The Business of Bookkeeping
Episodes
Does the mix of a young family and a new business bring renewed life balance?
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Happily for Akanksha Maheshwari it is possible to enjoy an improved life balance when starting a new venture alongside a young family. While the worki...
How a career in the Army set the scene for this business
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Having held senior roles within the Armed Forces, Mark Nolan knew a great deal about commitment to service and how to support people in difficult situ...
Buying a First Class franchise really got this business going
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Peter Morgan left a career in engineering, he thought starting his own business would be relatively straightforward. However, he soon realised he...
How it can work when you buy an established business
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Having relocated from Interstate, Mary Hackett was delighted to take a role supporting a busy First Class bookkeeper. Little did she know it would bec...
How working in a different time-zone can help your business
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Victoria Wilkinson took her life and business on an adventure, little did she know it would last for so long and hold the key to a shift in how s...
"When I'm uncomfortable, I know I'm on the right track"
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For Abbey Vu, the move to her own business came after a good deal of planning. She knew it was something she wanted to do, but with a successful caree...
A new Mum in a new country with a new business
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When Hetal Lakdawala started her business six years ago, she was faced with a number of challenges. Through perseverance and the support of both the F...
"I'm the Help Desk for my staff"
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This year is a 'Happy 21st!' for Renae Pitargue and her First Class Accounts franchise. Having successfully created her ideal business, Renae is now a...
How losing a big client can help you gain clarity
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's the classic small business trap, the 'too many eggs in one basket' scenario. Being aware of the problem is one thing, but it can be hard to avoid...
How new technology is impacting this business
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just into her 12th year, Jackie Becker intends to stay with her business for many years to come. Today we discuss her experiences trialling new softwa...
Ten years in and new options are on the table
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We last caught up with Gary Jones a little over 5 years ago and today he explains how he's maintained much of the remote working capabilities that evo...
When it's time to control your own destiny
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From early in his career, Shaun Rafferty has worked with movers and shakers in the worlds of consulting and digital advertising and has contributed to...
The first couple of years
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We last caught up with Ana Hindocha in 2023 when her business was less than a year old. She spoke of numerous goals, plans and dreams and shared her h...
How to make 2025 your best year yet
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Surprisingly, one particularly effective way to maximise your success in the year ahead, is to close the current year in a powerful and strategic way....
When the joy is in helping
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For Yvonne and Andrew Syme, the key appeal when starting their bookkeeping business a dozen or so years ago, was simply to be of help to their custome...
"I like messy clean ups"
24 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lysa White likes nothing more than a new client whose accounts are in a shambolic state. Getting things organised is what makes her tick and builds he...
Modelling a new way of working
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Trudy Mendis started her business a little over a year ago, she initially struggled with the discipline of working solo and didn't take naturally...
How to 'turn off' while still supporting your clients
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Katrina Spratley has run her bookkeeping business for 20 years on the Gold Coast and has developed a way of working that really suits her lifestyle. S...
Less clients, but with greater turnover
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is the model that Carl Zwartkruis adopts in his business. Effectively working as a Chief Financial Officer, Carl spends most days working at his ...
Don't get too busy before you bring on support
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In her twentieth year with First Class Accounts, Renae Pitargue has some important lessons to share. As a self-confessed perfectionist, she had a prob...
The importance of face-to-face when business shifts to remote
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Serge Crismale never thought he'd be in his business this long, but strange things happen when you start enjoying yourself. Now in the early stages of...
A strong desire to get things moving
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From attending her first overseas conference while still undergoing training, to attracting a client before she was truly ready, Jana Aldhaibi has com...
Why small can be beautiful
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Jeffrey Phillips left University he walked straight into an accounting career and quickly realised that sitting at a desk all day crunching numbe...
How Elisa brings years of experience to franchisee support
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After many years as a First Class franchisee, Elisa Mayenco's needs changed and it was time to consider exiting her business. As we'll hear, this she ...
