The questions a CFO answers
Can we afford this hire?
A 12-month cash forecast shows what the payroll does to your runway before you make the offer.
Why is cash tight if sales are up?
Receivables, inventory and growth itself eat cash. The cash flow statement shows exactly where it went.
Are we priced right?
Margin by product, client or job shows who's paying the bills and who's quietly costing you.
Are we ready for a loan or investors?
Clean statements, a forecast and a story the numbers back up.
What the engagement looks like
| Rhythm | Deliverable |
|---|---|
| Monthly | KPI dashboard, cash forecast update, short review call |
| Quarterly | Budget vs. actual, tax projection, strategy session |
| Annually | Budget and plan for the year ahead |
| As needed | Lender packages, investor updates, deal and pricing analysis |
Built for Denver's growth companies
Denver's mix of tech startups, construction firms, hospitality groups and professional services means very different financial models. The common thread: the owners are great at the work and short on time for spreadsheets. A fractional CFO fills that seat a few days a month.
It starts with clean books
A forecast built on messy books is just a guess. Most CFO engagements start with a bookkeeping review, then build the forecasting layer on top. See Denver bookkeeping.
Common questions
When does a business need a fractional CFO?
Usually when growth decisions start getting expensive: hiring, raising money, adding a location, or when cash feels tight even though sales are up.
What's the difference between a bookkeeper and a fractional CFO?
The bookkeeper records what happened. The CFO uses those records to forecast what will happen and recommend what to do about it.
How is a fractional CFO paid?
Typically a monthly retainer for a set scope, which costs a fraction of a full-time executive's salary and benefits.