“Start with the end in mind.” – Stephen Covey
You know as well as I do that you don’t hop on the highway and assume that you’ll figure it out as you go. You MUST pick a direction first – if not your exact destination. If you start out heading south from Chicago, you definitely will not end up anywhere in Canada.
In the same way, you MUST create a financial plan for your lawn care business. With a plan, you’ll be heading in a clear direction and be well-informed about the choices you need to make along the way.
The good news is, that it’s never too late to create your financial plan. You simply have to make a decision about where you want to end up.
So here’s the question: Do you want to have a more profitable lawn care business?
Even if your path is flying by the seat of your pants, receipts shoved in your glove compartment, and a bag of essential papers that you hope no one ever comes looking for, it’s not too late.
You can start today.
My clients come to me at any number of stages on their lawn care accounting journey. Many of them have already tried it on their own and they realize they need some help. They need direction. But no matter where they are, I always encourage them to: START WITH THE END IN MIND.
How to start with the end in mind when managing your cash
Where you are
When we first begin working together, I take my clients through an in-depth exercise to help them uncover and articulate what is challenging their profitability and what might be holding them back from building the profitable business they dream of.
Where do you want to go
Next, we get really clear on what success looks like. Not everyone wants to retire at 50 and not everyone wants to buy a mountain home. What does success look like for you? Success in the short term and the long term are both important to identify.
What comes next
Both of those elements – Where you are today and where you want to end up – directly affect what I recommend for you to do with your business.
- You might need to spend less money for a season.
- You might need to save up some cash so that you’re ready for your tax bill.
- You may need to invest in some new team members or equipment.
- You may need to start paying yourself better.
Profitability for Landscapers
No matter what recommendations I make, they are all completely tailored to you and your unique business, and they always use Profit First accounting as a guide.
In my 25+ years of experience as an Accountant/Bookkeeper, I haven’t found a more practical, applicable approach to structuring your finances so that you’re profitable ASAP.
Most landscapers are in the industry because lawn care or landscaping is what they love to do. They want to make great outdoor spaces for their clients and don’t have a lot of mental space for keeping track of their lawn care accounting.
Get Started Today
If you’re ready to work with someone like me, fantastic. Schedule a call today and we’ll dive right in.
If you’re wanting to start today on your own, here are some helpful questions that will help you start with the end in mind.
Take some time to write down your answers and really allow yourself the space to process these questions thoughtfully.
- What are the external challenges your profitability is facing? (ie: This could be that you have to track down payments for invoices, you have a lot of debt, etc.)
- What are your beliefs and feelings about money and how does that affect the way you approach your profitability today? (ie: Were you raised in a home where your family never talked about money?)
- How do you define success for your Profit First bookkeeping implementation? What do you expect to happen?
- How will your life be different if you have the cash flow you can count on?
- Consider the way you work best with people on your team and other vendors that help you with your business. Does it feel like it would be helpful to hire a coach to help you implement Profit First?
I invite you to Schedule a call today to explore how we can work with you on the challenges you are facing.
