Should You Keep That Service in Your Practice? Use the Money–Meaning–Manageability Triangle to Decide

When you’re running a group practice, it’s easy to get stuck in auto-pilot mode with your services.

You add offerings because clients or your team ask for them, or because you’ve always done it that way, or because another practice you admire is doing something similar. But over time, those “default” services can start draining you, your team, or your resources without you even realizing it.

That’s where the Money–Meaning–Manageability Triangle comes in. It’s a simple framework to help you decide if a service still deserves a spot in your business model. I first heard of this idea from my business coach, Bear Hebert and have had it stuck in my head ever since.

Why is this important to reflect on? Well, I don’t know about you, but I don’t really want to keep putting my time, energy, and money into things that aren’t serving me.

And as the visionary of your group, it’s likely that you have a lot of ideas. Which ones are worth keeping?

Image via unsplash.

The “goal” for using this tool is to examine the relationship between all three points — hello, intersectionality! Meaning, it could score LOW in one of the categories and you might choose to keep it because it scores HIGH in the other categories. Or it could have the same scoring but give you a gut sense that you’re completely over it.

p.s. I’m using the term “scoring” incredibly loosely here — this isn’t a magazine quiz (so sorry), it’s all subjective!

1. Money

This one’s pretty straightforward: is the service profitable? What gets in the way of profitability? And the extra special anti-capitalist question: Are there any other resources (alongside or other than money) this offering provides?

Look at what it brings in compared to the time, staffing, and overhead it requires. Sometimes a service looks good on paper but actually costs more than it returns (think: niche groups that never quite fill, or offerings that require a ton of admin support).

2. Meaning

Does this service align with your values and mission? Does it feel impactful, energizing, or deeply important to your practice? It doesn’t have to be the reason you get out of bed every morning, but it should do a little something for you and/or the people who are providing this service.

If the service lights you (or your team) up — even if it’s not the most profitable! — there may still be a strong case to keep it. The goal is to examine how it fits in with the big picture.

3. Manageability

How much energy does this service require to run? Is it smooth, streamlined, and relatively simple to maintain, or does it constantly create headaches? Is there potential for it to be any easier if something changes (and how able/willing are you to make that change)?

Sometimes a service pays well and has meaning, but it’s such a logistical nightmare that it drains your team’s morale. That’s important data too.

The sweet spot is when a service hits all three: profitable, energizing, and easy enough to sustain.

But most services won’t score perfectly in every category. The key is to notice where the imbalance lies:

• A service that makes great money but is exhausting? You may need to redesign systems or delegate.

• A service that has deep meaning but little profit? It might belong as a limited offering, not a core service.

• A service that’s easy but has no meaning or financial return? Might be time to let it go.

Using the Money–Meaning–Manageability Triangle isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about bringing clarity to the tough decisions practice owners face all the time. Instead of clinging to every offering out of fear, you get to pause, reflect, and make intentional choices about what stays, what shifts, and what goes.

Reflection for you and your team:

At the next all hands meeting, pull up your list of services and run each one through the Money–Meaning–Manageability Triangle. What stands out? What’s worth doubling down on? And what’s quietly draining your practice without giving much back? Who do you need help from? What kind of support do you need?

Sometimes the most sustainable practices are the ones brave enough to edit.

Need help with whatever makes the cut?

Hey! I’m Charlie — Your Practice Partner.
I help human-centered group practices thrive. More about me.