Aaron McLeish was never a child who sat still. Born into a large family as one of six siblings, he grew up in a whirlwind of energy, noise, and endless questions. “Why?” was the word he used most, and the one that drove his mum to distraction. From morning until night, Aaron McLeish was moving, building, playing, and always observing how things worked.
Growing up with three older brothers and two younger sisters, life was chaotic but fun. There were plenty of squabbles, but looking back as an adult, he recalls those years as warm and full of creativity. Towels became capes. Gardens became fortresses. And somewhere in that childhood imagination, the first seeds of business were planted.
What had the biggest influence wasn’t a textbook; it was watching his mum run her own businesses. With six kids to manage, a traditional 9–5 wasn’t an option for her. So, she did what many entrepreneurial parents do: she built something of her own. Aaron McLeish watched her open a shop in Wellingborough. He saw the shop go from an empty unit to a fully stocked business, watching her negotiate with suppliers, set pricing, and install tills. She managed her books the old-school way, with ledgers, pen, and paper. And Aaron McLeish soaked it all in.
That early exposure had a lasting impact. It didn’t just show him what business looked like – it made it seem possible. Tangible. Achievable. The idea that you could build something from scratch and run your own show stuck with him.
Aaron McLeish didn’t wait until adulthood to become a businessman. As a schoolboy, he spotted an opportunity that no one else seemed to notice. On hot summer days, he’d stop at the local corner shop, buy ice poles for 5p, and then sell them at school for 50p each.
At first, the plan was flawed; they melted before break time. But like any entrepreneur, Aaron McLeish quickly adapted. He packed more in, double-bagged them, and figured out how to keep them cold long enough to make his pitch. Soon, he had so much change in his pockets that he needed a belt to keep his trousers up.
Of course, competition ensued, and his friend attempted to replicate the idea. That led to what he laughingly calls a “patch war.” But it was also his first experience of market share, margins, and the realities of business rivalry.
It was never just about the money. It was about the thrill of building something, even something small, and making it work.
Academically, Aaron McLeish was always placed in top sets. But at the time, he didn’t see that as a compliment. He thought teachers were trying to keep him away from his mates so he wouldn’t mess about. The truth, as he realised later, was that he had the ability; they just wanted him to focus.
He left school with a strong set of GCSEs and chose to do A-Levels, but not at the same school. He wanted a clean slate, a new environment, somewhere he could take things seriously.
While many of his peers went straight into trades or factories, Aaron McLeish wanted something different. He didn’t want to go to university; he wasn’t keen on the idea of taking on debt to further his education. Instead, he set out to find a professional path where he could earn and learn simultaneously.
That’s when he discovered accountancy.
He discovered that you didn’t need a degree to become an accountant; you could study one day a week while gaining real-world experience. It was a lightbulb moment. Accountancy would provide him with the structure, the learning, and, most importantly, an inside look into how businesses function.
So he applied for training positions and began his journey.
Aaron McLeish started out in a small firm in Wellingborough, with two partners and five team members. While he gained a lot, he needed more structure and support. So, he moved to Moore Stephens, a top-tier accountancy firm where he could learn the full scope of accountancy, tax, and business advisory work.
His time in practice gave him broad exposure. He saw businesses of every shape and size. He prepared accounts, VAT returns, payrolls, self-assessments, and other financial documents. But as the saying goes, being a jack of all trades often means being a master of none.
And Aaron McLeish wanted mastery.
So, in his late twenties, he made a move that would change everything. He stepped into the role of Finance Director at one of the largest independent plumbing and heating firms in the South East, a multi-million-pound business offering a range of services including renewables, installations, maintenance, servicing, and more.
Suddenly, he wasn’t advising from the outside. He was in the thick of it. He saw it all: rent, wages, cash flow, merchant terms, and late payments.
He learned what it really takes to run a business. The stress. The juggling. The daily decisions that can make or break a firm. And most of all, the need for solid financial systems.
Aaron McLeish didn’t quit his job overnight. Like most founders, he built Together We Count in the evening and weekends while working full-time as a Finance Director for the plumbing and heating business. He lived month-to-month, no nest egg, no safety net which would enable him to just say, fuck it, I’m starting a business – lets hope for the best. So, he worked evenings and weekends to build the business.
