Frequently Asked Questions about CFO Advisory Services
What does a CFO Advisor do for my business?
A fractional CFO helps you understand what your numbers mean and use them to make better business decisions. This may include cash flow planning, job profitability, budgeting, forecasting, pricing, financial reporting, and planning for growth.
I’m not in the skilled trades. Can we still work together?
Absolutely! While my focus is on skilled trades, I’m happy to work with clients in other industries as long as I can provide the support you need.
What services do you provide?
Services may include bookkeeping, controller support, cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, job profitability analysis, accounts receivable and payable oversight, payroll support, and ongoing CFO advisory.
What is the difference between bookkeeping and CFO advisory?
Bookkeeping organizes and records what has already happened financially. CFO advisory looks forward, helping you understand your numbers, anticipate challenges, plan for opportunities, and make informed decisions about the future of your business.
Can you help me if my books are behind?
Yes. We can help clean up past records, correct errors, and create a more reliable financial foundation. Once the books are accurate, we can begin using that information to guide future decisions.
Can you help me understand whether my jobs are profitable?
Yes. We can review labor, materials, overhead, pricing, and other costs to help you better understand which jobs, services, or project types are contributing to your profit.
Can you help improve my cash flow?
Yes. We can evaluate how money moves through your business, identify potential cash flow gaps, and create strategies around billing, collections, expenses, reserves, and upcoming financial obligations.
Can you help me create a budget or financial forecast?
Yes. We can build practical budgets and forecasts based on your current numbers, upcoming projects, staffing needs, expenses, and business goals.
Can you help me determine whether I can afford to hire?
Yes. We can review your cash flow, workload, labor costs, and projected revenue to help you understand how a new hire may affect the business financially.
Can you help me make better pricing decisions?
Yes. We can help you evaluate whether your pricing accounts for labor, materials, overhead, profit goals, and the true cost of completing the work.
How will we communicate about my finances?
We will establish regular check-ins based on the level of service you need. During these meetings, we can review financial results, discuss concerns, track goals, and identify the decisions that need your attention.
Will you explain my financial reports to me?
Absolutely. You will not simply receive a report without context. We will walk through the numbers with you, explain what they mean, and discuss how they may affect your business.
Do you work with businesses of all sizes?
Yes. Services can be tailored for solo tradespeople, growing companies, and established businesses with larger teams and more complex financial needs.
What financial software do you work with?
We commonly work with QuickBooks and other cloud-based financial tools. We can also evaluate your current systems and recommend processes that better support your reporting and decision-making needs.
How often will my financial information be updated?
The schedule will depend on your services and business needs. Records and reports may be updated weekly or monthly so you have timely information available when making decisions.
How much do CFO advisory services cost?
Pricing depends on the complexity of your business, the services you need, and the level of ongoing support required. We will recommend a service plan after learning more about your business and goals.
Do I need to have everything organized before we begin?
No. We can begin by assessing your current records, systems, and processes. From there, we will identify what needs to be cleaned up or improved and create a plan for moving forward.
Will I lose control of my finances if I outsource financial management?
No. The goal is to give you greater visibility and control. You remain the decision-maker while receiving clearer financial information and experienced guidance.
Do you provide payroll support?
Payroll support may be included depending on your service plan. We can help establish reliable processes so employees are paid accurately and required financial information is properly recorded.
How do I share financial documents with you?
We use secure, cloud-based tools for sharing financial information and documents. We will guide you through the setup and explain how information should be submitted.
What if I do not have reliable financial systems in place?
That is something we can help with. We can evaluate your current software, workflows, reporting, and financial processes, then create systems that better support your business.
Can you help with tax preparation?
We do not prepare or file tax returns, but we can work with your tax professional and provide organized financial information to support tax planning and preparation.
How long does it take to get started?
The timeline depends on the condition of your current records and the complexity of your business. We will begin with an assessment, identify immediate priorities, and outline the next steps.
How do you keep my financial information secure?
We use trusted, secure platforms and established processes to help protect your financial information. Access is limited to the systems and information needed to provide your services.
What is the first step to working together?
The first step is a consultation. We will discuss your current financial challenges, business goals, existing systems, and the level of support you need to determine whether we are a good fit.
How do you keep my financial information secure?
We use trusted, secure platforms and established processes to help protect your financial information. Access is limited to the systems and information needed to provide your services.
The timeline depends on the condition of your current records and the complexity of your business. We will begin with an assessment, identify immediate priorities, and outline the next steps.
