Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT OUR SERVICES
Q: Can you help me move from reactive to proactive decision-making?
A: Yes. Most home service owners operate in reactive mode because they lack clear financial visibility. We help you understand your key numbers, forecast upcoming tax obligations, evaluate pricing and hiring decisions, and create a financial plan that reduces surprises. With the right systems in place, you stop making decisions based on stress and start making them based on strategy.
Q: What is Tax Coach For You | Profit Coach For You?
A: We provide integrated profit optimization and tax planning specifically for home service businesses. Unlike traditional accountants who only handle tax compliance, we combine Profit First cash management methodology with proactive tax strategy to help HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other trade businesses increase profits AND legally minimize taxes. Led by Diane Gardner, Certified Tax Coach and Profit First Master, we serve home service businesses with $1M-$25M in annual revenue.
Q: How does tax coaching differ from having a regular CPA?
A: Tax Coach For You focuses on proactive tax planning, not just annual tax preparation. We identify strategies throughout the year to legally reduce your tax burden.Traditional accountants typically prepare taxes after the year ends when it’s too late to make strategic changes. We work alongside your CPA or can serve as your primary tax advisor (Diane is an Enrolled Agent authorized to represent clients before the IRS).
Q: Can I keep my current CPA and still work with you?
A: Absolutely! Many of our clients continue working with their existing CPA for tax preparation and compliance while we provide the strategic tax planning and profit coaching. We complement what your CPA does—they handle historical tax filing, we focus on forward-looking strategy to reduce future taxes and increase profits. We’re happy to collaborate with your current tax preparer to ensure you get the best of both worlds.
Q: Do you work with service businesses outside of Idaho?
A: Yes, Tax Coach For You | Profit Coach For You works with home service businesses nationwide. Our Profit Impact Assessments and ongoing coaching are conducted virtually, and our tax planning strategies apply across all U.S. states (with state-specific adjustments as needed).
PROFIT FIRST METHODOLOGY
Q: What is Profit First and how does it work for contractors?
A: Profit First is a cash management system that reverses the traditional accounting formula. Instead of Sales – Expenses = Profit, you use Sales – Profit = Expenses. For service businesses, this means allocating revenue into separate accounts (profit, owner’s pay, taxes, operating expenses) immediately upon receipt, ensuring you pay yourself first and always have money for tax obligations.
Q: Do I need special bank accounts for Profit First?
A: Yes, Profit First works best with multiple bank accounts—typically 5-7 accounts for different purposes (Profit, Owner’s Pay, Tax, Operating Expenses, and optionally Growth/Emergency funds). Don’t worry—these are checking or savings accounts at your current bank. The separate accounts create a visual, physical system that makes it impossible to accidentally spend your profit or tax money on operations. Setup takes about an hour, and the peace of mind is immediate.
Q: What if I’ve tried managing my finances before and it didn’t work?
A: You’re not alone—most home service businesses have tried budgeting, spreadsheets, or financial “systems” that failed. Here’s why Profit First is different: it works WITH human behavior, not against it. Instead of relying on discipline and tracking every expense, it uses physical bank accounts to automatically allocate money the moment it comes in. You can’t accidentally spend money that’s in a different account. Plus, you’ll have Diane’s expert guidance and accountability every step of the way, customized specifically for the challenges of running a trade business.
RESULTS & EXPECTATIONS
Q: Do you work with businesses that are profitable but still feel cash-strapped?
A: Yes—and this is extremely common. Many service businesses show a profit on paper but still struggle with tight cash flow, inconsistent owner pay, or tax surprises. Profit on a financial statement doesn’t always translate to money in the bank. We help restructure cash flow using Profit First principles and proactive tax planning so profitability becomes real, usable cash—not just accounting math.
Q: How do your services support long-term goals like retirement or selling the business?
