CPA's Don't Make Millionaires
The Contractor's Financial Blueprint
Saturday Newsletter
August 16, 2025
Read on my website ⏱️ Read Time: 3 minutes 45 seconds
Why Your Accountant Isn't Making You Rich
Good morning,
I'm about to say something that might ruffle some feathers:
Your accountant, banker, and bookkeeper are not your strategic financial advisors.
How do I know? Because every time I onboard a new contractor, I'm shocked at how little their paid financial "advisors" are actually helping them understand true job profitability and gross profit margins.
The Wake-Up Call That Started Everything
Years ago, I was helping a contractor secure a loan. As we walked through his numbers, I showed him basic formulas and margin analysis stuff I assumed he already knew.
"Doesn't your accountant teach you this?" I asked.
"No," he said.
That single word changed my career path. After 30 years in banking, I'd made a false assumption: that the people contractors pay for financial advice were actually... advising.
They weren't.
The Problem With Finance People (And I Am One)
They overcomplicate everything:
Too many spreadsheets with broken formulas
Too much jargon that makes your eyes glaze over
Too many numbers that don't actually matter
Here's what contractors actually need: Someone who speaks plain English and can boil everything down to a few key numbers you can master in 90 days or less.
Then you spend 15 minutes a month—not 15 hours—reviewing what matters.
Let's Talk Baseball (Stay With Me)
Your financial team is like a baseball team. Everyone has a seat on the bus. Unfortunately, you may not have all the right people on the bus. Everyone has a position:
Your Accountant = First Baseman
Focused on compliance and taxes
Great at doing things by the book
But if they don't understand construction accounting? Every ball goes through their legs
Your Bookkeeper = Center Field, batting cleanup
Should be professionally trained in construction
Understands job costing and profitability
Not Uncle Joe who "knows QuickBooks"
Might be your MVP if you pick the right one
Your Banker = Fan in the Stands
Great at saying yes or no to loans
Won't tell you how to improve (liability concerns)
Cheering you on or throwing you out
Me? I'm the Coach
Sets the strategy so everyone else can do their job
Helps YOU keep more of what you earn
Translates finance into contractor language
When I first start working with a client, we make sure we have the right team in place. Oftentimes, we outsource the bookkeeping to a world-class player. I work closely with their existing accountant, and when necessary, recommend a new one. What about Uncle Joe? He stays with the team, and nobody gets upset at Thanksgiving!
The Millionaire Math Nobody Talks About
I've yet to meet a contractor who dreams of becoming a CFO. But millionaire? That's different.
Here's what most don't realize: You can become a millionaire in three years even with $1M in revenue.
Now imagine what's possible at:
$5 million
$10 million
$20 million
$40 million
The difference isn't in the revenue. It's in knowing which levers to pull.
Why This Matters More in Construction
After 30 years in banking and working with thousands of businesses across nearly 100 industries, I can tell you this:
Construction has the toughest cash flow challenges of any industry. Period.
Why? Because growth eats cash. You need capital to grow AND cash flow to survive. It's like needing to breathe underwater while swimming upstream.
Your Business Deserves Better
My gut tells me your construction firm has World Series potential:
You produce high-quality work
You've built a strong reputation
You take immense pride in what you create
But your numbers? They don't reflect hall-of-fame material.
Yet.
The Path Forward
I'm on a mission to get this message to every hardworking contractor in North America:
You don't need more complicated financial advice. You need someone who understands construction, speaks your language, and can show you exactly which numbers drive profit.
Not 100 numbers. Maybe 5-7 that actually matter.
Not monthly marathons with spreadsheets. Just 15 focused minutes.
Not financial theory. Practical tools that work on real job sites.
Because at the end of the day, you didn't start your business to become a financial analyst. You started it to build things—including wealth.
Let's make sure you're building both.
Stay profitable,
Patrick Shurney, MBA
Founder, 3P Consulting
📞 443.539.6276
Helping Contractors Become Bankable, Bondable, & Capital-Ready
P.S. Speaking of building wealth... I'm hosting a workshop series this fall for my clients called "The Millionaire Contractor Method." Five sessions to master your numbers and build your 2026 profit plan. No financial jargon, just straight talk and practical tools. Free for clients, and tickets will be available to purchase for guests on my mailing list and LinkedIn connections. Details coming Tuesday.
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About Me:
As a veteran in financial coaching with over 30 years of corporate banking experience, my mission is to empower trade contractors like you to become numbers confident, optimize cash flow, leverage debt, and pay yourself competitively.
Ready for More?
Here’s how I can help you:
1. Profit Blueprint Program: Get your finances sorted and build out a 3-year financial roadmap in the next 30 days.
2. Loan Consulting: Get Bank Ready. With 30+ years of banking experience, I’ll make sure you're ready to approach lenders with a winning loan package.
