Just Because You Could Doesn't Mean You Should

Bookkeepers Are Natural Helpers

One of the biggest mistakes I see bookkeepers make is assuming that just because they can help someone, and genuinely want to, they should take them on as a client.

I understand why. After all, bookkeepers are helpers and problem-solvers by nature. We see a business owner who's in trouble and feeling overwhelmed, and our first instinct is often to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in. I've done it myself.

Curiosity Before Solutions

But over the years, I've learnt that before I start thinking about how to fix the problems, I need to get curious and ask more questions about how they got to this point in the first place.

There are lots of reasons why a business might find itself in the financial weeds. Sometimes it’s simply been a difficult season in business (hello Covid). Perhaps illness or family circumstances got in the way. Maybe they’ve outgrown the systems they had in place and it’s all got a bit too chaotic.

Or maybe they’ve simply been sticking their head in the sand, avoiding the problem and hoping it would somehow, miraculously, sort itself out.

The point is, I don't know. And until I know, I don't want to make assumptions. That's why I get curious first.

I credit curiosity as one of my biggest strengths in business and as a bookkeeper. It's one of my guiding values, and I think it's an underrated skill for bookkeepers.

Being curious doesn't mean being suspicious or judgmental. It means asking good questions before jumping to solutions. It means understanding the person behind the numbers, because that's usually where the real story is.

The Bookkeeping Is Often the Signpost, Not the Underlying Problem

One thing I've learnt over the years is that the bookkeeping is often the signpost, not the underlying problem.

If I only focus on bringing the bookkeeping up to date, there's a good chance I'm treating the symptom rather than the cause.

If the real issue is poor cash flow management, a lack of systems, weak financial habits or an unwillingness to face difficult decisions, then simply reconciling the bank account isn't going to solve it. Unless the underlying problem changes, there's every chance we'll be back in exactly the same position six or twelve months from now.

Thinking Like a Bookkeeping Business Owner

That's one of the biggest mindset and leadership shifts that comes with becoming a bookkeeping business owner.

It's no longer just about whether you can help. It's about deciding whether this is a client you want to work with, whether they're willing to work with you to do what it takes, and whether an ongoing relationship is going to work for both of you.

Helping people is still one of the things I love most about being a bookkeeper. It always will be.

But these days, before jumping in and solving problems, I first get curious.

Final Thoughts

When you ask better questions, you make better decisions. And to me, that's one of the biggest mindset and leadership shifts that comes with becoming a bookkeeping business owner.

Just because you can help, and genuinely want to, doesn't always mean you should.

If this article has resonated with you, and you're ready to start thinking more like a business owner than just a bookkeeper, I'd love to talk with you.

The Bookkeeper Breakthrough Session is an opportunity for us to explore where you are in your business, where you'd like to be, and whether coaching with me is the right fit. If it is, brilliant. If not, you'll still come away with a clearer understanding of your next step.

 👉Book your free Bookkeeper Breakthrough Session here.

Stephanie Crawford

Award Winning Bookkeeping Business Coach