Author’s Note: As we continue the search for the 2021 Top 100 ProAdvisors and ProAdvisor of the Year, we want to take this opportunity to highlight our 2020 award winners. Learn more about Insightful Accountant’s Top 100 ProAdvisors Award Program here.
This week, we’re spotlighting 2020 Top 100 ProAdvisor Kathy Grosskurth of Bookkeeping Clean and Simple. Grosskurth started her career doing volunteer work for several nonprofit organizations, just helping where needed. She told us, “In 2005, I was chosen to be on the board of Cobb Disaster Recovery, a nonprofit organization established to help with the aftermath of severe flooding in our area due to Hurricane Dennis (for reasons unknown, our county did NOT seek FEMA help at that time). I was their first Treasurer.” She continued, “In that role, I implemented QuickBooks Desktop to track expenses and payments for services rendered to displaced homeowners. I also used QuickBooks for Job Costing and tagging billable expenses to each vendor. I loved it! Over time, I started taking on paying clients on the side, and in 2012 I decided to go freelance all the way.”
Now, Grosskurth’s focus is training, specifically providing individualized training to small business owners and other bookkeepers on how to maximize their knowledge and use of QuickBooks Desktop and Online. “I have developed a Bookkeeping Basics course that I offer to those needing a refresher or a primer, Grosskurth shared with us. “It took me quite a journey to get to this point. I started out doing traditional bookkeeping, but I always wanted to eventually segue into a training role because of my background working as a trainer in the use of Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).”
In 2017, Grosskurth began shifting her focus. “I started making connections with the folks from Intuit and within the vast ProAdvisor community – mostly through Facebook groups and on Twitter. Interestingly, at around the same time, many Intuit folks were noticing me on Social Media and reached out to ME as well, Grosskurth said.
Through these efforts, she was able to establish friendships all over the ProAdvisor community. And as a result, she was able to connect with those who would help her reach one of her goals of becoming a member of the Intuit Trainer / Writer Network, which she was able to accomplish in 2018.
As part of that process, Grosskurth worked on getting every ProAdvisor level certification available to her at the time. “I continued making many friends and connections as well as cultivating professional contacts by attending annual conferences such as Scaling New Heights and QB Connect. I also started a local Woodard Group in my hometown in January 2018 (West Metro Atlanta area). All these efforts have enabled me to lay the sound foundation whereby I am currently receiving several training leads a month to the point where I blessed to say that I am quite busy!” she shared with us.
When it comes to technology that has helped Grosskurth elevate her practice, she’s managed to keep it pretty simple. “There are a couple of very basic technical enhancements I have added which have helped me out tremendously,” she said. “First, I added a Google Voice number as my main phone number, which allows me to screen my calls. Most important though was adding a scheduling platform to handle my initial phone consults – doing just that has been a TOTAL game changer! Early on, I found that I was wasting time going back and forth to schedule initial phone appointments with prospects, and I would end up losing opportunities as a result. So, after doing some research, I implemented Calendly about 4 years ago. And I have not regretted it… in fact, I still use the free version today to handle ALL of my initial phone consult scheduling activities!”
Since Grosskurth’s focus at Bookkeeping Clean and Simple is training, it’s imperative that she stays current on the latest software enhancements. “As I mentioned earlier, I am blessed to be a part of the Intuit Training arm of the QB Accountants training segment. So, I have access to most of the newest resources to keep current. I love learning new tips and tricks to the QuickBooks platforms and sharing that knowledge with others!” Grossurth shared with us.
When Grosskurth isn’t working, she enjoys going to the beach with her husband. “My husband and I are considering moving to Florida sometime in the next couple of years! In the meantime, we like to take several trips a year near the beach.” She continued, “We also spend a lot of time with our kids and our grandchild (she just turned 1 year old in February 2021). My husband and I also volunteer at our local food pantry – having been doing it for several years. I love being able to be useful, and the work is good exercise as well!”
From helping her ProAdvisor community to helping her local food pantry, it’s clear why Kathy Grosskurth is an important member of our 2020 Top 100 ProAdvisor program. We are proud to have you, Kathy – thanks for all you do!