probably not the quickest way...but if my sheet has no background colour
(i.e - its white), I just apply a conditional format to colour the font
white if its equal to zero, then paint the format wherever you want it.
Does the trick for me.
Change the cells number format
Format > Cells > Number
Then select custom
It has 4 sections separated by semi-colon
Positive;negative;zero;text
so for eg.
"0.00";[RED]-"0.00";""
Positives: 2 decimal places
Negatives: 2 decimal places in red
Zero : is blank
Although i prefer to use the dash
"0.00";[RED]-"0.00";"-"
The dash is less intrusive but still lets you know the cell has a value
and is not blank