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Beyond The Books

After more than two decades of working alongside business owners, I’ve learned that building a successful business is about so much more than the numbers.

Beyond the Books brings together the practical lessons, real-world experience, and principles I’ve learned throughout my career to help business owners build with greater confidence, understand
their numbers, make better decisions, and create a business that’s both profitable and meaningful.
This book is about building a business that works; not just on paper, but in real life.

A Bookkeeper's Guide to Building a Profitable, Meaningful Business

Pre-order your copy

20+

Years Accounting Experience

Roles

City Treasurer, Controller, CFO, Founder

"Owning a business isn't just about making a living; it's about creating something that reflects your purpose, persistence, and passion."

WHY I WROTE THIS

A Personal Note from Stacey

This book is about building a company the right way, with integrity, hard work, and a genuine desire to help people.
It’s about creating something that matters beyond the numbers, it’s about building YOUR business!

Inside these pages, I share the experiences, lessons, and challenges that helped shape Shoebox Bookkeeping Service into what it is today, along with the knowledge I’ve gained from helping countless other business owners navigate the challenges of building and growing their own businesses.

Bookkeeping and financials are an important part, but every business owner also needs to focus on their leadership skills, relationships, growth and building a business that truly supports their people.

From my practical, real-world experiences, my goal is to encourage you, the business owner, to build something profitable, sustainable, and meaningful, all without losing sight of why you started in the first place.

- Stacey Gardner, Founder & CEO, Shoebox Bookkeeping Service

WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR

This Book Is For You If...

You have a great business idea but aren’t quite sure what comes next

You’re already a business owner but still feel like you’re figuring things out as you go

You want to build a strong foundation, covering your business structure, team, and the systems that keep everything running

You want to better understand the financial side of your business without becoming an accountant

You’re learning how to hire, lead, manage your time, and grow into your role as a business owner

You want the right people in your corner, from professionals and mentors to a team you can trust

You want to build a business that supports your goals, protects what you’re creating, and can grow with you for the long haul

Navigate The Business Beyond the Books

Building a successful business means navigating more than just the numbers. Beyond the Books brings together the financial knowledge, practical business foundations, leadership lessons, and long-term thinking every business owner needs along the way.

Build your Foundation

Start Strong and Protect What You're Building

Business planning

Choosing the right entity structure

Operating agreements

Insurance and compliance

Taxes

Building your Business Dream Team

Know Your Numbers

Understand the Financial Side of Your Business

Financial management

Budgets and cash flow

Understanding your financial reports

Payroll

Owner's payroll vs. draws

Planning and making informed financial decisions

Build & Lead

Create a Business That Can Grow

Hiring and building the right team

Leadership

Time management

Networking

Client experience

Technology and systems

Plan Beyond Today

Build Something That
Lasts

Long-term business planning

Personal finance for entrepreneurs

Creating a business that isn't entirely dependent on you

Exit strategy

Building a profitable, meaningful business

MEET THE AUTHOR

Stacey Gardner, Founder & CEO, Shoebox Bookkeeping Service

20+

Years Accounting Experience

Roles

City Treasurer, Controller, CFO, Founder

Stacey Gardner is the Founder and CEO of Shoebox Bookkeeping Service, which serves clients across Utah and beyond.

With over 20 years of accounting experience, she has held roles that include City Treasurer, Controller, and CFO. She is passionate about helping small businesses succeed and she believes strong businesses are built through integrity, relationships, and a genuine desire to serve others. Through her work, she helps business owners gain clarity, confidence and the financial foundation needed to grow both their business and their vision.

Early Praise

“Stacey Gardner has the chops not only to write this book but to run the financial backbone of any company. I know, because she's been mine.
Reading Beyond the Books felt like reliving the business lessons I learned the hard way: commingled money, missing operating agreements, owners who forget to pay themselves. Stacey saw all of it from the inside, and she lays out how to avoid it in plain English.
If you're in business, or thinking about starting one, read this before you learn these lessons the expensive way.”
Joe Kenemore
Serial entrepreneur and author of How to Be a Mailbox Marketing Maverick
“I’ve worked with Stacey for nearly a decade, first while I was part of a corporation where she managed the company’s books as a contracted partner as a fractional CFO, and later as a business owner and Shoebox client myself. Through both experiences, I’ve seen firsthand how her knowledge and experience extend far beyond bookkeeping. She has always poured her perspective as a business owner into the way she guides others, helping them better understand both their numbers and their business. Reading Beyond the Books, it was incredible to see all of that wisdom brought together in one place: years of lessons compiled into a single resource that’s thorough, manageable, and genuinely actionable. Highly recommend!”
Mary Bevins
Founder & CEO, Memora Marketing
Growing your business is always the goal, and I like that about Stacey and her book. Both her business and her book are here to help, and that means practical advice, useful how-to, things to think about that may push you just a little bit further, and all-around encouragement.
Again, it’s what we need as small business owners. We carry the nation, and having someone to give us a shot in the arm, that goes a long way. I highly recommend Beyond the Books to you and everyone else in your shoes.”
Brian Mast
Small business owner

Get In touch

Frequently Asked Questions

Beyond the Books will be released on October 24, 2026! You can pre-order now and make sure you get your copy as soon as it’s released.
You can order your copy of Beyond the Books directly through this page using the button above.
Beyond the Books is currently available in both paperback and e-book formats, so you can choose whichever works best for you.
Yes! Signed copies are available while supplies last. The first 50 copies purchased directly through this website will be personally autographed by the author.
Yes! Copies of Beyond the Books can be shipped nationwide, so you can order from anywhere in the U.S.
Please allow approximately 5–10 days for processing and shipping. We’ll work to get your copy headed your way as quickly as possible.
Absolutely. Bulk ordering and discounted rates may be available for businesses, teams, workshops, and events. If you’re interested in ordering multiple copies, contact Shoebox Bookkeeping and we’ll be happy to help with the details.
Contact Shoebox Bookkeeping for Bulk Orders