Now let's build the financial foundation to scale it. Palisades CFO partners exclusively with HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and trade contractors ready to grow from 10 to 50 employees.
Revenue looks fine on paper — but you can't see which service lines or job types are actually profitable.
Big jobs, payroll cycles, and seasonal swings create cash crunches that catch owners off guard.
New truck? Another tech? New market? Without financial data, every big decision is a guess.
A business owner had recently purchased a gym and wasn't sure if meaningful growth was realistic. Through deep financial analysis, we identified two overlooked revenue streams — corporate membership programs to capture larger employer accounts, and retail product sales (supplements, apparel, and protein drinks) to improve per-visit margins.
A clear, data-backed roadmap that nearly doubled their revenue potential — built entirely from numbers that were always there, waiting to be found.
That's what Palisades CFO does for trades companies every month.
Every tier includes real financial partnership — not just reports. Start where you are. Scale when you're ready.
"You'll finally know if you're actually making money — or just staying busy."
"You control your cash, know which jobs make money, and stop leaving margin on the table."
"You get a financial partner in the room — not just a report in your inbox."
Book a free 30-minute discovery call. No pressure, no pitch — just a real conversation about your business and whether Palisades CFO is the right fit.
Three tiers designed for where trades companies actually are — not where accountants think they should be.
Full monthly close, reconciliations, and clean financial statements delivered by the 12th of each month.
Trades-optimized chart of accounts — Install, Service, and Maintenance tracked separately from day one.
High-level labor vs. materials vs. overhead by service line. Know what's eating your margin.
Revenue, Gross Margin, Net Margin, Cash Balance, AR Aging — updated monthly, explained in plain English.
Walk through your results together. No jargon. You'll know exactly where you stand and what to watch.
Job-level profitability by service line. Identify losing job types and underpriced services before they drain your margin.
Built around your payroll cycles, large job timing, and seasonality. HVAC owners — this is your slow-season survival tool.
Flag aging receivables, collection follow-up strategy, deposit policy recommendations. Faster collections = better cash flow.
Annual budget, monthly variance review. Target: increase gross margin 3–8% within 12 months.
Pricing, crew efficiency, cost control — a focused financial operating conversation every month.
Email/Slack support with a defined 24–48 hr SLA. Your questions answered fast, without waiting for the next call.
Owner/GM financial operating rhythm — weekly pulse on cash, jobs, crew, and decisions that need a financial lens.
When to hire new techs, break-even per employee, labor efficiency modeling. Stop guessing on headcount.
Raise prices intelligently. Protect margins without losing volume. Most trades companies are underpriced by 8–15%.
New trucks, crews, service areas, and verticals modeled before you commit capital. Data before decisions.
Equipment financing, lines of credit, cash buffer planning. Build the financial infrastructure to scale.
9 years of banking experience. Walk into any bank conversation ready — this is rare, and most CFOs simply cannot offer it.
Start with a free discovery call. We'll talk through your business and recommend the right level of support — honestly, even if that means starting smaller.
9 years in banking. 2 years advising growing businesses. Built to serve the trades.
Most trades owners I talk to are incredibly good at their craft. They built something real — a crew, a reputation, a book of business. But when it comes time to make a big decision — hire another tech, buy a second truck, open a new service area — they're making it on gut feel instead of data.
That gap is where I built Palisades CFO.
I spent nine years in banking, the last two as a Senior Business Advisor working directly with business owners on cash flow, treasury strategy, and financial planning. I've sat across the table from hundreds of owners. I know how lenders evaluate a business. I know what healthy financials look like. And I know how to translate the numbers into language that actually drives decisions.
I founded Palisades CFO to bring that expertise specifically to trades companies in southeast Idaho and Montana — HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and general contractors doing $1M–$10M in revenue who are ready to scale but need the financial infrastructure to do it right.
One of my favorite engagements wasn't even in trades. A business owner had recently purchased a gym and wasn't sure the growth potential was real. Through detailed financial analysis, we identified two underutilized revenue streams — corporate membership programs to capture employer accounts, and retail product sales to improve per-visit margins. The numbers created a roadmap that nearly doubled their revenue potential. The data was always there. It just needed someone to find it and translate it into a plan.
That's what I do for trades companies every month.
Based in Idaho Falls. I know this market, these lenders, and what it takes to build a trades business in the Mountain West.
I don't try to serve everyone. I know HVAC seasonality, plumbing cash cycles, and electrical job costing inside and out.
9 years of banking means I understand how lenders think — and I help you speak their language when it matters most.
No jargon, no judgment. You get a real conversation about your numbers and what they mean for your business.
30 minutes. No pressure. Just an honest look at where you are and whether Palisades CFO is the right fit.
30 minutes. No pitch, no pressure. Just an honest conversation about your business and whether Palisades CFO is the right fit.
On your discovery call we'll cover what your business looks like right now, what decisions you're trying to make, and where the financial blind spots are. If there's a fit, I'll make a clear recommendation. If there isn't, I'll tell you that too.
Most owners leave the call with at least one insight they didn't have going in — whether we work together or not.
Fill this out and Aaron will reach out within 1 business day to schedule.
Thanks for reaching out. Aaron will be in touch within 1 business day to schedule your discovery call.
In the meantime, feel free to explore the services page to learn more about each tier.