About Us
Our Mission
We empower business owners to pursue their dreams by transforming financial data into strategic road maps.
At Iron Horse Consulting, we believe financial data tells a story - one that can guide your business toward sustainable growth and ultimate success. Our mission goes beyond traditional bookkeeping and financial services. We partner with you to interpret your financial narrative and translate it into actionable plans that align with your vision.
Guided by Our Values
Integrity
Integrity forms the foundation of everything we do. We commit to honesty, transparency, and strong moral principles in every interaction, building lasting trust with our clients
Learning
Learning drives our continuous improvement. We stay ahead of industry trends and best practices to provide you with cutting-edge financial insights and solutions.
Freedom
Freedom represents what we want for our clients: the liberty to focus on what you love while we handle the financial complexities, giving you back precious time with family and for pursuing your passions.
Long-Term Focus
Long-Term Focus shapes our approach to your business. We look beyond immediate gains to create sustainable strategies that support your ultimate goals, whether that's family succession, sale to employees, or acquisition by investors.
Energized
Energized describes how we feel about our work and how we want you to feel about your business - passionate, motivated, and fulfilled rather than drained by financial management.
Our Promise
We understand that most business owners launch their ventures with a passion for their industry and helping clients; not necessarily with expertise in reading financial statements or managing complex budgets.
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That's where we come in. We don't just organize your numbers; we teach you what they mean and how to use them for day-to-day decisions. We create budgets and financial forecasts that serve as roadmaps toward your long-term vision. Whether that's expanding your services, increasing profitability, or planning for a successful exit on your own terms.
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Our goal is simple: We want you to run the business you love without being held back by financial confusion or administrative burden. When you succeed, we succeed.
About Melanie - Founder of Iron Horse
I began my career in veterinary hospitals, working my way up from receptionist to practice manager, over 15 years while earning my Bachelor of Business Administration. After experiencing burnout, I made a pivotal shift to the Trades industry, joining a plumbing and HVAC company where I discovered my true passion for accounting.
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This new direction inspired me to earn a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, and my role evolved from accounting assistant to accounting manager, and ultimately to Director of Administration. During this time, I helped grow the company from $5 million to $20 million in revenue and supported the owner through a successful exit to a private equity firm.
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After facilitating the post-acquisition transition, I launched Iron Horse Consulting with a clear mission: to help other business owners achieve the same success and satisfaction, while building effective exit strategies as they grow.
Why Iron Horse?
The name "Iron Horse" represents the strong foundations necessary to build a successful business. It also subtly nods to my love of motorcycles and agricultural upbringing, where I developed the unwavering work ethic and drive for continuous improvement that defines my approach today.
My Approach
My unique value comes from having lived the day-to-day realities of growing services businesses. I don't just understand accounting concepts in theory - I've applied them in the trenches, knowing which rules to follow strictly and which guidelines can be flexed to meet business needs.
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My experience across both veterinary and trades industries has taught me that while each sector has unique challenges, service businesses share common struggles. This cross-industry perspective allows me to identify opportunities and overcome weaknesses that many businesses face.
Values that Guide Me
Integrity stands as our primary core value. I believe that trustworthiness opens doors to more significant opportunities and conversations. I'm committed to continuous learning and personal growth, which enables me to adapt and innovate for my clients. My planning always focuses on long-term goals, ensuring that we're building toward lasting success rather than just quick wins.
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One of my proudest achievements was implementing financial education workshops for employees at my previous company. By improving their personal financial skills, we not only reduced payroll advance requests, but also enhanced company-wide financial performance and understanding. This experience reinforced my belief that investing in people's financial knowledge creates ripple effects throughout an organization.
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I'm passionate about working with business owners and their teams, knowing each employee by name rather than just seeing them as numbers on a payroll report. The ability to quickly impact positive change in smaller, more agile businesses brings me tremendous satisfaction, as does preserving the "friends and family" atmosphere that makes small companies special.