Zachary Cummings, CPAAccounting for the trades
Accountant for landscapers
I do bookkeeping, HST, payroll, cash flow forecasting and tax returns for landscaping and lawn care businesses in Ontario.
Free and no obligation. I don't bill by the hour.
- 5.0 on Google · 26 reviews
Registered firm
A short season
Most landscaping money comes in between spring and fall. Some crews switch to snow removal for the winter and some shut down. Either way, HST, payroll remittances and your own taxes come due when CRA says they do.
A cash flow forecast built in the spring shows you what to put aside before winter, so you're not short in February.
Mowers, trailers and trucks
You can't write off the full cost of a new zero-turn, trailer or truck in the year you buy it. CRA has you deduct it over several years through capital cost allowance (CCA), so it pays to plan big purchases instead of buying in a rush at year-end.
Hiring for the season
A seasonal crew means payroll: a CRA payroll account, source deductions sent in on time and T4s at year-end. Most Ontario businesses also have to register with WSIB within 10 days of hiring their first worker.
I can handle simple payroll like that, and if your situation needs a bigger payroll system, I'll tell you up front.
Registering for HST
You have to register for HST once your revenue goes over $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four quarters in a row. In a busy season that can happen faster than you'd think, so it's worth watching from the start.
What I handle for landscapers
- Monthly books in QuickBooks Online
- HST tracked every month
- Cash flow forecasts for the off-season
- Payroll and T4s for seasonal staff
- WSIB premiums tracked
- Year-end statements and your T2 or personal return
Monthly bookkeeping plans run $400 to $2,000+ a month depending on how much I'm handling, and most personal returns are $80 to $120.
See pricing →Common questions
I do snow removal in the winter. Does that change anything?
It means income in what would otherwise be the slow months, which helps. It also means fuel and equipment costs all year. It all goes in the same books, and your forecast gets more useful because winter isn't empty.
When do I have to register for HST?
Once your revenue goes over $30,000 in a single calendar quarter or over four quarters in a row. Below that it's optional. Some businesses register early so they can claim back the HST on their equipment and supplies.
Do I need WSIB for summer staff?
Most Ontario businesses with employees have to register with WSIB, and you have 10 days after hiring your first worker to do it. Check your industry's classification with WSIB, and I'll track the premiums once you're set up.
Other trades I work with
Want the books off your plate?
Book a free 20-minute call. There's no sales pitch and no obligation, and I'll get back to you the same business day.
- 5.0 on Google · 26 reviews
- Registered firm