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From Bookkeeper to Bottom-Line Badass on the Stoned Fruit Roll.Up
Written by Michelle Brown
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a bookkeeper steps fully into her power (and her brand)? Let me tell you.
I recently joined my longtime collaborator and dear friend @Rebecca Gunter on an episode of The Stoned Fruit Roll.Up and it turned into something a little magical. We talked about the rebrand, yes, but also what it means to be a true financial advocate, how systems save sanity, and why I believe that a good set of books can literally change how you sleep at night.
🐾 “I’m not your daddy’s bookkeeper.”
For a long time, people only saw part of what I do. They’d call me to “clean up the books,” but what they really needed was someone to help them build systems, spot risks, and advocate for their financial wellness. Not just a bookkeeper. A partner.
“Your bookkeeper should be your watchdog—not just a data-entry robot.”
That’s why I started Unleashed Financial Advocates. Because small businesses need someone who sees beyond the ledger and into the full picture.
🧾 The Truth About Receipts
“Fall in love with receipt management. It protects your peace—and your bottom line.”
That’s what I told the audience—and I meant it. Managing your receipts isn’t busy work. It’s risk mitigation, tax prep, and dollars not lost.
Every lost receipt is:
- A missed deduction
- A forgotten reimbursement
- A client expense that never got billed back
Five minutes now can save you five hours (and a few gray hairs) later. I promise.
💸 What Are Stale Costs and Why Do I Chase Them?
Stale costs are sneaky. They’re the contracts you forgot to cancel. The phone system with 20 seats for a team of five. The ancient printer lease that renews quietly every year.
“Stale costs are like moldy bread: easy to ignore, but quietly toxic.”
I don’t just reconcile transactions. I read your business story. And when I see waste, I bark. That’s what advocacy looks like.
🐶 Meet Zelda P. Moneysworth
She’s not just our mascot—she’s our muse. Loyal. Watchful. Stylish AF. And she’s the embodiment of our brand values: clarity, courage, and a nose for business.
“Zelda reminds me to lead with wit, warmth, and watchfulness—because financial advocacy should feel as good as it is smart.”
🔁 Rebranding Changed Me, Not Just My Business
I used to run things under “Michelle Brown Consulting.” It worked… until it didn’t.
I realized people saw “bookkeeper” and slotted me into a box. But the work I was doing? It was systems strategy, operations review, budget visibility, team efficiency—and a whole lot more than QuickBooks.
That’s when I knew it was time to build something bigger. Something bolder. Something that felt like home. With Rebecca’s help, Unleashed Financial Advocates was born.
“The branding process gave me the language—and the swagger—to show up fully as who I’ve been all along.”
And yes—Zelda P. Moneysworth came with me. Polka dots, sunglasses, and all.
📺 Want to Hear the Whole Story?
We laughed, we got vulnerable, we got real about what financial clarity can unlock.
🎬 Watch the episode here 💼 If your systems are dragging you down, you don’t need a new app—you need a new approach. Let’s unleash a better way. Book a discovery session →
TL;DR (But I Hope You’ll Read It Anyway)
- Bookkeeping should never be siloed from operations
- A financial advocate sees what you can’t—and says what others won’t
- Systems don’t have to be scary—but they do have to work
- A rebrand, done right, changes more than your logo—it changes you