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Hey, it’s Bill von Fumetti with booming bookkeeping business. And today I’m here with another one of my successful students. This is Maggie.
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Hey there, Maggie. Hello. Thanks for taking a little bit of time to come share your story because a lot of people are out there, you know, considering whether or not this is right for them.
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And it always helps to hear from somebody who’s been successful. Absolutely. My pleasure.
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Honor. So let’s start with what life looked like for you before you started your bookkeeping business. Good question.
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Um, so for me, I’ve been accounting, yes. And about 11 years, um, prior to finding bookkeeping, booming bookkeeping business and, um, grow and my accounting career from the bottom, all the way to CFO, really grateful, uh, great opportunity position. Um, and I, we’re a blended family.
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And so we added one more potato to the pot. And so, uh, when he came along, um, uh, my two year old now, two year old, he was born and it was just, um, I just turned 40, something happens at 40 bill with us women. And, um, I was doing this CFO job.
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You know, I have a couple other children at home. I got my mom house and I just felt like something was, something was going to give, and so I was like, Oh, you don’t say it of my CFO position. Um, he was just under one years old and I really just, um, I, I just took time, you know what I’m saying? My husband said, you know what? Take whatever time you need.
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Um, and just kind of see what’s next. You know, sometimes we have, um, situations or things that happen in our life and we’re just like kind of earth shaking, like wait, I’m like, Oh my goodness, what are we going to do? And that’s kind of where I was at, you know? And so it took a couple months of reflection. Um, for me, you know, saying a lot of prayer and meditation and it was revealed to me, um, to be home number one, to be with my son and then I have a 22 year old daughter and she was so gracious months prior, Hey ma, you should open up your own bookkeeping business.
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I said, sweetheart, you must not see my octopus arms, right? But she’s so sweet. I said, Oh, thank you, sweetheart. That’s really nice.
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But it wasn’t until I started journaling and really just, um, taking that time to reflect on that, where the doors opened up and then that’s it. January of 22. Um, a lot of things were revealed to me, the name of the business, everything.
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And, um, I started, um, started the process of having my own, uh, bookkeeping business. What was that feeling like? Because you’ve got a family. What was that a little scary? It was, uh, I mean, my, my husband works, you know, at the time, uh, we actually own a family restaurant.
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You know what I’m saying? Currently we had two at the time. Um, so, you know, he’s entrepreneur minded as well. So he kind of just went out and I was kind of stepping back away from the business anyways, because of, of the newborn and everything.
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And so, but you know, my income didn’t help, you know, um, I made a good amount, you know what I’m saying? Being a CFO. So that was now not there. Um, so it was, you know, I think there’s a lot of question marks.
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I mean, he was very nice to say, Hey, whatever time you need. But I wonder if there was a timeframe in his mind of when you get back in there. Now, most of the time when people start businesses, whether they’ve got experience or not, they’ve got fears.
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Can I do this? Can I get clients? Did you have any of those feelings? And if so, what was the reality of how difficult those things might be a lot different than what you thought? Yeah, absolutely. Um, I would have not, uh, I’ve guessed this for myself or said, Hey, you know, I’m into accounting, but in 12 years I’m going to open up my new bookkeeping business, you know, I wasn’t, I was going to stay there until I retired, you know, was kind of my mindset. So, you know, once everything became clear, you know, even on paper, all the ideas started flowing in and visions and everything, I was like, wow, this is really cool, but how are we going to do this? You know, working for somebody doing bookkeeping, right.
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It’s different than having your own business. You know, how do you structure that? So then you kind of gain clients. And for me, that was the missing link, you know, I was like, oh, I don’t even know where to start.
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Um, so yeah, definitely had those fears. Yeah. So without speaking about like my program in particular, what were those fears founded in terms of like whether or not I can get started or whether or not I can get clients, like, did you find that it was easier than you expected? Yeah, actually, um, I really, it was just one day at a time, though.
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I didn’t really think too far ahead. I kind of took what was revealed to me, what was given to me and I took it in nuggets and saying, okay, what can I just get done today? And definitely a lot of research online. I did find a program.
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Um, it was a young lady on YouTube. Um, I’m great. Her name, I think she now actually recommends your program.
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Um, fine points, fine points. Yeah, I started following her. She had some really great tips, you know what I mean? So I’m taking notes.
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I’m trying to piece together. Okay. Should I do packages? You know, then I started, I got Canva.
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So I’m creating packages, you know, and kind of those types of things. Um, and then I noticed piece by piece, you know, just a little bit each day, then one month went by, right. Two months went and then things were starting to come together.
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Very cool. So, you know, a lot of people are watching this and they don’t have prior experience. And I’m a big proponent that, Hey, bookkeeping is like anything else.
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You can learn it. You have to put in the work, you have to learn it. But what would you say to somebody who’s willing to put in that work to learn it? Um, but they’re still wondering and a little unsure about whether or not they can learn it.
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You got it. One, just start. Don’t worry about how much, you know, and you don’t know, because I didn’t know how to run my own business.
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I mean, I did it, you know, we got a family business, I deal with my husband, but to have my own, um, and be able to kind of start it from scratch, uh, was new, you know, for me, I just had to start. I didn’t know all the answers or what I was going to do. And then second, I would say, um, consistency, uh, brings back motivation.
