SmartVault (document management)
✔ Relay (business banking and bill pay)
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Join Your Peers Here
Intuit Connect Las Vegas
October 25-29, 2025
I’m moderating a panel with some super cool cats. Alternative business models: Rethinking growth without private equity
