Is Fractional CFO a Fit?

We’re ideal for owner-led companies at inflection points: multi-location service businesses, professional services, hospitality/F&B, real estate/short-term rentals, e-commerce, agencies, and solo S-Corp owners graduating from “just bookkeeping” to true financial leadership.

Typical signs you’re ready:

  • Revenue is growing but cash feels tight.

  • You’re making big calls—hiring, pricing, debt, expansion—without numbers you trust.

  • The books are closed, but you don’t have a forecast or KPIs that drive behavior.

  • You want banker- and investor-ready financials and narratives.

  • You need tax and entity strategy aligned with operations.

Outcomes We Drive

  • Cash Confidence: 13-week cash map, weekly levers, vendor and AR strategy.

  • Profit Discipline: pricing architecture, COGS & labor model, breakeven by unit/location, menu/service mix optimization (for F&B), utilization & capacity plans (for services).

  • Forecast That Actually Guides You: driver-based model that updates as inputs change.

  • Systems & Stack: simple workflows (close in 5 days), clean chart of accounts, automated dashboards.

  • Bankable Story: metrics and materials lenders and investors understand.

  • Owner Clarity: what to pay yourself, when to hire, and how growth funds itself.

What We Do (Scope Menu)

Forecasting & Scenario Planning

  • Driver-based 12–24 month model (base / upside / downside)

  • Hiring and payroll runway modeling (incl. reasonable comp for S-Corp owners)

  • Unit economics by location, product, or service line

Cash Flow Architecture

  • 13-week cash forecast & weekly cash cadence

  • AR/AP rhythm, vendor terms, inventory turns, reserve targets

  • Debt service planning and refinancing support

Pricing, Profit & KPI Design

  • Pricing strategy & discount guardrails

  • Contribution margin and breakeven dashboards

  • Weekly scorecard: revenue, gross margin, labor efficiency, overhead ratio, cash days

Operational Finance

  • Close-the-books process and calendar

  • Chart of accounts cleanup and class/location tracking

  • Budget vs. actuals; variance analysis; owner reports you’ll actually read

Capital & Banking

  • Bank package prep (historicals, projections, covenant trackers)

  • Lending options review and term sheet support

  • Grant and incentive guidance when applicable

Tax & Entity Coordination

  • Align entity structure and distributions with your growth plan

  • Estimated tax planning calendars and cash set-asides

  • Work hand-in-hand with your CPA (or we can quarterback it)

Systems & Dashboards

  • Tool stack selection and implementation (accounting, payroll, POS, FP&A)

  • Automated dashboards (P&L, cash, KPIs) and owner snapshots

  • Documentation so your team isn’t dependent on any one person

How We Work Together

1) Strategy Intensive (Weeks 0–2)

  • Deep-dive on the business model, revenue drivers, cost structure, and goals

  • Build your 13-week cash map and the first pass of the annual forecast

  • Quick wins list: 3–5 levers to move cash and profit now

2) Build & Implement (Weeks 3–6)

  • Finalize driver-based forecast and KPI scorecard

  • Clean up chart of accounts and reporting packages

  • Stand up your dashboards and close calendar

3) Ongoing CFO Rhythm (Month 2+)

  • Monthly/bi-weekly finance reviews (agenda, decisions, owners)

  • Variance analysis and forecast refresh

  • Live support for pricing, hiring, vendor and banking decisions

Engagement Options

  • CFO Lite – For steady operators who need forecasting, cash cadence, and a monthly review.
    Includes: 13-week cash, annual forecast, monthly KPI review, owner dashboard, email support.

  • CFO Core – Most popular. Adds deeper pricing/labor modeling, monthly close oversight, and lender readiness.
    Includes: Everything in Lite + close calendar, budget vs. actuals, pricing/COGS/labor optimization, lender package prep, bi-weekly reviews.

  • CFO Plus – For companies in active expansion, capital raise, acquisition, or multi-location rollout.
    Includes: Everything in Core + board/investor materials, scenario modeling on demand, weekly touchpoints, and help on negotiations.

Pricing: set to your stage and complexity; flat monthly retainer after a one-time Setup. We’ll quote a clear number before we begin.

Example Wins

  • Hospitality Group (3 locations → 5): moved to weekly cash cadence, redesigned menu mix and labor targets, lifted contribution margin +6 pts, funded two new openings through internal cash flow in 7 months.

  • Professional Services Firm: re-priced retainers, added utilization targets, cut WIP leakage; profit up 18% YoY without headcount growth.

  • Short-Term Rental Portfolio: standardized COA by property, automated owner dashboards, set reserve policy; cut “cash surprises” to near zero and improved lender terms.

What Your Dashboard Shows (at a glance)

  • Revenue by line/location vs. plan

  • Gross margin, labor %, and contribution margin

  • Operating expenses trend and overhead ratio

  • Cash runway (weeks) and covenant trackers

  • AR aging and inventory turns (if applicable)

  • Owner pay/distributions vs. targets

Your First 30 Days

Week 1: kickoff, data access, goals, and quick-wins
Week 2: 13-week cash live; first KPI draft
Week 3: forecast v1 and pricing/unit economics review
Week 4: dashboards live; monthly review #1 with decisions and owners

What We Need From You

  • Read-only access to accounting, banking, payroll, and sales/POS systems

  • A 60–90 minute review cadence (monthly or bi-weekly)

  • Openness to adjust pricing, processes, or the org chart when the numbers say so

FAQs

How is this different from bookkeeping or tax prep?
Bookkeeping records the past. Tax prep reports the past. A CFO uses the past to steer the future—cash, profit, pricing, and growth decisions.

Do I need to switch accountants?
No. We’re happy to partner with your current CPA/firm. If you don’t have one, we can recommend options.

Can you work remotely? In-person?
Yes to both. We primarily work virtually and can be onsite for key meetings as needed (especially around Indianapolis and the Midwest).

What if my books aren’t perfect?
No problem. Cleanup and systemization are part of our setup.

How fast will we see results?
Most clients feel clarity in the first 2–4 weeks and see cash/profit improvements within a quarter, depending on scope and speed of change.

Do you help with lending or investor materials?
Yes—bank packages, projections, KPI narratives, and ongoing covenant reporting.

Will you help determine my own pay as the owner?
Yes. We model owner comp, taxes, and distributions so your pay fits both cash and compliance.

Deliverables Checklist

  • 13-week cash forecast with weekly cadence

  • 12–24 month driver-based financial model (updated monthly)

  • KPI scorecard + owner dashboard

  • Monthly/bi-weekly finance review and decision log

  • Close calendar + reporting package

  • Pricing/COGS/labor model (as applicable)

  • Bank/investor materials (as needed)

  • Playbooks for repeatable processes

Ready to Lead With Clarity?

Book a short discovery call. We’ll learn your goals, assess fit, and outline the first 90 days so you know exactly what happens next.