Case Study: From a $56K Tax Shock to Predictable Profit
Client: Celtic Elevators, Phoenix, AZ
Owners: Shawn & Erin Leary
Industry: Custom Home Elevators
Coach: Diane Gardner, Profit First + Tax Strategist
Meet Shawn and Erin Leary
From a family business in upstate New York to a thriving custom elevator company in Arizona, Shawn and Erin built Celtic Elevators from the ground up. What started as a small accessibility service grew into a multimillion-dollar luxury brand — but behind the scenes, the financial stress was real. Their turning point came the day they discovered they owed $56,000 in taxes with only three weeks to pay.
The Challenge: “We owed $56,000 in taxes—and had three weeks to pay.”
After years of growth, Celtic Elevators looked successful on paper. Revenue had climbed to nearly $5 million, but behind the scenes, cash flow was unpredictable and financial clarity was missing.
“A CPA told us we owed $56,000 in taxes—and we didn’t have it. That moment was a wake-up call. We knew something had to change.” — Erin Leary, Co-Owner
The company was profitable in theory, but the numbers didn’t tell a clear story. Categories in QuickBooks weren’t aligned with how the business actually operated, and decisions were being made by instinct rather than data.
The Solution: Profit First + Hands-On Financial Coaching
Shawn and Erin implemented Profit First and partnered with Diane to bring structure, clarity, and control to their finances—both in the business and at home.
Together, they:
Reorganized financial categories for accuracy and insight
Set up Profit First bank accounts and allocation percentages
Introduced KPIs including Revenue per Employee and Profit per Employee
Created a 12-month Profit Plan to forecast cash flow and growth
Applied Profit First principles to their household finances for stability
“With Diane, we didn’t just get theory. She opened QuickBooks with us, cleaned up categories, and walked us through the real numbers until it made sense.”
— Shawn Leary, CEO
The Results: Profitability, Confidence, and Control
Since adopting Profit First, Celtic Elevators has experienced a complete financial turnaround:
- Every tax season fully funded in advance — no more last-minute scrambles
- Profit margins now outperform industry standards
- Hiring and equipment decisions made with confidence
- Family finances simplified using the same system
- All three of their children now work in and understand the business model
“Profit First changed everything. We run by percentages, not panic. Every dollar has a purpose—and every decision is faster, clearer, and more confident.” — Shawn & Erin Leary
Ready to Create Your Own Profit Story?
Profit First didn’t just improve their numbers, it changed how they think about money. By treating profit as non-negotiable, Shawn and Erin created a business that serves their life, not the other way around.
“If they can do it, so can you.”
— Diane Gardner
If you’re ready to stop reacting to your numbers and start leading with confidence, let’s talk.
In fact, in 45 minutes I can find $45k in lost profits during a Profit Impact Call.