We are very close to opening the doors to the Transformation Program once again! This happens just three times a year, so it’s a special time of the season, so to speak, when I don’t mind sharing a little more about the program.
I recently received an email from a bookkeeper with a fantastic question. While I’ve addressed similar queries before, her phrasing, combined with everything I’ve learned from our program members, inspired me to write this post. The question reads:
"At what point would it be wise to join the tribe? Should I wait a year or two to establish myself, or could I gain a lot by starting with the program right off the bat?"
We’ll dive into this today.
So, to answer the question—should I wait a year or two to establish myself before joining the Transformation Program, or should I start right off the bat?—the answer is absolutely, 100%, start right off the bat.
Let me explain why this is so important.
To do that, I’ll refer to the Bookkeeping Practice Blueprint I created. This bookkeeper mentioned being curious because the program seems geared toward established bookkeepers. But let me assure you, it is equally suited to those starting out.
When I first built the program, I had this incredible 10-square-metre whiteboard that covered an entire wall of my office. I began by mapping out what I call my "secret sauce recipe", which consists of seven key ingredients: brand, menu, attraction, conversion, succession, systems, and team. I also identified five critical components needed to make it all work: team, education, assets, implementation, and support.
At the time, I thought about two groups of bookkeepers. First, the bookkeeper in practice—because I could relate to their struggles, particularly during my first five years, which I call my “f*ck-up years” in my book. I thought about all the time, money, and energy wasted during that phase and how much easier it would have been if I had a clear roadmap.
Then I reflected on what I needed back then. I paid a lot of money for a licensed membership, which was popular here in Australia and gaining traction globally. While I got something out of it, it ultimately missed the mark. That realization is what shaped the Blueprint and the seven ingredients. These ingredients weren’t just about creating success in my practice but about maintaining it and making it unshakeable and unbreakable.
I then thought about the startup phase—right at the beginning of the journey. For so many bookkeepers, the first steps are filled with uncertainty. Like most people, I did everything myself, from hiring suppliers to building systems. But it was a constant trial-and-error process: giving money, making mistakes, and repeating the cycle until I figured out what worked.
If someone had shown up back then with a dream team—experts who knew what they were doing—I can’t tell you how much time, money, and heartache it would have saved me. Imagine starting with the right education, done-for-you assets like social media templates, a signature brochure, and a strategic website that functions like a sales machine. Imagine having an entire suite of digital assets that gave you a competitive advantage and a unique selling proposition.
Now, add to that someone who holds your hand through the implementation phase, ensuring you follow each step, redirecting you if needed, and troubleshooting issues like missed nuances in the seven-step process. And finally, having ongoing support—access to a mastermind group of like-minded individuals who are on the same journey.
This is the essence of what the program provides. It’s designed to help you avoid the pitfalls, whether you’re in startup or already in practice. The first few years can be challenging; even years later, many bookkeepers tell me the dream hasn’t become a reality. The income, the time, the lifestyle—it doesn’t just magically fall into place.
I wanted to create something that served two purposes: to help startup bookkeepers build what I call a Ferrari practice, and to assist established bookkeepers in renovating their practices. The latter is what I often describe as “fixing the car while it’s speeding down the highway.”
So, why should you join at the beginning of your journey? Let’s dive deeper.
I often refer to the Bookkeeping Practice Blueprint Mind Map to explain this. In recent podcasts, I covered key topics from this: one was Plan for Success, and three others focused on Pricing for Profit and Joy. In those pricing episodes, I provided examples of what most bookkeepers do when a prospective client (PC) knocks on the door. Then, I compared that with what I do—and teach you to do—inside the program. The profitability gap is significant.
For a startup bookkeeper, or even for someone already in practice, the problem is often that you don’t know what you don’t know. If you start your practice without having the essentials in the Blueprint nailed down, especially the foundations, you’ll likely fall into common traps. You’ll find clients, think, “Yay, revenue!” and assume it will eventually turn into profit. But, as I’ve seen time and again, that’s not what happens.
