Why does re-engineering the chart of accounts matter?

The Mind 🧠 of a CFO

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β™» CFO’s Retake: Re-Engineering Your Financials to Tell a Story

You might be asking yourself, why does re-engineering the chart of accounts matter? Well, let's look at the following example. 

Before restructuring the chart of accounts: 

  • Sales = $1,500,000

  • COGS = $600,000

  • GP = $900,000

  • GP % = 60%

  • Payroll = $500,000

  • Other OPEX = $100,000

In the above example, it’s unclear what service line you should focus on or cut. Plus, gross profit looks solid.

After restructuring the chart of accounts:

  • Service #1

    • Sales = $500,000

    • COGS – DL = $200,000

    • GP = $300,000

    • GP % = 60%

       

  • Service #2

    • Sales = $250,000

    • COGS – DL = $150,000

    • COGS – DM = $90,000

    • GP = $240,000

    • GP % = 4%

       

  • Service #3

    • Sales = $700,000

    • COGS – DM = $200,000

    • COGS – Subs = $300,000

    • GP = $200,000

    • GP % = 29%

       

  • Service #0.25

    • Sales = $50,000

    • COGS – Subs = $5,000

    • COGS – Software = $5,000

    • GP = $40,000

    • GP % = 80%

       

  • Payroll = $150,000

  • Other OPEX = $100,000

In the above example, Service #2 is not profitable, so the leadership teams need to justify whether to keep the service. They also should discuss the following:

  • Whether Service #3 is holding back the expansion of Service #1 and/or Service #0.25.

     

  • How do they expand Service #0.25?

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Brain 🧠 Food

πŸ“ˆπŸ§ πŸ’ͺπŸ§˜πŸ‘‚ Tim Ferris's mash-up of podcasts came recommended by one of my coaches. This is probably one of the best podcast episodes that I have heard.

It includes a bit of everything: dopamine with Dr. Andrew Huberman, prioritizing with Greg McKeown, never quitting with Jocko Willink, self-esteem with Brene Brown, and a bit of everything with Naval Ravikant. Click here to listen.

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Thanks for reading, Luke Templin!

P.S. There are two ways to work with Luke to grow your business profitably.

  1. Virtual CFO Cohort for service-based entrepreneurs with $250k - $1 million revenue.

  2. Fractional CFO for service-based entrepreneurs with over $1M in revenue.