I talk to everyone. Seriously—if you’re making my coffee, fixing my car, painting my house, or standing behind me in the checkout line,
chances are we’ve had a chat. And inevitably, the conversation turns to that classic Aussie question:
“So, what do you do?”
When I say, “I own a bookkeeping practice,” I get one of two responses:
You’d be amazed how many brilliant clients I’ve taken on just by having these everyday conversations. My favourite? A painter who worked for us when we were selling our house. Lovely bloke. He even moved his caravan onto our front lawn while he was working for us, so I know way more about him than I was expecting. He was talented with a brush, but hopeless with his finances.
He fell squarely into the “not a numbers person” camp. No clue how his business was tracking. No idea if he could take time off, or whether the BAS bill looming in the distance was going to sink him or just nibble at his bank balance.
Fast forward six months of working together, and he was my little financial superstar. He knew his numbers, planned his cash flow, and even started saving for holidays. Watching his confidence grow was one of the most rewarding parts of my job. And it all started with a casual chat and a bit of trust.
Here’s the thing: being “not a numbers person” isn’t a personality trait—it’s a mindset. And it’s one that bookkeepers like me love to gently dismantle. Here’s how we do it:
1. We speak human, not robot.
No jargon. No spreadsheets that look like they belong in NASA. Just plain English, relatable examples, and the occasional analogy involving coffee, tradies, or beach holidays.
2. We make numbers visual.
Graphs, dashboards, colour-coded summaries—whatever helps the client see what’s going on. Because sometimes a pie chart is more comforting than a profit and loss statement.
3. We celebrate small wins.
Paid your BAS on time? Woohoo! Tracked your expenses for a whole month? You little beauty! Confidence builds when progress is acknowledged, not just when perfection is achieved.
4. We create systems that do the heavy lifting.
Automation, recurring invoices, bank feeds—these aren’t just buzzwords. They’re sanity-savers. And once clients see how easy it can be, they start to feel like financial wizards.
5. We remind them they’re not alone.
Every business owner has felt overwhelmed at some point. The trick is finding someone who can walk beside you, not just throw numbers at your head.
If you’ve ever said, “I’m not a numbers person,” I get it. But I also know that with the right support, you can become someone who understands your numbers—even if you never want to cuddle a calculator.
And if you’re a bookkeeper reading this, don’t underestimate the power of a casual chat. Your next superstar client might be holding a paintbrush, a coffee cup, or a socket wrench.
So, keep talking. Keep listening. And keep turning “I’m not a numbers person” into “I’ve got this.”
