I’m Justine Lackey bookkeeping expert, business mentor, and proud mom of three.

Over the last 25+ years, I’ve gone from a solo practitioner to the founder of one of the very first virtual bookkeeping firms in North America. 

I scaled my bookkeeping firm from my kitchen table as a single mom with a big dream, a tight budget, and more grit than sleep.

That journey became a business with over 100 clients, a team of 12, and a recognizable, trusted bookkeeping brand across multiple industries.

Building Good Cents Management wasn't easy, but I now have the pleasure of teaching others how to achieve the success I did in a fraction of the time. 

In 2023, I successfully sold my firm to a dream buyer so I could focus on my personal life mission:

“I help the world by helping people.” 

I started my career in New York City, managing finances for world-renowned galleries, artists, and powerhouse online entrepreneurs - including Amy Porterfield, who (fun fact) wrote my very first social media plan and I worked with for nearly ten years.

But I was also a single mom, juggling nursery school, playdates AND deadlines. I built my business out of necessity then turned it into a thriving firm through grit, innovation, harnessing technology (I am a crazy tech geek) and sheer determination.

What began as a survival strategy became an industry legacy - I built a virtual bookkeeping firm before “remote” was even a thing.

Today, I lead The Incubator a high-touch business mentorship program for bookkeepers and accountants who want to stop winging it and start scaling with clarity, confidence, and community.

My students don’t just “get organized” ; they raise their prices, build powerful systems, attract ideal clients, and finally step into their CEO role.

I don’t teach theory. I teach what I’ve done.

And I do it from my chandelier-clad backyard She-Shed (yes, really), where I blend executive-level strategy with deep empathy and practical tools.

In my Incubator community I’m both the CEO and the Chief Mama Bird. I care deeply about your business and your well-being and I believe that growing a profitable firm shouldn’t cost you your life, your health, or your family time.

A Few Feathers in My Cap:

• Built and sold a 100+ client firm that ran virtually without me
  
• Pioneered the virtual bookkeeping space (Good Cents Management)
  
• 25+ years of entrepreneurial experience
  
• Featured in NBC News, Yahoo! Finance, Entrepreneur, and top podcasts like The Successful Bookkeeper and Heart & Hustle
  
• Public speaker, contributing writer, and guest expert on leadership, profitability, and building a sellable service business