A: Strong profit systems and clean financial records are essential if you want to retire comfortably or eventually sell your business. We help you build predictable profit margins, consistent owner compensation, reduced tax liability, and organized financial reporting. These improvements not only increase your current income—they increase the long-term value and transferability of your business.
Q: What is the average profit margin for home service businesses?
A: Most HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and construction companies operate between 5-10% net profit margins. Through Profit First implementation and strategic tax planning, our clients typically achieve 15-20% profit margins within 12-18 months.
Q: How much should a service business owner pay themselves?
A: Service business owners with $1M-$5M in revenue should target paying themselves 10-15% of gross revenue as owner’s compensation, plus profit distributions. Many owners pay themselves last (or not at all)—we teach you to pay yourself first using the Profit First allocation system.
Q: How quickly can I see profit improvements in my service business?
A: Most clients see measurable cash flow improvements within 30-45 days of implementing Profit First principles. Significant profit margin increases (3-5 percentage points) typically occur within 90-180 days as we optimize pricing, reduce expenses, and identify new revenue streams.
Q: What’s the ROI? How quickly does this pay for itself?
A: The average client sees returns within 60-90 days. Between the tax savings we identify and profit increases from better cash management and pricing optimization, most clients recover their investment in coaching fees within the first quarter and continue benefiting year after year. Many clients tell us working with Tax Coach For You | Profit Coach For You is the highest-ROI business investment they’ve ever made.
Q: What if you don’t find $45,000 in profit opportunities in my business?
A: In our experience working with hundreds of home service businesses, we’ve never failed to identify significant opportunities—whether through missed tax deductions, pricing optimization, expense reduction, or cash flow improvements. However, the $45,000 figure is an average across all clients. Smaller businesses (under $2M revenue) may see $20,000-$35,000 in opportunities, while larger businesses ($5M+) often see $75,000-$150,000+. Regardless of your revenue size, we guarantee you’ll leave the Profit Impact Call with clear, actionable strategies to improve your bottom line.
TAX PLANNING
Q: What are the biggest tax deductions home service businesses miss?
A: Many home service business owners miss deductions related to vehicles, equipment purchases, home office use, owner health insurance, retirement contributions, and proper expense categorization. Others fail to take advantage of Section 179 depreciation, hiring family members strategically, or proactive year-end tax planning. The biggest issue isn’t usually one missed write-off—it’s the lack of a coordinated tax strategy that reduces liability before the year ends.
Q: Do you prepare tax returns or just do tax planning?
A: Our primary focus is proactive tax planning and strategy throughout the year—that’s where the real savings happen. However, Diane is an Enrolled Agent and can prepare tax returns if needed. Many clients choose to have us handle both their tax planning and preparation for seamless integration. Others prefer to keep their current tax preparer for compliance work while we focus on strategic planning. Either arrangement works well.
ELIGIBILITY & FIT
Q: I feel behind or embarrassed about my financial knowledge. Is that a problem?
A: Not at all. Many successful home service business owners feel this way—they built their business based on skill and hard work, not financial training. There is no judgment here. Our role is to help you build confidence and competence step by step. You’re not expected to know everything. You’re expected to be willing to improve—and we guide you through the rest.
Q: What if my revenue is under $1M or over $25M?
A: Our sweet spot is $1M-$25M in annual revenue, but we make exceptions. If you’re doing $750K-$1M and growing, Profit First can prevent the cash flow chaos that comes with rapid growth. If you’re over $25M, we can still help, though you may need additional CFO-level support beyond what we provide. The best way to know if we’re a fit is to book a Profit Impact Call—we’ll be honest about whether we can serve you effectively or if you’d be better served elsewhere.
Q: Do you work with brand-new contractors or only established businesses?
A: We primarily work with established businesses ($1M+ revenue) because that’s where our integrated tax and profit strategies have the biggest impact. If you’re a newer contractor (under $500K revenue), we recommend starting with the Profit First book and implementing the basics yourself. Once you cross $750K-$1M in revenue, that’s the perfect time to bring in expert coaching to scale profitably and avoid the expensive mistakes most growing home service businesses make.