How positive self-talk can help get you through the early days
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When Bhayva Mittal started his bookkeeping business late last year, he was understandably a little nervous. Gone was the constant flow of work and a r...
Doing due diligence
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In his area of franchisee recruitment, Howard Kodra recommends extensive and careful research when contemplating this investment in your future. He wa...
Why following a familiar footpath made so much sense
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Robyn Welch decided to break away from employment and start her own journey, she didn't need to look far for encouragement. With her older sister...
Shining the spotlight on the Australian Bookkeepers Network
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast we meet Peter Thorp one of the founding principals of ABN and learn about their important role in the bookkeeping industry. Peter shar...
How Jackie narrowly avoided burnout and the lessons she's learned
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Based in Subiaco, WA, Jackie Becker loves her area and has enjoyed over a decade in her business with plans for at least another ten years. It's not a...
Shining the spotlight on MYOB
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Community Relations Manager at MYOB and head of her own bookkeeping business, it was no surprise to hear some gems regarding business building from...
The marketing plans work!
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Since starting his franchise 3 years ago, Deepak Vallabh has worked hard to structure the business to ideally suit his life and professional goals. As...
Knowing where you're going and how to get there
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Trent McLaren has been in the Accounting and FinTech industry for over a decade and has worked with a number of leaders in the field. He's recently es...
Realising that people want to meet you
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A new start-up, Sarah Tice has long had a picture of the business she wishes to grow and how it will fit into her life. In this podcast, we learn abou...
Knowing what to do when you need to grow
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Andrew Walker has run his business for a little over ten years and is currently, pleasantly full with ideal clients. Clearly this has taken work and A...
Allowing time for trust to build
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Ana Hindocha started her business, she knew that growth might take some time. She realised that allowing someone to dive into your finances calls...
Getting set for success
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For nearly a decade, Monique Kalter has helped First Class franchisees set up their business and prepare for growth. In this podcast, we hear about th...
"Just doing a good job"
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kentucky born, Maria Jowett came to Australia with a background in corporate management, yet didn't hesitate to start her own business. In this podcas...
Your business, your way.
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As he enters his 21st year with the franchise, we catch up with Andrew Eustace. A man with, as he says, a 'just get on with it' attitude. From the out...
Nurturing faith in yourself
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A very recent start-up, one of Wayne Spencer's biggest challenges has been building faith in himself. He's learnt a great deal from existing franchise...
Designing the work life you really want
24 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Immediately prior to starting his First Class Accounts journey, Neil Hodgson helped out a mate driving his scrap metal truck. While this may not have ...
The delightful process of organic growth
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
David Gillies started his business just as COVID 19 hit and the surprises didn't stop there. Basking in new found freedoms and flexibility, David deci...
Our 2021 Franchisee Of The Year shares her story
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Robyn Graham and daughter Nikki Dempster run a successful and growing family business on the Fraser Coast. In this episode Robyn discusses her work-st...
How teamwork and discipline helps success
01 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When Karen Norman came to bookkeeping, her background may not have seemed ideal. It turns out the opposite was true and 17 years on she's constantly r...
The support that new franchisees need
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we hear from Simon Boler who supports new and existing franchisees. Working from head office, but frequently out in the field, Simon...
The value of creating a growth mindset
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Clayton Oates helps implement simple and effective business systems that allow us to spend more time working on the business. He's currently running a...
Building a professional image
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle Timperley jumped the fence from being a First Class bookkeeper, to working with the team at Ignition. As she says, 'leaving one family to joi...
Why and how to be frank
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast, Damien Gooden of HR Central shares his tips on how to confront challenging conversations head-on. He's knows all about 'Radical Cando...
Be in business for yourself, not by yourself
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tracey Leak knows more than most when it comes to understanding the benefits of a franchise. In this podcast, she shares what she's learned in over a ...
Lessons learned over a decade
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Since starting her business, Trish Jones has evolved and fine-tuned the way she works. In this podcast she shares her many tips and strategies.
When the love of banter drives the model
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Matt Jeavons loves on-site interaction with his clients. So much so it governs how he works. For nearly a dozen years, this structure has proved ideal...
