💰 Money Talks: How to Lead Your Team with Financial Transparency

If you've ever sat at your desk wondering why your profit margins aren't quite what you expected, despite a full schedule and hardworking team — this one’s for you.

Financial visibility isn’t just about spreadsheets and QuickBooks dashboards — it’s about equipping your team with the clarity and ownership they need to run a lean, profitable, and motivated operation. In our latest episode of The Beer Garden, we welcomed Chartered Accountant and landscaping industry veteran Michelle Ennis to break down the financial systems that help landscape and snow removal companies thrive.

Here’s what we covered, and what you should be thinking about in your own business.

💸 The Problem: Flying Blind with Your Finances

Michelle’s early experience as co-founder at Landscapers By Nature was one many owners can relate to:

• External bookkeepers led to slow reporting

• She was the only one reviewing financials

• And worst of all — expenses weren’t being caught until it was too late

Without visibility, it’s hard to steer the ship. A financial system isn’t just for your accountant — it’s the backbone of your leadership strategy.

📊 Start with a Solid Chart of Accounts

Your chart of accounts is the foundation of financial clarity. It’s how you track revenue and expenses — but a default chart won’t cut it.

Michelle recommends tailoring it to the realities of the landscape/snow industry:

• Break out revenue streams (maintenance, enhancements, snow, etc.)

• Separate COGS for labor, materials, and equipment

• Include overhead categories that align with your org structure

Pro Tip: Avoid overly generic accounts. Your reports should tell a story — one you can act on.

📅 Hold Monthly Financial Review Meetings

One of the biggest game-changers? Michelle introduced monthly financial review meetings with her leadership team — including operations, HR, and account managers.

These meetings:

• Created accountability

• Encouraged cost-saving initiatives

• Built a collaborative culture around financial results

Real example: One manager realized they were overspending on car washes and switched to a discounted gift card program. That’s how small actions make big impacts.

⏱️ Timely Data Beats Perfect Data

Hiring a dedicated in-house accounting clerk helped Landscapers By Nature close their books within 10 days of month-end. That allowed for quick decision-making and proactive adjustments.

If you're still relying on quarterly (or worse — year-end) reviews, you're already too late.

Recommended tools:

• QuickBooks Online

• Google Sheets for customized reporting and dashboards

📈 Involve Your Managers — Even If They’re Not “Finance People”

The magic happens when your team understands the numbers:

• Use visual reports to highlight key metrics

• Track gross margins by crew

• Create bonus structures tied to results

When people see how their choices impact profitability, they start making better ones.

🧰 Action Steps to Get Started

1. Clean up your chart of accounts

2. Set a recurring financial review meeting (even if it's just you and a coffee)

3. Track key reports: Budget vs Actual, Cash Flow, Job Costing

4. Share numbers with your team and invite input

5. Start forecasting the upcoming month to build financial intuition

6. Incentivize outcomes: Use simple bonuses tied to margin, EBITDA, or improvements

🚀 Why It Works

This isn't just about dollars and cents. It's about empowering your people, improving decision-making, and building a team that treats your company like it's their own.

Or, as Michelle put it:

“Financial conversations became collaborative instead of combative.”

🎧 Want the full breakdown?
Check out our latest episode of The Beer Garden podcast:
"Money Talks: How to Lead Your Team with Financial Transparency"
Available on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Need Help?

If you need help implementing these strategies or have questions about growing your landscape or snow removal business, feel free to reach out. We're here to support your journey toward a successful and stress-free future, don’t hesitate to contact us here. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

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