It was exhausting. But it worked.
He gradually dropped from five days a week in the plumbing and heating business to four… then three… then two, while Together We Count grew. This enable Aaron McLeish to build a business while still having a safety net to cover his day to day.
When it came to hiring, he didn’t bring on another accountant first. His first hire was a PA, to manage admin, drive marketing, and get the message out. In his eyes, visibility and clarity were just as important as technical skill.
From day one, Together We Count specialised in plumbing and heating businesses. Not by accident. By design.
Aaron McLeish had lived in that world. He knew the pain points. Knew the margins. Knew what it took to build a business that could support a life, not drain it.
That depth is what makes Together We Count different. It’s not about ticking boxes or doing the bare minimum. It’s about building something solid, long-term, and tailored for real tradespeople trying to grow something that matters.
As Together We Count grew, clients began to request more than just bookkeeping and tax support. They needed templates. Checklists. SOPs. Employment contracts examples. Vehicle handbook and driver policies. Break-even calculators, to name but a few.
Aaron McLeish realised that the things his team were creating for one client could efficiently serve dozens of others.
So, he started building a library. Over the years, that library grew, hundreds of templates, resources, and systems all tailored for plumbing and heating businesses. That library is now housed in Together We Build.
It’s a separate platform, but one that works in harmony with Together We Count. One gives you the numbers. The other gives you the systems.
It’s the complete package for plumbing and heating businesses that want to move beyond chaos and build something scalable.
In 2020, when lockdown hit, Aaron McLeish used the quiet evenings to write. The result was The Quote Handbook.
He had been watching plumbing and heating businesses underprice themselves for years. Most just used the “labour + materials + markup” model. Few understood value-based pricing.
Aaron McLeish had learnt value pricing from his mentor, Mark Wickersham. He adapted it for the trade industry and laid it out in clear, simple steps.
The book teaches how to quote confidently, charge properly, and win more work at better margins. And it’s worked. Hundreds of business owners have used it to turn quoting from a headache into a strength.
After the success of The Quote Handbook, Aaron McLeish turned his focus to the next problem: systems.
He had built Together We Build but struggled to get people to see the value of systemising their business. He realised the problem wasn’t the solution, it was the awareness.
So he wrote The Systems Handbook.
This book explains why systems matter. Why SOPs reduce stress. Why documenting tasks is the only way to delegate appropriately. It’s a practical guide to building a business that runs smoothly, even when you’re not there.
It draws on lessons from The E-Myth Revisited, his own operations, and real-life client examples. It’s a handbook for anyone who wants to build something that lasts.
These days, no two days are the same. Aaron McLeish splits his time between overseeing team operations, mentoring clients, writing, and being present for his daughter, Lola.
He lives in Sheffield, keeps fit with CrossFit, runs with his dog, and grows vegetables in his garden. He’s a self-declared yes-man, always up for camping trips, pub food, or spontaneous adventures.
Business is a big part of his life, but it’s not the only part.
Looking ahead, Aaron McLeish is focused on further deepening his niche. Together We Count is becoming more selective, working exclusively with plumbing and heating businesses that are committed to growth.
Together We Build will continue to expand its digital resources and tools, helping even more business owners systemise and scale.
And yes, a third book is in the pipeline. But for now, that’s staying under wraps.
In 2024, Aaron McLeish faced one of his biggest challenges yet. After years of exhaustion, he was diagnosed with sleep apnoea. It was affecting everything: family life, work, and health.
He underwent several operations to correct it, including nasal and tonsil surgeries. During this period, a routine compliance check by his professional body led to disciplinary action due to incomplete responses sent during his recovery.
It was a frustrating time, especially after decades of professionalism. But Aaron McLeish took responsibility, addressed the issues, and used the experience to double down on compliance, clarity, and wellbeing.
Today, he’s back to full health. His team is thriving. His business is stronger than ever. And the lessons from that difficult period continue to shape how he leads.
Explore our resources and discover how Together We Build can support you in building a more efficient and profitable business.
Together We Count offer specialist accountancy services to help businesses grow.
