INSIGHTS & ARTICLES
Explore some of the most recent articles by our CFOs.
FEATURED ARTICLE
From Burn Rate to Boom: How to Stretch Every Dollar in a Startup
Running a startup comes with the high-stakes challenge of managing your burn rate—the pace at which your company spends cash. Each dollar isn’t just an expense; it’s an investment in your company’s future. With venture capital not always guaranteed and economic...
RECENT INSIGHTS & ARTICLES
Small Business Cash Flow Management: Strategies for Success
Recognizing Cash Flow Problems & How to Solve Them We know that the majority of small businesses fail within the first five years, but a study by Jessie Hagen, previously with U.S. Bank, drilled down into the reasons why this occurs. In her study, she found that...
Empower Your Business with a Virtual CFO
In today's dynamic business landscape, having a strategic financial perspective is more crucial than ever. However, not all businesses can afford to have a full-time Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on their roster. Many choose instead to utilize virtual CFO services – a...
Key Performance Indicators for Financial Success
Financial Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are crucial measurements of a company’s fiscal health. These metrics provide a window into the current and projected profitability of an organization, enabling managers and stakeholders to make informed decisions. By...
Inventory Management: Strategies to Boost Profits
For many businesses, product inventory is their biggest asset. Effectively managing the inflow, storage, and outflow of inventory is critical to the financial success of the company. When inventory management is done right, customers can place orders with confidence,...
Meet Tom Applegarth Outsourced HR Solutions
Preferred CFO recently added Human Resources Veteran, Tom Applegarth, to the Preferred CFO team to offer outsourced HR services in addition to or standalone from outsourced CFO services. In this video, Tom introduces his experience and key benefits he offers Preferred...
How to Control Labor and Benefits Costs to Cut Down Expenses
Your employees are the lifeblood of your business. However, labor is also typically the highest cost for most businesses. Costs associated with hiring, training, compensating, retaining, rewarding, and managing employees can easily spiral out of control when there is...
Financial Audits: Ensuring Transparency and Trust in Business Operations
A financial audit serves as a valuable tool for ensuring a company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, building credibility with stakeholders, managing financial risks, and maintaining transparency in the financial operations of the business....
2023 SaaS CFO Guide
A SaaS CFO is a chief financial officer with specific experience in the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry. A SaaS business is different from traditional businesses that require a one-time purchase or otherwise brief relationship transaction as a SaaS company...
Cost Analysis and Price Analysis Explained
Cost analysis and price analysis are two important procedures that are used by businesses to calculate the true cost of a product or service and determine the best sales price. By understanding and correctly utilizing these processes, businesses can make informed...
How to Conduct a Market Analysis
Before starting a new business—and periodically thereafter—it is important for company executives to carry out a market analysis, also called a market evaluation. Most entrepreneurs conducted a market analysis (to the best of their abilities) when they were developing...
What Is a Fractional CFO and What Does a Fractional CFO Do?
What exactly is a fractional CFO? A fractional CFO is an experienced CFO consultant who provides services for organizations in a part-time, retainer, or contract arrangement. There are multiple benefits of a fractional CFO, and these offer a company the experience and...
What is GAAP and Why is it Needed?
Generally Accepted Accounting Priciples (GAAP) Financial reporting is an important part of business that communicates the financial performance and results of a company. It records and presents information about the company’s financial position, revenues, expenses,...
Simplifying the Financial Year-End Closing Process
The end of the fiscal year can be highly stressful for financial officers and corporate executives. The year-end closing procedure is time-consuming and sometimes brings unpleasant surprises. Particularly in times of economic downturn and short staffing, year-end...
Does My Business Need a Financial Advisor?
The wise business owner will “know what they don’t know,” and will seek the appropriate experts such as financial advisors to fill those gaps.
3 Reasons you Need a Financial Forecast
If Your Company Doesn't Have a Financial Forecast, You're Wasting Time and Money Every company has goals. Where do you want your organization to be 5 years from now? 10 years? Most even have a general idea of the benchmarks you need to hit to get there—"By increasing...
Know the Significance of Payback Period
Whether implementing a new software system, adding office space, acquiring another company, or any other substantial investment, companies want to know how long it will take to recoup the money they spend on major purchases. The way to determine this is by calculating...
10 Steps to Prepare for Raising Capital
Finding funding for your business is a process that takes a lot of time and effort, especially during the startup phase. Many entrepreneurs fail in their first attempts at fundraising because they are poorly prepared. Others get themselves into trouble by choosing the...
How Can a Fractional CFO Help You Save Money?
In these days of economic challenges and changes, many companies struggle with uncertainty about the future, seeking tools and resources to best position their businesses for financial success. Often it can be beneficial to bring in a financial advisor who has...
What is a Capitalization (Cap) Table and Why Does it Matter?
What is a Cap Table? Capitalization tables, commonly called “cap tables,” are highly useful spreadsheets maintained by companies that have multiple owners or investors. Cap tables are especially important for private companies at startup and in the early stages of the...
Benefits of Finance & Accounting Staff Augmentation
Many companies experience times when they find their accounting departments short on staff or short on expertise. Sometimes emergencies and financial needs arise that are beyond the capability of their financial personnel to address. This is particularly true in times...
Qualities of an Effective Profit & Loss Report
A Profit and Loss (P&L) Report, also called a Profit and Loss Statement, is a key financial document that details a company’s income and expenses over a specific period of time. This time period is typically a month, a quarter or a year. Depending on company needs...