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Fractional CFO and Accounting Support for Small Businesses

Clean books, reliable reporting, and the financial leadership to turn your numbers into better decisions, without a full-time finance team.

About Accounting and CFO

Behind every business decision is a number, and behind every good decision is a number you can trust. Accounting and CFO support is the work of keeping those numbers clean, then using them to steer. It usually comes in three layers: a bookkeeper records what happened, a financial controller makes sure the reporting is accurate and the controls hold, and a CFO uses all of it to look forward, on cash flow, forecasting, and the decisions that shape the next stage. A fractional CFO for a small business gives an owner that top layer of financial leadership without a full-time hire.

Most owners don't have a finance problem on day one. They have a bookkeeper, the bank account looks fine, and the business is small enough to keep in their head. Then it grows. The month-end close starts taking weeks. The reports have errors no one can explain. The owner is making six-figure decisions on a gut read of the checking account and can't answer basic questions: what's my real margin, how much runway do I have, can I afford that hire? The books are recording the past, but no one is steering the future. That's how profitable businesses still end up in trouble.

That's the work we take on. We give you the full finance function, scaled to your size: accurate bookkeeping so the records are clean, controller-level oversight so the reporting is reliable and the controls hold, and fractional CFO leadership so someone is actually steering, on cash flow, forecasting, and the decisions that move the business. You don't hire three people or carry a full-time finance team. You get the layer you need now, and the next one when you're ready for it. The point is simple: numbers you can trust, and someone who can tell you what they mean.

Statistics

  • 51 percent of small businesses told the Federal Reserve they struggle with uneven cash flow. A business can be profitable on paper and still run out of money, and cash flow trouble is one of the most common reasons small businesses fail.

  • 58 percent more likely to beat their revenue goals: that's the edge MIT found for companies that run on real financial data instead of a gut read. Clean numbers only help if someone turns them into decisions.

  • $90,000 to $140,000 is what a full-time controller costs in salary and benefits. Outsourced, that same reporting and oversight runs a fraction of it, with no recruiting, onboarding, or management overhead.

51%

of small businesses struggle with uneven cash flow

58% 

of businesses are more likely to beat their revenue goals

$140k

is what a full-time controller costs in salary and benefits

What to Expect

We provide the full finance function in three layers, and you take only the ones the business needs right now.

Bookkeeping

Accurate, current records: transactions, reconciliations, payables and receivables, payroll. The foundation everything else sits on, kept clean so you can trust what the numbers say.

Financial Controller

Controller-level oversight: a reliable month-end close, accurate financial statements, stronger internal controls, and reporting your bank, your board, or a future buyer can rely on. This is the layer most growing businesses are missing.

Fractional CFO

Forward-looking financial leadership: cash flow management, forecasting, margin and profitability analysis, and the strategic decisions that shape growth or a future sale. The person who turns your numbers into a plan.

Not sure your numbers are telling you the truth?

Tell us where things stand, whether the books are behind, the reporting is shaky, or you just need someone to help you read what the numbers mean, and we'll walk you through which level of support fits and how it would work.
  • 15 minutes, no commitment
  • Finance function without a full-time team
  • CMAA Certified advisors

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between a bookkeeper, a controller, and a CFO?
A bookkeeper records what happened: transactions, reconciliations, payroll. A controller makes sure that record is accurate and the reporting is reliable. A CFO looks forward, using the numbers for cash flow, forecasting, and strategy. BBA provides all three, scaled to what you need.
Do I need a controller or a CFO?
Often both, but at different intensities. If the books are messy or the reporting can't be trusted, start with controller-level cleanup. If your records are solid but you need help with strategy and decisions, that's a CFO. We help you figure out which gap is actually slowing you down.
When does my business need more than a bookkeeper?
Usually when bookkeeping stops answering your real questions. If the month-end close drags, the reports have errors, or you can't quickly say what your margins or runway are, you've outgrown basic bookkeeping and need controller or CFO-level support.
Does a fractional CFO replace my bookkeeper?
No. A fractional CFO sits above the bookkeeper, not in place of one. The bookkeeper keeps the records accurate; the CFO uses those records to guide decisions. They work together, and we can provide both layers or slot into the structure you already have.
How much does this cost compared to hiring in-house?
Far less than building a full finance team. A full-time controller alone runs $90,000 to $140,000 plus benefits, and a full-time CFO well beyond that. Outsourced, you pay for the level of support you actually need and scale it as the business grows.
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