In case you missed it…

Check out the episode featuring Ben Stein below!

Main Topics Covered:

1. Introduction to Keeper:

   • Keeper is a month-end close manager designed to help bookkeepers and accountants streamline and automate their processes.

   • It integrates deeply with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero to assist with client communications, file reviews, coding error detection, W9 and 1099 management, task management, and reporting.

2. Origin Story:

   • Ben Stein, who was a CFO at a tech startup, found himself overwhelmed with manual processes in spreadsheets and emails. This experience led him and his co-founder to develop Keeper.

   • Initial customers came from the bookkeepers.com community and Stein’s personal network.

3. Functionality and Development:

   • From its early stages, Keeper had basic task management, file review, client communication, and management reporting tools. Over time, these features became more robust.

   • Key features include a suite of tools for month-end close, error detection and correction, client communication, and vendor documentation management.

4. Integration with QuickBooks and Xero:

   • Keeper pulls data from QuickBooks or Xero, including vendors, accounts, transactions, and financial statements. This data is then used to automate and manage various tasks within Keeper.

   • The integration aims to make the user's workflow seamless and efficient.

5. Client and Task Management:

   • Keeper helps firms maintain high-quality standards by providing detailed review processes and allowing firm owners to monitor their team’s work.

   • Custom reviews and dashboards help track which clients are behind, have unresolved questions, or need follow-ups.

6. Future Features and Roadmap:

   • Keeper is continually evolving, with new features in development, such as enhanced receipt management, better support for tax firms, and bringing financial statement values directly onto the client list for better benchmarking and proactive advisory services.

7. Community Building:

   • Keeper focuses on customer care and listening to feedback to improve its product continually.

   • Recently, Keeper launched community templates, allowing users to share and adopt templates, enhancing the collective knowledge and capabilities of its user base.

8. Closing Thoughts:

   • The interview emphasizes the importance of connecting the work and workflow, making processes more transparent and efficient.

   • Ben Stein encourages users to reach out with any questions or feedback, highlighting Keeper's commitment to customer support and continuous improvement.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome

• 01:00 - Introduction to Ben Stein and Keeper

• 03:00 - Origin Story of Keeper

• 05:30 - Initial Customers and Early Features

• 08:00 - Integration with QuickBooks and Xero

• 10:30 - Enhancing Client and Task Management

• 13:00 - Ensuring Quality and Monitoring Team Work

• 15:00 - Future Features and Roadmap

• 18:00 - Community Building and Customer Care

• 21:00 - New Community Templates Feature

• 23:00 - Keeper's Approach to Feedback and Improvement

• 25:00 - Closing Thoughts and Contact Information