Q: My industry is different—do you really understand my specific trade?
A: We’ve worked extensively with HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, roofing, and restoration businesses. While each trade has nuances, the fundamental profit and tax challenges are remarkably similar across home service businesses. Plus, Diane takes time to understand your specific operation, pricing model, and industry benchmarks. You won’t get cookie-cutter advice—you’ll get strategies customized to how your specific trade business operates
PROCESS & GETTING STARTED
Q: I’m busy and overwhelmed — do I need to understand accounting to work with you?
A: No. Most of our clients are not financial experts—they’re trade experts. Our job is to simplify your numbers so you can make confident decisions without drowning in accounting terminology. We translate financial reports into plain English, focus on the few key metrics that actually drive profit, and build systems that work in the real world of running a service business. You don’t need to “get good at accounting”—you need clarity, structure, and strategy.
Q: How does the Profit Impact Call work? What should I expect?
A: The Profit Impact Call is a live 45-minute assessment where Diane reviews your business financials and identifies at least $45,000 in profit opportunities. Before the call, you’ll submit basic financial information (recent profit & loss statement, revenue breakdown by service line). During the call, Diane analyzes your numbers in real-time, identifies your biggest profit leaks, uncovers missed tax deductions, and shows you exactly where money is being left on the table. You’ll leave with a clear picture of what’s possible and actionable next steps—whether you work with us or not. There’s no obligation and no sales pressure.
Q: What happens after the initial Profit Impact Assessment?
A: After your assessment, you’ll receive a detailed summary of the opportunities identified. If you choose to move forward, we’ll design a customized Profit Plan or Tax Plan specific to your business. Most clients begin with our 12-month Profit Amplifier Program, which includes weekly group coaching sessions, monthly one-to-one sessions with Diane, ongoing tax planning, and unlimited email support. We’ll guide you through setting up your bank accounts, establishing your allocation percentages, optimizing your pricing, and implementing tax-saving strategies throughout the year.
Q: How often do we meet if I become a client?
A: Most clients meet with Diane regularly for the group coaching sessions and monthly for their one-to-one coaching session (virtual via Zoom).These sessions include financial review, progress check-ins, strategic planning, and tax planning updates. You’ll also have email access between sessions for quick questions. As your business stabilizes and you become proficient with Profit First, some clients transition to quarterly check-ins. We customize the meeting frequency based on your needs and where you are in the implementation process.
Q: How long does a typical coaching engagement last?
A: Our signature program is 12 months, which gives us time to implement Profit First through a full business cycle (including seasonal variations if applicable), complete at least one tax planning cycle, and establish sustainable habits. Many clients continue beyond the initial year because they value the ongoing strategic guidance, accountability, and tax planning. Some transition to quarterly consulting after the first year. There’s no long-term contract—we work together as long as it’s valuable for your business.
Q: What financial records do I need to get started?
A: To begin, we’ll need your most recent Profit & Loss statement (P&L), Balance Sheet if available, and a breakdown of revenue by service line or trade (if you offer multiple services). If you have tax returns from the past 2 years, those are helpful but not required for the initial assessment. Don’t worry if your books aren’t perfect—part of what we do is help you clean up and organize your financial systems.
Q: I’m too busy to add another meeting or process—how much time does this take?
A: We understand you’re already maxed out—that’s exactly why you need this system. Profit First actually saves you time because it eliminates the constant mental stress of “do I have enough money for this?” Once implemented, you’ll spend about 10 minutes per week on your Profit First allocations (which we teach you to make as automatic as possible). Weekly group coaching sessions are 90 minutes, and the monthly one-to-one sessions are 60 minutes. Compare that to the hours you currently spend worrying about cash flow, scrambling to pay taxes, or trying to figure out if you can afford new equipment. Most clients tell us Profit First gives them back mental bandwidth and reduces their financial stress significantly.