How to Choose a Bookkeeper You Can Trust: Amber Malone on the Your Little Castle Show (Part 1)

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Trying to choose a bookkeeper for your small business? In this interview, Amber Malone shares how her firm started. She also explains how every bookkeeper earns a spot on her team.

Key Takeaways

• Amber started her firm in 2016 after fixing the books for an auto repair shop.
• Today, the firm serves small businesses in 13 states.
• Every bookkeeper passes three interviews and a live QuickBooks test.
• Also, the firm hires only in the United States.
• Most of all, the firm promises two things: clear communication and finished work.

How Did Amber’s Accounting & Bookkeeping Get Started?

It all started with a visit. At the time, Amber Malone was dating Daniel long distance. He ran a Midas auto repair shop in northern Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Amber ran a home organizing business in Chicago.

One weekend, Amber sat in Daniel’s office and looked at his books. Right away, she saw the numbers were wrong. Daniel had not found a good bookkeeper yet. So Amber offered to fix them.

For the rest of the week, she sorted vendors and matched invoices. She also connected the shop’s software. After that, Daniel took the clean books to his CPA. The CPA asked who did the work. Then she said Amber should do this full time.

At first, Amber said no. She had helped families with their money, but business books felt new. Still, Daniel kept encouraging her. So she took the bookkeeping tests and the QuickBooks Online test. She passed, and as a result, her confidence grew.

Ten years later, Amber and Daniel are married and run the firm together. Today, Amber leads client service. Daniel, on the other hand, leads sales, marketing, and hiring.

What Does a Bookkeeper Do That a CPA Does Not?

A CPA files your taxes. A bookkeeper, however, keeps your numbers clean all year long. That way, your CPA has what they need at tax time.

In other words, the bookkeeper gets the numbers ready first. Then the CPA uses them to file. Amber’s firm does not do tax work. Instead, the team focuses on monthly bookkeeping. They also help owners understand what their numbers mean.

Why Do Systems Matter When You Hire a Bookkeeping Firm?

According to Amber, every good business runs on systems.

So what does that mean for you? Simply put, your books do not depend on one person’s memory. Instead, a clear process keeps your work on time each month.

In addition, the firm has a clear mission: create confidence around your numbers. In short, if you do not understand your numbers, the team has not done its job.

What Happens When You Never Look at Your Numbers?

Amber calls it flying blind. Without clean books, you cannot answer basic questions. For example:

• What is my profit margin?
• What should I charge my customers?
• How much money is left to run the business?
• How much can I spend on marketing?

Surprisingly, some owners run multimillion-dollar businesses this way. However, those owners are often very stressed. As a result, many of them end up calling for help. This is when Advisory Services becomes and additional service that gives owners more ability to have confidence around their numbers.

How Does Amber’s Firm Hire and Vet Bookkeepers?

This is the most important part of the video. After all, you are trusting someone with your business money. So you should know how a firm picks its people.

For the first five years, Amber did all the books herself. Eventually, her business coach told her to grow the team. So in year five, the firm hired its first bookkeeper. Now there are five bookkeepers on the team.

Most of the team holds QuickBooks Level 2 certification. That is the highest level for the software. Most also have an accounting degree or background. In fact, some are enrolled agents or CPAs who chose bookkeeping over tax work.

On top of that, the firm hires only in the United States. It also pays fair, high wages. Overall, Amber’s rule is simple: hire slow, fire fast.

Sadly, many bookkeepers stop answering their clients. Amber calls this ghosting. Then the work stops too. To fix that, her firm makes two promises:

• First, we will communicate. We answer when you reach out.
• Second, we will finish the work. We do not stop halfway.

Plus, clients can call Amber, Daniel, or their own bookkeeper directly. As a result, clients feel taken care of. Also, every Google review is real. The firm asks for reviews on purpose. In fact, Amber welcomes honest feedback, even the hard kind, because it helps the team get better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Amber Malone?
Amber Malone is the founder of Amber’s Accounting & Bookkeeping LLC. She started the virtual bookkeeping firm in 2016. Today, she runs it with her husband, Daniel.

Does the firm work with businesses outside Wisconsin, Colorado, and Illinois?
Yes. Because the work is online, it serves small businesses in 13 states. It also has offices tied to Chicago, Denver, Madison, Milwaukee, and Hartland, Wisconsin.

How do I choose a bookkeeper I can trust?
Start by asking how the firm hires. For example, every bookkeeper at Amber’s firm passes three interviews and a live QuickBooks test. Also, most hold QuickBooks Level 2 certification.

Does Amber’s Accounting & Bookkeeping do taxes?
No. Instead, the firm focuses on monthly bookkeeping and business advice. That way, your books are clean and ready for your CPA.

Are the bookkeepers based in the United States?
Yes. The firm hires only in the United States.

Coming Up in Part 2

Next, in Part 2, Amber answers a big question. Why hire a bookkeeping firm instead of doing it yourself? She also explains how good books can help you raise prices, cut costs, or get ready to sell your business.

Ready to feel confident about your numbers? Book a call with our team.