How long does it take to get started?
The first step is a consultation. We will discuss your current financial challenges, business goals, existing systems, and the level of support you need to determine whether we are a good fit.
What is the first step to working together?
That is something we can help with. We can evaluate your current software, workflows, reporting, and financial processes, then create systems that better support your business.
What if I do not have reliable financial systems in place?
We use secure, cloud-based tools for sharing financial information and documents. We will guide you through the setup and explain how information should be submitted.
How do I share financial documents with you?
We do not prepare or file tax returns, but we can work with your tax professional and provide organized financial information to support tax planning and preparation.
Can you help with tax preparation?
Payroll support may be included depending on your service plan. We can help establish reliable processes so employees are paid accurately and required financial information is properly recorded.
Do you provide payroll support?
No. The goal is to give you greater visibility and control. You remain the decision-maker while receiving clearer financial information and experienced guidance.
Will I lose control of my finances if I outsource financial management?
No. We can begin by assessing your current records, systems, and processes. From there, we will identify what needs to be cleaned up or improved and create a plan for moving forward.
Do I need to have everything organized before we begin?
Pricing depends on the complexity of your business, the services you need, and the level of ongoing support required. We will recommend a service plan after learning more about your business and goals.
How much do CFO advisory services cost?
The schedule will depend on your services and business needs. Records and reports may be updated weekly or monthly so you have timely information available when making decisions.
How often will my financial information be updated?
We commonly work with QuickBooks and other cloud-based financial tools. We can also evaluate your current systems and recommend processes that better support your reporting and decision-making needs.
What financial software do you work with?
Yes. Services can be tailored for solo tradespeople, growing companies, and established businesses with larger teams and more complex financial needs.
Do you work with businesses of all sizes?
Absolutely. You will not simply receive a report without context. We will walk through the numbers with you, explain what they mean, and discuss how they may affect your business.
Will you explain my financial reports to me?
How will we communicate about my finances?
We will establish regular check-ins based on the level of service you need. During these meetings, we can review financial results, discuss concerns, track goals, and identify the decisions that need your attention.
Yes. We can help you evaluate whether your pricing accounts for labor, materials, overhead, profit goals, and the true cost of completing the work.
Can you help me make better pricing decisions?
Can you help me determine whether I can afford to hire?
Yes. We can review your cash flow, workload, labor costs, and projected revenue to help you understand how a new hire may affect the business financially.
Yes. We can build practical budgets and forecasts based on your current numbers, upcoming projects, staffing needs, expenses, and business goals.
Can you help me create a budget or financial forecast?
Yes. We can evaluate how money moves through your business, identify potential cash flow gaps, and create strategies around billing, collections, expenses, reserves, and upcoming financial obligations.
Can you help improve my cash flow?
Yes. We can review labor, materials, overhead, pricing, and other costs to help you better understand which jobs, services, or project types are contributing to your profit.
Can you help me understand whether my jobs are profitable?
Can you help me if my books are behind?
Yes. We can help clean up past records, correct errors, and create a more reliable financial foundation. Once the books are accurate, we can begin using that information to guide future decisions.
Bookkeeping organizes and records what has already happened financially. CFO advisory looks forward, helping you understand your numbers, anticipate challenges, plan for opportunities, and make informed decisions about the future of your business.
What is the difference between bookkeeping and CFO advisory?
Services may include bookkeeping, controller support, cash flow management, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, job profitability analysis, accounts receivable and payable oversight, payroll support, and ongoing CFO advisory.
What services do you provide?
A fractional CFO helps you understand what your numbers mean and use them to make better business decisions. This may include cash flow planning, job profitability, budgeting, forecasting, pricing, financial reporting, and planning for growth.
What does a CFO Advisor do for my business?
I’M NOT IN THE SKILLED TRADES. CAN WE STILL WORK TOGETHER?
Absolutely. While J2 Consulting Group focuses on businesses in the skilled trades, we may also work with businesses in other industries when our services are a good fit for their needs.
Let's tidy up your QuickBooks, fix errors, and get your books back on track.
Do you provide payroll support?
Payroll support may be included depending on your service plan. We can help establish reliable processes so employees are paid accurately and required financial information is properly recorded.
A little more about J2 Consulting
My mission is to provide bookkeeping and financial management to the skilled trades to not only streamline and sustain their finances but help them seize more financial opportunities to help them reach their business goals.
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