Turning a dislike of networking into a love
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Darren Law started his business, he hated the idea of networking. Now, two years in and having endured the disruptions of COVID, he looks forward...
Handling a barrage from day one
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As soon as David Jennings opened his doors, the questions began. After a hectic first few months, things are under control and this new business is gr...
How a change in circumstance became the trigger
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
During 2020 Sabina Romana realised that working from home could really work and took the leap into her own business. In her first year she's faced cha...
Beat boredom. Get bookkeeping!
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Marina Walker exited her retail business she intended to retire. Alas, travelling and reading soon became boring and so began the search for a ne...
Building resilience one day at a time
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With young children and pressured clients, Sally Poulton has honed her multitasking skills alongside coping with heightened frustration. And she's don...
Reinforcing relationships in challenging times
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Like the rest of us, Anthony Furniss has had his challenges over the past year, but has managed to strengthen his connection with his clients. As you'...
Handling the extremes of business
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Kay Godfrey has a broad range of primarily, small business clients. In recent months she's been faced with some who are bruised and battered and other...
When your plans change dramatically
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As COVID-19 hit, Gita Hettiaratchi was in Canada on the holiday of a lifetime. Having hurriedly got back home to Brisbane, she quickly set about helpi...
Starting up in the midst of COVID-19
19 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When it was clear that job applications were not bringing results, Krystal Brown decided it was time to start her own business. And then the world cha...
Keeping the community together
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A strong sense of community is essential to Sumi Suvalingam, so how is she managing in the midst of this pandemic? In this podcast we learn about the ...
Living and working in lockdown
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Anyone who has met Kelly Marshall knows her as being upbeat, outgoing and social. So has is she coping in Melbourne's second lockdown and how is she s...
Designing a 3 hour work day
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When Trevor Taylor left his role as a Bank Manager, he knew he wanted to change the balance between life and work. It took a while to get things runni...
A passion to solve riddles
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
From her base in Rockhampton, Nerida Pokarier enjoys figuring out how her customers can best set up and run their businesses. It's this curiosity that...
Specialising doesn't suit everyone
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After nearly 20 years working overseas, Vanessa Malcolm knew how she wanted to live and work when she returned home. She has designed her business to ...
When the family juggle became too much
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A little over a year ago, Belinda Parsons realised that a career in hospitality, two young children and a very busy husband were getting too hard to h...
"It was like walking into a family"
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When newbie, Nikki Douglass attended the First Class National Conference in 2019, she'd been a franchisee for a matter of weeks. She found the experie...
Taking time to make the right decision
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Helen Wood was cautious before starting her First Class business. In fact it took her a couple of years before she finally took the plunge. A couple o...
Shining the spotlight on HR Central
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For many in the First Class franchise, an important milestone is the employment of that initial team member. With the changes and legislations impacti...
Getting back to who he wanted to be
17 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nader Gayed was working 80 hour weeks, traveling constantly and never spending quality time with his wife and four teenage children. Something had to ...
When it feels like your 'patch' is Australia
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Carol Girvan is one of the growing number of franchisees who identify as a 'grey nomad'. Together with her husband, they move around the country and j...
Shining the spotlight on Practice Protect
19 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Practice Protect is a cyber security solution that helps secure and control sensitive client data for members of the First Class franchise. Comprisin...
A key role in the community
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Following health issues that lead to a forced retirement from his role as a School Principal, Mike Townsend decided to combine his revenue needs with ...
Go it alone or join the franchise?
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Before Darrelle Puttock started with First Class Accounts she ran an independent bookkeeping business. However it quickly started to feel too much lik...
Training clients to work your way
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Parul Mehta has retained most of her clients for years and little by little guides them to work precisely as she chooses. This allows her to run her i...
Shining the spotlight on Practice Ignition
24 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Practice Ignition eases the on-boarding process for any new clients working with members of the First Class Accounts network. Their systems create a s...