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When you don’t feel motivated and you are going to get weary, you know, I mean, you got to have some grit being a business owner, um, just keep going. You know what I’m saying? That consistency is going to bring back your motivation and then you’ll find yourself, you know, just not giving up. Can you speak a little bit on the topic of whether or not bookkeeping can be learned for those out there who don’t know anything as far as bookkeeping goes yet? Uh, yeah, absolutely.
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Absolutely. I mean, I, I thought the course did phenomenal. You know, far as breaking down just the basics of bookkeeping, um, what is a credit, what’s a debit, what is bookkeeping? Um, and just kind of simplifying it for those that have never been into it.
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Um, so I think that gives people or should give people confidence, um, and saying, Hey, I like it, maybe I took an accounting course, I like numbers, but I, I don’t know this bookkeeping thing. Um, so I said, I think it does a great job. So, but like without talking about the program, just in the, in the, what would you say to somebody to encourage them to believe that they can do, they, they can learn how to do it, if they’re willing to work hard? Yeah.
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So without the course, um, just even if you have a interest in it, um, just try to start it, you can learn, you know, say in bookkeeping in general, of course online, you know, or taking a course or things like that. And once you even start, I think you’ll realize it’s a lot easier than maybe what some finance people make it out to be. I think CPAs are great.
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I know you’re CPA, but you know, accountants, um, but sometimes they, um, kind of make it seem harder than it is. Um, just start, just start. You’ll find out like, Oh really? All I have to do is this, or I have to do is that.
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And then it’ll come. You don’t have to be a math whiz. How about specifically about getting clients? Because like, what would you say to somebody to help them understand that if you’re willing to do the work, you can get clients as well without, like, with, without regard to the program.
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Yeah. Um, just really just be yourself. Um, at the same time, letting people know if you’re genuinely looking to help them, they’ll see that, you know what I mean? When you’re talking with them, um, that you’re taking interest and you know what their need is, um, that you’re looking to solve a problem, you know, they need help.
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And so if you’re looking at it as like, Hey, I’m here to help you solve your problem, then, um, clients see that, you know what I’m saying? They’ll be able to give you an opportunity. They’ll give you a chance. Um, they probably won’t even ask what your degree is, or do you have a background in accounting? Um, they just know that you’re there to help them and, um, they’ll come.
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Yeah, absolutely. Let’s talk about your business specifically. You started at zero.
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You know, we all started zero and then you built it up. And what do, what, what does revenue look like for you? What does your business, you know, number of clients, revenue, what does all that look like for you? I think I started a program in like March of 22, a couple months. I got my first client in May.
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So March, April, May, like, wow, three months after I started the program. So now two years, so my first year, we’ll say roughly six months, right? May, June, first client. I made 31,000, you know what I’m saying? In like six, seven months, which was really cool.
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I think I might’ve had four clients, um, three or four clients the first six months. That’s very inspiring. Yeah.
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Yeah. Thank you. How does that make you feel? Uh, just accomplished, you know, really just, um, knowing that perseverance, encouragement along the way, um, structure, guidance, um, all that, you know, if you really need a community, you know, or even if you have one person that just believes in you, you know what I mean, that one person can really work wonders and your confidence to kind of keep going.
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So I feel great. What do you think your husband thinks about this whole thing? At first he was like low jaw dropping. Cause you know, right.
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Good income now, or now you want to start something to hopefully earn that income. Um, but I said, don’t just sit tight. It’s going to happen.
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And so now he’s very supportive. Yeah, absolutely. Tell me a little bit about how life has changed for you from working a regular job to, to now, you know, being your own boss, how has, how is life just in general different? Definitely.
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The number one reason was really for me to be at home, you know, staying with a two year old. So one, it gave me that freedom. And then second, just the freedom.
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Um, if, if something happens with the family, we want to go on vacation or anything like that. Um, it’s virtual, right? So that that’s priceless as well, too. What would you say to someone who’s, you know, cause there are a lot of people out there watching this that are like, Oh, I don’t know if I should start a bookkeeping business.
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What would you say to people who are considering starting? I would say, you know what? Just get started. Um, even if you have just a little bit of interest, you know what I mean? You’re not exactly 100% sure. If you started and put in the work, you know what I’m saying? Put in the effort and what it takes to do it.
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Um, the rest will take care of itself. It’ll bloom and blossom. You don’t say more than what you could ever expect.
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Well, I appreciate you coming on, telling your story, sharing, you know, your, your path with others because success leaves clues. Yeah, absolutely. Well, I appreciate the time you took, Maggie.
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It means a lot to me. It really does. And thank you for, you know, for coming on and making time for me.
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Yeah, absolutely. Anytime. Okay, cool.
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Well, have a great night. We’ll talk to you real soon. All right.
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You too. Okay. Take care.
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Bye-bye. Yep. Bye-bye.
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Did you climb the corporate ladder only to realize the real prize is more time with your family? After reaching the level of CFO, Maggie stepped away to be home with her newborn son and built a business that made $31,000 in its first six months. If you’re ready to trade the C-suite for the freedom to be your own boss and be present for your family, visit our website to learn how you can start your Booming Bookkeeping Business.