INSIGHTS & ARTICLES
Explore some of the most recent articles by our CFOs.
FEATURED ARTICLE
Evaluating Your Company’s Financial Confidence
An axiom in business that CEOs and founders must “know what they don’t know.” It’s rare that a CEO or founder has expertise in all arms of the business. Instead, they must rely on identifying their weaknesses and make strategic adjustments—usually by hiring someone...
RECENT INSIGHTS & ARTICLES
Essential Strategies for Scaling Up Your SaaS Company in 2021
The year 2020 has impacted businesses of all kinds in extraordinary ways, leading some to stunning windfall profits and others to utter ruin. This is especially true in the case of software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies. For instance, Covid-19 restrictions have kept...
PPP December COVID Relief Stimulus Bill
On Sunday, December 20, Congress passed a $900B stimulus package. One week later, on Sunday, December 27, Trump signed the bill into law. While there are many aspects of the bill offering moratoriums on evictions and extending unemployment benefits, the bill also...
Accrual Accounting vs. Cash Basis Accounting
Preferred CFO has worked with hundreds of businesses from startups and small businesses to medium-sized businesses or businesses looking to fundraise. While many of these are companies experiencing high levels of growth, many are not yet in a position to afford or...
How Does a CFO Add Value?
CFOs are high-level, strategic experts who optimize financial resources in a company while using those resources to achieve company goals more efficiently and effectively. Unlike bookkeepers, controllers, and accountants whose primary functions are rear-facing,...
The Difference Between the 5 Main Financial Experts
It’s not uncommon to have difficulty differentiating between the main financial professionals. Not only are the names similar, but they are also often unintentionally used interchangeably. However, despite how the titles may be used colloquially, there are distinct...
5 Hiring Tips from a CFO That Will Save You Time & Money
When is the best time to make a new hire? Hiring too late can mean work (and clients) falling through the cracks; hiring too early can mean unnecessarily increasing your expenses. Payroll is one of the largest expenses a company will face, which makes the decision to...
6 Reasons SaaS Companies are Choosing Outsourced CFO Services
It’s becoming increasingly common to see companies turning to an outsourced CFO instead of a traditional in-house CFO. This is especially true for the dynamic, high-growth SaaS industry. SaaS companies are finding that outsourced CFOs specializing in SaaS are often...
10 Benefits of Hiring a Virtual CFO vs. an In-House CFO
When your organization decides it’s time to bring in a new chief financial officer, is it better to hire a virtual CFO or an in-house CFO? When many companies think of CFOs, they default to the expectation of a long-term hire requiring an office, six-figure salary,...
How to Determine How Much Your Business Is Worth
Business Valuation Methods & Determining What Your Business is Worth Whether you're preparing for a sale or acquisition, seeking debt or equity financing, or evaluating other strategic business decisions, it's helpful to have a good pulse on the value of your...
11 Things to Know About the 2020 Payroll Tax Deferral
On August 8, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum to defer the payment of the employee share of social security tax from September 1 through December 31, 2021. But what, exactly, does this Payroll Tax Deferral mean, and should employers take advantage of...
9 Traits of a Great CFO: Evaluating Your Financial Team
As Preferred CFO performs speaking engagements and advisory with CEOs around the country, one of the topics we’re continually asked to address is how to evaluate the quality of a financial team. Among these is answering the question, “What makes a great CFO?” We’ve...
1 Big Budgeting Mistake You’re Probably Making
One Big Budgeting Mistake You’re Probably Making A budget-first mindset not only wastes time and resources but also often results in an unrealistic and/or inaccurate budget. It’s a time-old Q4 tradition—lengthy planning cycles consisting of sitting down to tap out a...
What Is the Difference Between a CPA and CFO? 4 Key Differences
We're often surprised by how many businesses hire a CPA, believing they're receiving not only tax services but CFO strategies as well. The reality is that there are many differences between a CPA and CFO. However, it's no wonder the two are confused, as CPAs will...
What is the Difference Between a Controller and CFO?
What is the difference between a controller and CFO? While there are functions of both a controller and CFO that support each other, both positions make distinctly different contributions to the organization. What is the Difference Between a Controller and a CFO? The...
12 Things Venture Capitalists Look For in an Investment Opportunity
12 Things Investors Look for in an Investment Opportunity Being funded by a VC fund has been glamorized in the past 10 years—and it’s no wonder why. Venture capitalists not only provide funding for young and innovative businesses, but also bring a partnership with...
Signs Your Company is Ready for a Part-Time CFO
A CFO brings high-level expertise and strategy to an organization. A CFO’s primary role is to elevate financial strategy, streamline operations, trim fat, and maximize sustainable growth. But how do you know if your company is ready for a CFO? How do you know if your...
7 Essential Financial Tools Every CEO Needs
Turn on the Headlights: 7 Essential Financial Tools Every CEO Needs to Confidently Accelerate Success & Growth Many businesses make the mistake of believing that financials are all about historical numbers and budgets. However, if these are the financial tools you...
What is a 13-Week Cash Flow, and Why Isn’t It Enough for Most Businesses?
We've recently seen more and more CPA firms, fractional CFOs, and financial experts advertising 13-week cash flow plans. The messaging behind these offers insinuates that this simple 13-week financial reporting document can help businesses ease the burden of financial...
Cash Flow: The Reason 82% of Small Businesses Fail
Poor cash flow – How to recognize it and how you can make sure it won’t be a problem We know that the majority of small businesses fail within the first five years, but a recent study by U.S. Bank drilled down into the reasons why this occurs. In their study, they...
Payroll Protection Program Flexibility Act Passes in Senate
On May 28, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bipartisan bill, the Payroll Protection Flexibility Act 417 to 1. On the evening of Wednesday, June 3, this bill passed in the Senate and is now on its way to the President's desk where he is expected to...
What to Do if Your Business Didn’t Receive Stimulus Funding
The COVID-19 situation has caused financial stress for many businesses, causing uncertainty and leaving many companies with decreased financial security and revenue. What makes this time especially difficult is that not only are many businesses suffering a cash...