The CFO Playbook for Stagers: What We Learned from Grant’s RESACON Encore

Cash first, always

Grant opens with four truths: revenue can flatter, profit can hide, but cash pays payroll, rent, trucks, and insurance—and time is your scarcest resource. Every decision in his system is designed to protect cash and buy back time.

Daily discipline: the Cash In/Cash Out

You’ll see a simple, five-column tracker that changes behavior fast: date, in/out, amount, category, and whether a cost is fixed, variable, or an asset. Owners start it themselves, then delegate the entry while keeping a daily/weekly review rhythm.

Kill the silent killer: accounts receivable

Most small businesses leak cash because they forget to invoice or collect. Grant’s A/R sheet keeps terms visible, collections tight, and cash moving—no more “we’ll get to it next week.”

Pricing that actually covers the work

Forget itemizing every pillow. Grant’s pricing approach is:

1. Charge for the work (design, sourcing, load, install, de-stage, drive time).
2. Make sure those minutes are budgeted—and captured.
3. Layer your rental fee on top.

When hours are planned and reported daily, teams hit targets and margins hold.

Variable vs. fixed: buy flexibility

Early on, resist long commitments (leases, trucks, payroll) in favor of month-to-month options. The slight premium is the price of optionality—and it keeps you safer while you validate demand.

Lead with leading indicators

Don’t wait for your P&L to tell you how the month went. Build a scorecard with weekly leading KPIs your team can influence now—consults booked, quotes sent, follow-ups, hours vs. budget—so you can adjust in real time.

Price for the company you’ve become

As you grow, your costs and reliability rise. Grant’s reminder: raise prices to reflect your track record and the peace of mind you provide. That’s value your best clients happily pay for.

Who should watch

• Solo stagers and boutique teams who want profit clarity.
• Leaders adding people, vehicles, and warehouse space.
• Owners prepping for clean books and add-backs ahead of a future sale.

You’ll walk away with

• A daily cash routine that sticks.
• A pricing calculator you can explain in 60 seconds.
• Project budgets that keep hours under target.
• A practical KPI scorecard your team will actually use.