CFO and Advisory Services

Outsourced CFO services for growing businesses

As a business grows, owners need more than historical reports. They need forecasts, budgets and a clear view of what the numbers mean for decisions. Our CFO and advisory service provides senior finance guidance on a monthly or project basis, without the cost of a full-time hire.

What a fractional CFO does for you

• Builds an annual budget and rolling cash-flow forecast
• Designs KPI dashboards that track what drives your business
• Prepares investor, lender and board reporting packs
• Supports fundraising readiness, financial models and due diligence
• Reviews pricing, margins and unit economics
• Advises on entity structure, tax planning and growth scenarios in coordination with your tax preparer

When it is time to bring in CFO support

• You are preparing to raise capital or apply for a loan
• Cash is tight even though sales are growing
• You cannot tell which products, clients or channels are profitable
• Investors or lenders ask for forecasts and reporting you do not have
• You are planning to expand, hire or open in new states

Reliable numbers first

Forecasts are only as good as the books behind them. We usually combine CFO advisory with monthly bookkeeping so that reporting is timely and accurate. See our guide to outsourced bookkeeping for what to expect.

What a CFO and advisory service does for a growing business

A chief financial officer turns accounting data into decisions. Bookkeeping tells you what happened, and finance leadership tells you what to do next: how much cash you will have, which customers and products earn their keep, when you can afford to hire and what you need to show an investor or lender. Many businesses need that level of judgment long before they can justify a full-time executive.

Our CFO and advisory service provides it on a monthly or project basis. You get a senior finance partner who works from reliable books, builds the models and reports you need, and joins your planning conversations. It sits on top of our bookkeeping and tax preparation services, so the numbers you plan with are the numbers you file with.

Budgeting and forecasting

A budget is a plan with numbers, and a forecast is that plan updated for reality. We build a driver-based budget, which means revenue and costs are tied to the things that actually move them, such as customers, headcount, prices and campaign spend, rather than being copied from last year with a percentage added.

Each month we compare actual results with the budget, explain the variances in plain language and update the forecast. You can see what changed, why it changed and what it means for the rest of the year. We prepare scenarios, such as a best, base and downside case, so decisions are tested before money is committed.

Cash flow management and runway

Profit and cash are not the same. A business can be profitable and still run short of cash because customers pay late, inventory is bought in advance or tax bills arrive at once. We build a 13-week cash flow forecast that is updated weekly, showing expected receipts and payments, so you can see shortfalls early and act.

For startups, we calculate monthly burn and runway and show how hiring, pricing or fundraising timing change the date cash runs out. This is often the single most useful report a founder can have.

KPIs and management dashboards

We define the small set of measures that tell you whether the business is healthy and report them consistently. Depending on your model these may include:

• Gross margin by product, service or client.
• Monthly recurring revenue, churn and net revenue retention for subscription businesses.
• Customer acquisition cost and lifetime value.
• Days sales outstanding and aging of receivables.
• Inventory turns and contribution margin for product sellers.
• Payroll and contractor cost as a percentage of revenue.
• Cash balance, burn rate and runway.

The dashboard is built from your ledger, so it updates as the books close and each metric has a clear definition.

Fundraising and investor readiness

Investors check financial hygiene before they commit. We help you prepare a financial model, historical statements, a clean cap table, a data room index and answers to the questions diligence teams ask. We review revenue recognition, ownership records and tax filings for gaps so surprises are found and fixed before a term sheet.

After you raise, we set up investor reporting, such as monthly or quarterly updates and a board pack with variance commentary. Choosing the right structure matters here, and our company formation team can advise on a Delaware C-corporation and related elections.

Pricing, profitability and growth decisions

We analyse profitability by client, product and channel, then help you test price changes, minimum order sizes, discounts and service tiers. When you consider a new hire, a new market or a large purchase, we model the payback period and the effect on cash, so the decision is based on numbers rather than instinct.

For businesses with employees, our payroll service feeds accurate labor cost data into the model, which makes hiring plans more realistic.

Lender and banking support

Banks and lenders want clear statements, projections and evidence that you can service debt. We prepare loan packages, covenant compliance reports and borrowing-base schedules where needed, and we can be the contact for lender questions. Reliable books and timely filings make financing faster and often cheaper.

