Meet RaeAnn Stout

We had the good fortune of connecting with RaeAnn Stout and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi RaeAnn, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
At the time, I was juggling a lot—work, family, trying to find some sort of balance—and I knew the traditional corporate path wasn’t going to give me the flexibility I needed. I wanted more freedom, but I also wanted to do meaningful work with people who valued it.

I was working as a controller for a gelato shop, and while they had great revenue during the busy summer months, they just kept spending without thinking long-term. I tried to help. I brought them the numbers, offered strategies, even jumped in to help with sales when things got tough. But you can’t force someone to change their habits if they don’t want to. Eventually, they had to shut down—and it broke my heart, because I knew it didn’t have to end that way.

That experience stuck with me. I realized I didn’t just want to do the books—I wanted to partner with business owners who were ready to understand their numbers and build something sustainable. That’s how Stout Bookkeeping started. I built it for the business owners who actually want that financial clarity and are open to support. The ones who want to grow—on purpose.

What should our readers know about your business?
Stout Bookkeeping is all about helping small business owners get clarity, feel more in control, and actually use their numbers to make smarter decisions. I’m not your typical bookkeeper—I don’t just record transactions and hand over reports. I do a full diagnostic at the start to make sure everything is accurate, and I keep an eye on things as we go so my clients aren’t just staying compliant—they’re growing intentionally.

What sets me apart is that I act as a true financial partner. I help my clients understand what their numbers are telling them, flag issues before they become problems, and support them in building a healthier business. I also help many clients implement Profit First in a way that actually works for their business, which has been a game-changer for managing cash flow and making sure they’re actually paying themselves.

I’m proud of the trust I’ve built with my clients. They know I care, and they know I’m in it with them—not just for data entry, but for the bigger picture. Building this business hasn’t been easy—it’s taken a lot of learning, experimenting, and showing up even when things felt hard. But I’ve built it in a way that aligns with my life and my values, and that’s something I wouldn’t trade.

What I want the world to know is that you don’t have to figure out your finances alone. When you have the right support, your numbers stop being scary—and start becoming one of your best tools for growth.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting, we’d start the week with a day at the beach in Carlsbad. Most of my friends and family live nowhere near the ocean, so getting their feet in the sand is always the first thing on the list. There’s just something about the sound of the waves and the salty air that makes everything feel like a true vacation.

After that, we’d head into Carlsbad Village for Knockout Pizza and a scoop (or two) from Handel’s Ice Cream, then just walk around the shops and soak it all in. We’d definitely need more than one day in the Village—we’d make time to dig through vinyl at Spin Records and have dinner at Le Papagayo, sitting on their outdoor patio by the firepit with great food and even better vibes.

At some point, we’d make a classic In-N-Out stop—because no California trip is complete without it. Then we’d head to Vista for some local beer tasting at Belching Beaver, one of my favorite laid-back spots.

We’d get in a morning hike up Mt. Calavera—it’s short but the views are so worth it. And we’d definitely carve out one night for dinner in Oceanside and a sunset at the pier. Even though I haven’t spent a ton of time there, it’s got such a cool energy and always feels like a little adventure.

The whole week would be a mix of beach days, good food, local spots, and just enjoying everything I love about life in North County.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
If I had to give a shoutout to anyone, it would be my husband, Brennan. He’s the one who looked at me one day and said, “You know you could be doing this for other people, right?” That one sentence shifted everything for me. I had been deep in the trenches helping a business that just wasn’t listening, feeling stuck and frustrated—but he saw something in me that I hadn’t quite let myself believe yet. His encouragement is what gave me the courage to start Stout Bookkeeping.

I also want to shout out the North County small business community—especially in Vista and Carlsbad. I didn’t grow up here, but this place feels like home now, and that’s largely because of the people. From local chambers to networking groups, I’ve met the most incredible business owners who root for each other and share the real stuff, not just the highlight reel.

And I’ll always carry a little gratitude for that first business I worked for—the one that didn’t make it. Watching it struggle, knowing it didn’t have to go that way, is what lit the fire in me. I wanted to be the kind of financial partner who could help prevent that from happening to someone else. That was the beginning.

Website: https://www.stoutbookkeepingca.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoutbookkeeping/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raeannstout/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stoutbookkeeping

Other: https://www.threads.com/@stoutbookkeeping

Image Credits
Marcy Browe