This globetrotting pair finally lay down roots
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
While some are attracted to First Class Accounts because it allows them to move around, Gabi and Bruce Reid are enjoying settling into a community. An...
When fear gives way to excitement
26 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Along with her young family, Karen Bradshaw relocated to Australia from the UK and soon began her business with First Class Accounts. While she starte...
Following the system saved the day
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When Charmaine Perry and husband Tony started their First Class franchise it was a challenging time. Their prior business had major complications and ...
Felicity settles into her groove
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Three years into her bookkeeping business, Felicity Menchin still has the occasional day when things feel new and daunting, but in the main she's very...
Fulfilling a lifetime dream
16 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Eric Tong has always wanted to start his own small business. With little marketing experience and a country and language that were new to him, it was ...
Why Gary Jones likes following the system
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When he swapped his rubbish removal business for a bookkeeping practice, Gary didn't hesitate to go the franchise route. He realised that having a pro...
Shining the spotlight on Calxa
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Calxa helps make reporting easier for bookkeepers and their clients. Their app creates management reporting for small businesses and not-for-profits, ...
How business has helped Sue settle
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Jenkins describes herself as something of a 'gypsy', but for now she's happy to be in one place and build her business. A newcomer to the industry...
Doing your 'due diligence'
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When Joy Liu moved to Australia from China, she wasn't about to make any hasty decisions. Before buying her franchise, she did plenty of research and ...
Shining the spotlight on Service M8
07 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we meet Skye Taylor from field service management app, Service M8 and hear how they support the work of our bookkeeping network and ma...
Leaning on the community
22 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Now in her ninth year with First Class, Michelle Timperley reckons she gets more and more value from other franchisees as time goes by. Regardless of ...
Variety is the spice of life
09 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Unlike many small business owners who see benefit in specialising, Dheeraj Sachdev loves to have a varied client base. He gains much from learning abo...
Franchise or go it alone?
26 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When Jenny Bayly decided to start her own bookkeeping business she figured she could do it all by herself. Sadly, things didn't go too well, so she pr...
Keeping your eye on the prize
12 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Chelsea Sanginiti has experienced her share of highs and lows in her bookkeeping business, but never loses sight of the bigger picture. Time and again...
The National Office perspective
26 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast we hear from Debbie Stanton, General Manager of First Class Financial Group and the path that led her to where she is today. We learn ...
The freedom to live and work as you choose
12 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When Trevor Lindsay stepped away from his corporate career he wanted a lot less commuting and a lot more control. As we'll hear he's largely got what ...
Embracing change when it comes thick and fast
29 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When Irene Latoa moved back to Australia following a big career in Asia, she wanted things to be different. As you'll hear, she got more than she barg...
Finding the value in your work
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Milton Young didn't enjoy being in an industry that was undervaluing its customers, so he left the world of Banking and set up on his own. Here's how ...
Why Rosemary never gets bored
01 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For much of her working life, today's guest got restless in her work. That all changed when she started her business and she's never looked back. Keep...
It's been a rewarding 12 year journey
18 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When Robyn Graham started her business, the path ahead was unclear. Over the years she's evolved and grown and today has a clear picture of the future...
From the financial management of a nation to small business
03 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When Hilmi Dabbagh relocated to Australia he bought with him unique skills and a passion for justice and equality. Here's how he combines all that is ...
Going for growth while balancing work-life
20 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Anthony Furniss has big plans for his franchise, but with grandchildren and a hobby to keep on track, he's prioritising how business and downtime inte...
Transitioning from personal fitness to business fitness
06 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When Jackie Becker first moved to Australia, she set aside her bookkeeping skills and instead worked as a personal trainer. It wasn't long before she ...
Knowing you're needed is a good place to start
23 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Samantha Parker loves helping people. It's what drives her, fuels the growth of her business and helps determine her picture of an 'ideal client'. She...
Taking work on the road
08 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Elisa Mayenco's clients know that they have an intrepid bookkeeper - one who balances the books alongside balancing her life. In this podcast, she exp...