Internal controls and finance operations

As a company grows, the finance function needs structure. We design approval limits, expense policies, month-end checklists and segregation of duties that fit your size, so errors and fraud risk fall without adding bureaucracy. We can also help you choose and implement systems, compare tools such as QuickBooks and Xero and plan for the day you hire an in-house controller.

Fractional CFO versus a full-time hire

A full-time CFO is expensive and often unnecessary for a company with a few million dollars of revenue. A fractional or outsourced CFO gives you senior experience for a set number of hours a month. The right model depends on complexity: companies with multiple entities, investors or international operations may need more time, while simpler businesses may only need quarterly planning sessions. We agree the scope and hours in writing, and you can scale up or down as needs change. Read more on why businesses outsource finance functions.

How an engagement works

• Assessment: we review your books, systems and goals and identify the highest-value work.
• Plan: we agree on deliverables, reporting dates and a fixed fee.
• Build: we set up the budget, forecast, cash model and dashboard.
• Run: we meet monthly or quarterly to review results and decisions.
• Adjust: we refine the scope as your business grows.

Our work is advisory and financial, and it does not replace legal advice or an independent audit.

CFO advisory FAQs

How much does a fractional CFO cost? The fee depends on scope and hours, and we quote a fixed monthly price.

Do I need clean books first? Yes, and we can fix them as part of the engagement.

Can you present to my board or investors? Yes, we prepare the materials and can attend meetings.

When should a startup get a CFO? Often before a fundraise, or once cash planning becomes difficult. Book a free consultation to discuss your stage.

Financial models for startups and growing companies

A good model links assumptions to outcomes. We build revenue models by customer cohort, channel or product, add hiring plans, cost structure and capital needs, and connect them to a projected income statement, balance sheet and cash flow. Assumptions are written down and sourced from your actual results, so the model can be explained to an investor and updated every month.

Unit economics and profitability analysis

Unit economics show whether each sale makes money. We calculate contribution margin per product, customer acquisition cost against lifetime value, payback periods and the effect of discounts and returns. The results show which customers, offers and channels to grow and which to fix or drop.

Working capital and collections

Cash tied up in receivables and inventory slows growth. We review payment terms, invoice timing, supplier terms and stock levels, set targets and report progress. Small changes, such as faster invoicing or better stocking rules, can release significant cash without raising prices.

Board and investor reporting packs

A consistent monthly or quarterly pack builds trust. We prepare a summary of results, KPIs, cash and runway, variance commentary, hiring updates and risks. The pack is designed to be read in minutes and to answer likely questions before they are asked.

Exit and due diligence readiness

If you plan to sell, merge or bring in a new investor, buyers will examine your financials in detail. We prepare normalized earnings schedules, support for adjustments, tax compliance records and a data room so the process moves quickly. Starting a year or more ahead gives time to fix issues that affect valuation.

Scenario planning for uncertain markets

We model scenarios for slower sales, higher costs or delayed funding, and define triggers and responses in advance. Knowing in advance when you would cut spending or pause hiring makes decisions calmer. Tie this work to your tax planning and your cash forecast so the plan is consistent. To discuss your needs, book a free consultation.

Who benefits from CFO advisory

Our clients are typically founders and owners who have outgrown spreadsheets but do not need a full-time executive. They include funded startups, ecommerce brands, agencies, professional practices and foreign-owned US companies preparing to scale. The common thread is a decision that needs financial analysis: raising capital, hiring ahead of revenue, changing prices, entering a new market or preparing for a sale.

A typical monthly rhythm

• Week 1: books close and reports are reviewed.
• Week 2: variance analysis and forecast update.
• Week 3: management meeting to review results and decisions.
• Week 4: cash plan and priorities for the next month.

The cadence is flexible, and quarterly engagements are available for simpler needs.

Deliverables you can expect

• Annual budget and rolling 12-month forecast.
• 13-week cash flow forecast.
• Management dashboard with defined KPIs.
• Variance and profitability analysis.
• Investor, board or lender reporting packs.
• Written recommendations after each review meeting.

All deliverables are built on your own ledger, so they stay consistent with your bookkeeping and tax filings.

Tools and systems

We work in the platforms you already use, such as QuickBooks Online or Xero, spreadsheet models and dashboard tools, and advise when a new system would pay for itself. Data stays in your accounts, and you keep the models we build. Ready to plan? Book a free consultation.