Machete Strengthens Financial Strategy and Forecasting with Fractional CFO Support

Machete Needed More Than Basic Accounting Support

Like many growing companies, Machete reached a stage where clean books and day-to-day accounting were no longer enough on their own. The business had momentum, but leadership needed more visibility into the financial side of the company and more confidence in planning ahead. Growth had created a need for stronger strategy, better forecasting, and financial insight that could support larger decisions.

Preferred CFO helped bridge that gap by bringing both bookkeeping support and higher-level fractional CFO guidance to the table. This gave Machete a more complete financial partner at a time when the company needed both accurate financial support and forward-looking strategy.

The Challenge

Machete experienced strong growth in 2022 and 2023, which created new demands on the financial side of the business. While accounting support was in place, leadership needed more strategic guidance to understand performance, plan ahead, and make decisions with greater confidence.

The company needed financial support that went beyond historical reporting. Leadership was looking for better forecasting, more clarity around the numbers, and a stronger financial lens to help guide the next stage of growth.

Key Financial Challenges

• Strong growth created the need for more strategic financial guidance.

• Leadership needed better forecasting and more forward-looking financial support.

• The company needed more visibility into the financial side of the business as it grew.

• Machete required support that extended beyond basic accounting functions.

The CFO Solution

Preferred CFO supported Machete with a combination of fractional CFO services and bookkeeping support. Through the engagement, Machete worked with Jason Lachance and the Preferred CFO team, whose guidance helped strengthen the company’s financial foundation while also giving leadership access to more strategic financial insight.

Rather than simply maintaining the books, Preferred CFO helped Machete move toward a more forward-looking financial model. The engagement included cash flow projection modeling, business budgeting and forecasting, improved reporting, payroll support, tax planning assistance, and broader guidance around operational improvement. Preferred CFO also provided support around hiring, interviewing, and other HR-related needs, giving Machete access to an experienced financial and business resource during a critical period of growth.

Core CFO Solutions Implemented

• Fractional CFO leadership and strategic financial guidance
• Cash flow projection modeling to improve financial visibility
• Business budgeting and forecasting support for stronger planning
• Bookkeeping support to strengthen financial consistency and reporting
• Enhanced reporting to provide new insight into product sales performance
• Full payroll process support and tax planning assistance
• Operational feedback related to business processes and warehouse improvement
• HR support around key position hiring, interviewing, and other HR needs
• Strategic finance support for key business decisions and best practice development

The Preferred CFO Results

With Preferred CFO’s support, Machete gained a more strategic financial function without needing to immediately build a full in-house finance team. The partnership helped connect day-to-day financial support with higher-level financial planning, giving leadership a clearer view of the business and a stronger foundation for decision-making.

In addition to improved forecasting and visibility, Machete benefited from stronger cash flow planning, better budgeting support, more useful product sales reporting, and experienced guidance across payroll, tax planning, operations, and HR-related needs.

The result was a stronger balance between dependable accounting support and strategic financial leadership, giving Machete what the client described as the best of both worlds.

Key Successes & Results

• Stronger financial visibility for leadership
• Improved cash flow planning through projection modeling
• Better budgeting and forecasting support for growth planning
• Enhanced reporting that provided new insight into product sales
• Experienced support for key business decisions across finance and operations
• More structured support across payroll, tax planning, HR, and business processes

Looking Ahead

With stronger financial support in place, Machete is better positioned to move into its next phase with greater clarity and confidence. By pairing dependable financial execution with strategic CFO guidance, the company gained a stronger foundation for thoughtful, informed growth.

Comprehensive Case Study Summary

Machete partnered with Preferred CFO after reaching a stage of growth where basic accounting support was no longer enough. As the company continued expanding, leadership needed stronger financial strategy, better forecasting, and more insight to support future planning. Preferred CFO provided a combination of fractional CFO services and bookkeeping support, helping Machete improve financial visibility and gain a more strategic approach to decision-making. The result was a stronger financial foundation and a blend of reliable accounting support with executive-level financial guidance.

At a Glance

Client: Machete
Industry: Consumer Goods / Accessories / Ecommerce
Services Provided: Fractional CFO Services, Bookkeeping Support, Cash Flow Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting, Strategic Financial Guidance
Primary Challenge: Growth created the need for more financial strategy, stronger forecasting, and better visibility for leadership
Outcome: Better financial clarity, improved planning support, stronger operational insight, and a more strategic financial foundation