ABOUT | Rainforest Books

Rainforest Bookkeeping

Rainforest Bookkeeping was born 01 September 2009. Why the name? When I think of a Rainforest, I think of sustainability, new growth and the possibility of something new. I also think of all the trees we can save by moving to the cloud and going as paperless as possible.

Our mission is to help our small business partners get out of parts of their business they dislike and back into their lives.

Our experience in small businesses, trades and apprenticeship, marketing, manufacturing, logistics, import/export and e-commerce this has been invaluable to small businesses and sole traders. We know how valuable time is when it's only you and your partner. We wanted to find ways to give my clients their personal time back. Our original clients were all husband and wife teams that were both involved in the business, constantly working in the business and often, one or both were not happy about it and neither was trained in the complexities of running a business.

Initially, using desktop software, it was all about data entry, paperwork and filing. Each client required 4-8 hours per week in the client's office. Playing catch up was the norm instead of the exception. There was no time for value-adding services and advisory.

As a Bookkeeping practice, we now have complete transparency throughout the accounting process, one point of truth and we have everything at hand for year-end. The Bookkeeper – Accountant relationships have never been stronger. Rainforest Bookkeeping is 100% cloud-based with Xero. Having experience with many desktop software platforms has made the migration from desktop to the cloud has become a speciality.

The best part is our clients now know what’s happening in their businesses in real-time.

And we love what we do!

Michele Grisdale

About Us

Michele Grisdale is an Australian-based Professional Bookkeeper and BAS Agent based on the Central Coast of NSW. She is the founder of 100% cloud-based Rainforest Bookkeeping Pty Ltd and a Member in Practice of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers.

A sole Practitioner by choice, she chooses to work with clients in the building and construction, plumbing, e-commerce sector, as well as personal services. Her practice has been 100% cloud-based for over 10 years.

With practical experience in trades and apprenticeships, small business ownership and management, payroll and HR, marketing, manufacturing, inventory, logistics, import/export, and e-commerce Michele’s practice offers clients a unique perspective to improve their systems and processes modify, adapt or change completely.

As a bookkeeper in practice, she has lived experience having worked in partnership with her industry colleagues in practice to understand government subsidies such as JobKeeper and their effect on micro and small businesses. She also supported the work of ICB, COSBOA and ServiceNSW to assist in the modification of service delivery of government support at Federal & State level.

Active community involvement includes working with ICB Discussion and Support programs, and software providers such as Ignition, NextMinute, Xbert, Xero Partners, Dext, and Bookkeepers in Practice.

As an advisor, she works with her clients to communicate compliance, tax and superannuation requirements and helps them to understand deadlines to help them stay in control of their cash flow for their business. She regularly assists them with Fair Work requirements and Apprenticeship regulations and reporting in her role as a specialist BAS agent.

As an expert in digital transformation Michele understands the importance of digitisation for small, businesses and advises clients on moving their data and processes to secure, cloud-based, streamlined, and sustainable environments. She also understands the importance of a mentally healthy small business and supports clients in their journey by keeping up to date with the latest health advice for small business owners and their staff.

Digital Service Provider consultation: and beta-testing

Collaboration with Digital Service Providers to provide a better understanding of SME requirements for integrated services.

Dext (formerly Receipt Bank)
- Recently beta-tested ABN lookup feature and many others over the last 10 years
- Advocate and speaker for application for SMEs and the accounting community
- Case studies and staff training
NextMinute
- Worked with developers to offer a product suitable to the Australian market for the building industry and that addressed the requirements of SMEs
- Requested integration of receipt capture products to remove additional touchpoint. Now a live function.
Xbert
- Worked with founders on initial product offering to bookkeepers and accountants as original target market with direct to business
- Advised on need for more integrated products versus multiple products for one point of entry. Requested integration of task management function which is now live.
- Case Study 2020

Small Business Digital Champions presenter for Housing Industry Association (HIA) webinars
- Welcome to the Digital World for Builders and Trades
- Digital Tools for Builders and Trades
- Single Touch Payroll for new entrants
- HIA-CSQ Small Business Program

Collaboration with Associations, bookkeeping and client-related, to assist our clients and promote a better understanding of the challenges we are facing together.

Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB)
- Member in Practice since 2009
- ICB Software Feedback Group
- Contributor for Australian Bookkeepers Summit on what is means to be a sole practitioner
Attends the COSBOA National Small Business Summits to learn about policy changes affecting small business and provide relevant questions for policy makers and associations from the perspective of SMEs.

Other Achievements

Xero Silver Partner, Xero Insider, XeroOnAir 2020 presenter with Anna Curzon, CDO on profitability and short-term cash flow dashboards, advisor on Xero Projects
Small Biz Matters radio show guest
Cloud Integration Partner (SMB Consultants and TradiePad) – Advanced Certification
ServiceM8 Partner and integrator
Flying Sole member since 2009