For example, in those pricing episodes, I talked about how a bookkeeper without the right tools and knowledge will often undervalue their work. Let’s say you onboard a client for $6,000 a year. Without the products and pricing ecosystem I teach, your profitability could end up being half of that—or less. Meanwhile, one of our tribe members used the program to increase her profit by $3,000 on just one client simply by applying what she learned.
In another example, a bookkeeper told me she was charging $180 an hour, which sounds amazing on the surface. But after breaking it down, her annual profit from that client was just $500. Using the smart, strategic pricing taught in the program, that same client could generate $5,000 in annual profit. That’s the difference between struggling and thriving.
The left-hand side of the Blueprint Mind Map—which covers foundations, products and pricing, the product ladder, and the conversion process—is critical. Without those elements nailed down, it’s nearly impossible to build a sustainable, scalable business.
This is why so many bookkeepers—and entrepreneurs generally—end up in the nine out of ten who never quite get there. They struggle to thrive and often earn less than they would in a good job. For instance, in one of those pricing episodes, I shared how most bookkeepers, without the proper framework, onboard clients at rates that leave them overworked and underpaid.
A prospective client (PC) might knock on your door, needing about an hour and a quarter of work weekly. Without a clear pricing strategy, you might charge them based on hourly rates, thinking it’s profitable. But here’s the catch: unless you have a well-structured products and pricing ecosystem, you’ll likely end up undervaluing your services.
Inside the program, I teach you to approach pricing differently. Instead of an hourly rate, I show you how to implement a smart, simple suite of products, paired with a robust pricing strategy that incorporates advisory services. This ensures you’re maximizing the profitability of every client. For example, where a typical bookkeeper might profit $500 a year from a client, my system helps you generate $5,000 annually for the same client.
This difference is not an exception—it’s the standard when you use the Blueprint effectively. It’s the key to transforming your practice. If you’ve missed the earlier podcast episodes on pricing, I encourage you to go back and listen.
So, when I responded to the bookkeeper who emailed me, I sent her a private audio clip and said: “Oh my goodness, you should join before you ever start!” Why? Because even your first client could cover the cost of the program if you onboard them using the strategies we teach.
If you’re already in practice, the process is similar, but we also address legacy issues. Once you’ve brought on multiple clients—whether it’s 5, 10, or more—it becomes harder to overhaul your systems and pricing. But that’s exactly what we help you do. For example, in one of the pricing episodes, I shared a story about a tribe member who doubled all her rates over the course of a year.
This wasn’t a quick fix; it was a strategic plan we executed together. She had a legacy client base with outdated rates, and we worked step by step to bring her practice into alignment with the products and pricing ecosystem. By the end of the process, her profitability transformed, and her practice became significantly more sustainable.
There’s so much more I could share to answer the question of whether you should join the program at the beginning of your journey or wait until you’re established. But ultimately, the answer remains the same: join early. When you’re just starting out, the Transformation Program equips you with the tools, assets, and support to build a strong, sustainable foundation from day one.
The program is built around a done-for-you and done-with-you approach. It gives you access to the Bookkeeping Practice Blueprint, a proven system that helps you work smart rather than hard. If you can start with this framework in place, you’ll be far ahead of the curve—avoiding common mistakes and accelerating your path to success.
For those who are already established, the program helps you renovate your practice. We call it “fixing the car while it’s speeding down the highway.” It’s challenging, yes, but it’s also incredibly rewarding when you see the transformation in your income, time, and overall quality of life.
For anyone still on the fence, I encourage you to grab the Bookkeeping Practice Blueprint. Print it out, keep it on your desk, and use it as your guide. This framework has helped countless bookkeepers turn their dreams into reality, moving from overwhelmed and overworked to thriving, confident entrepreneurs.
Remember, nine out of ten bookkeepers never achieve the dream they set out to create. But with the right tools, mindset, and support, you can be part of the one out of ten who do. So, my advice is simple: if you’re wondering whether to wait or to join early, please join before you onboard your first client. It’s the fastest, smartest way to build a successful practice.
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