A CFO isn’t a size milestone. It’s a questions milestone.
There’s a moment when the questions in a business outgrow Excel and the accountant. Here’s how to recognise it.
- employees
- 20–200
- in annual revenue
- Millions
- full-time CFO
- 0
Tick what’s true for you
Cash in the bank surprises me at least once a quarter
Which one is you?
Busy, established, profit unclear
01 / 05“We work all the time and we sell, but I can’t tell you where the money goes.”
Revenue is solid. The team is stretched. The bank balance never seems to reflect the effort. The accountant’s report arrives late and says everything is fine.
The signs
- Revenue grows, profit doesn’t
- Everyone’s busy, nobody’s sure on what
- Discounts given to close the month
What we do
Data deep dive first: profit by product, client and branch. Then a plan for the three levers that matter most, and ongoing CFO if you want someone to steer it.
What changes
- margin levers
- 3
- weeks to clarity
- 4
- pts margin, typical
- +2–5
Growing mid-size company, no CFO
02 / 05“We grew to 60 people and the finance function is still a bookkeeper and me.”
Decisions that used to be small now move a lot of money. The CEO is the de-facto CFO, at midnight, in Excel.
The signs
- The CEO does the CFO’s job at night
- Million-dollar decisions without a model
- No regular monthly management report
What we do
Fractional CFO: one day a week. Budget, forecast, cash, reporting and the management meeting, owned by a senior finance leader.
What changes
- day a week
- 1
- days to close
- 10
- weeks of cash
- 13
Before a big decision
03 / 05“There’s a big decision on the table and I want to see it in numbers first.”
A second site, a new line, a purchase, a partner exit. Everyone has an opinion; nobody has modeled the downside.
The signs
- Second site, new line or acquisition on the table
- Everyone has an opinion, nobody has numbers
- Unclear how much you can lose
What we do
Decision model: options, cash impact, payback, kill criteria. One written recommendation. Then the plan becomes the budget.
What changes
- options modeled
- 3
- written recommendation
- 1
- weeks
- 2–3
Before the bank
04 / 05“The bank asked for a plan. I don’t have one I’d put my name on.”
Credit renewal, a new facility, or a covenant that is getting tight. The bank wants forecasts, and the relationship manager wants confidence.
The signs
- Credit renewal coming up
- Covenants tightening
- The bank asked for a 3-year forecast
What we do
Bank-ready file: forecast, covenants, collateral story. We prepare it with you and sit in the meeting.
What changes
- documents, not 11
- 4
- months of forecast
- 36
- meeting, together
- 1
Funded startup with revenue
05 / 05“We raised money. Now investors want budgets and reporting we don’t have.”
Real customers, real revenue, a board that expects a monthly pack, and a founder who’d rather build product.
The signs
- Revenue and a board
- Investors want monthly reporting
- The founder would rather build product
What we do
Budget, 13-week cash, investor reporting and a finance cadence, set up in a month and run for you.
What changes
- days to set up
- 30
- numbers in the pack
- 8
- steady cadence
- 1
What finance needs at each size
- 5–15people
Bookkeeper + accountant. Cash lives in the owner’s head.
- 15–40people
Basic budget and cash forecast. A data deep dive once a year.
- 40–120people
Fractional CFO. Monthly management pack, a model for every decision, the bank relationship.
The core - 120–200people
Fractional CFO + in-house finance team. Systems, controls, board.
- 200+people
Full-time CFO. We help hire them and hand over.
Not a fit (and that’s fine)
- Idea-stage, pre-seed or seed startups without revenue. You need a co-founder, not a CFO.
- Founders looking for someone to raise the money for them. We prepare you; we don’t pitch for you.
- Companies looking for a cheaper bookkeeper or a tax filer. Your accountant is the right call.
Frequently asked
When there’s no stable revenue yet, or every decision is small. Then a good accountant is enough, and we’ll tell you so on the call.
A consultant recommends and leaves. A fractional CFO stays, owns the numbers and sits in the management meeting every week.
Typically 20–30% of a full-time CFO, with no benefits and no hiring period.
Yes. Most clients start with a 2–4 week data deep dive and decide afterwards.
Recognise yourself?
30 minutes. No deck. You talk, we tell you honestly what the next step is.
Book a diagnostic call