Meet Sarah

The bookkeeper who
believes in your potential.

Sarah Burgess is the founder of Little Black Books. She's a NZ Certified Bookkeeper and business advisor who spent years in corporate finance before deciding there had to be a better way to serve ambitious NZ business owners.
Sarah Burgess
Founder · Little Black Books NZ
Xero Certified
NZ Certified Bookkeeper
Virtual CFO

From corporate to startup founder.

I spent years in corporate finance roles, working in business advisor positions for large organisations. I got really good at it managing budgets, forecasting cashflow, building financial models. But I kept noticing something that frustrated me: all that expertise was only available to big businesses with big budgets.

Then I started meeting with small business owners. Talented, hardworking entrepreneurs who had no idea if their business was actually profitable. Owners who couldn't afford to pay themselves some months. Founders who had created what I fondly call a bookkeeping crime scene and felt too overwhelmed to do anything about it.

And I realized: there's this huge gap in the market. You've got bookkeepers on one end great at data entry, but not necessarily focused on what your numbers actually mean. And you've got accountants on the other end who appear once a year at tax time. But there's nobody in the middle helping you understand and use your numbers to make better decisions.

That's the gap I wanted to fill. That's why I founded Little Black Books.

My happy place? Cashflow strategy.

Why LBBS matters to me

I'm genuinely obsessed with helping business owners understand their financial position. Not because it's a job because I believe it's the single most powerful lever you have to build a business that gives you time, money, and freedom.

There's this moment in every client relationship when it clicks. When they stop seeing their bookkeeping as a burden and start seeing it as a tool. When they understand why they had cashflow problems in their best month, or how a small pricing change could add thousands to their bottom line. That's what keeps me going.

I'm also passionate about empowering women in business. Too many female entrepreneurs feel sidelined from the financial side of their own business. That wasn't how we wanted to work with clients especially not women-owned businesses.

Every day, LBBS is about helping you feel confident, in control, and genuinely excited about your numbers.
Sarah's philosophy
"Your bookkeeping should do more than satisfy the IRD. It should tell you a story about your business and that story should help you grow."
Bookkeeping done right isn't just compliance. It's strategy. It's the foundation for every smart decision you make about your business. And I want you to feel like LBBS is a trusted member of your team someone who understands your vision and helps you get there financially.

What every LBBS bookkeeping client gets.

NZ Certified Bookkeeper

Formal qualification in bookkeeping practice and standards. Sarah stays current with NZ tax law changes and accounting practices.

Xero Certified Partner

Specialist training and certification with Xero. Sarah helps businesses set up, optimise, and leverage Xero as a strategic business tool not just a data repository.

business advisor Background

Years of experience in business advisor roles managing books for growth-stage businesses. Sarah understands what strategic financial management looks like at scale, and how to bring that thinking to small and medium businesses.

Ongoing Professional Development

Regular training in tax updates, accounting standards, and business advisory best practices. Sarah genuinely loves staying ahead of the curve.

Let's explore what's possible for your business.

Book a free 30-minute consultation with Sarah. You'll talk honestly about where your business is now, and what real financial clarity could mean for your future.
Free · No obligation · 30 minutes · Auckland-based, NZ-wide
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