Scale

    $5M to $20M: Install the Operating Cadence and Reporting Discipline Needed to Scale

    From founder intuition to management system. At this stage, the business is too complex for informal financial management—but not yet ready for a full-time CFO.

    Schedule a Strategy Call

    Who This Is For

    This stage is for businesses generating $5M–$20M in annual revenue. You likely have multiple product lines, locations, or service offerings. You may have hired department heads or managers, but the owner is still central to major decisions.

    The business has outgrown founder-led intuition. Growth is creating complexity—in operations, in headcount, in financial management. You need systems that scale, not just harder work.

    What Typically Breaks at This Stage

    • Multi-location or multi-service complexity without segment-level visibility
    • Labor and overhead creep; margins drift without clear accountability
    • Reporting is late, inconsistent, or not actionable for leadership decisions
    • Growth requires capital, but books aren't lender-ready or investor-ready
    • No rolling forecast; planning is reactive rather than proactive
    • Working capital tied up in AR, inventory, or inefficient cash cycles
    • Key decisions made on intuition because data isn't trusted or available

    What We Implement

    • Department or location-level reporting and accountability structure
    • KPI dashboards with weekly/monthly operating cadence
    • Rolling 12-month forecast with scenario planning capability
    • Budget-to-actual discipline with variance analysis
    • Working capital optimization: cash conversion cycle focus
    • Process improvements: billing, collections, payroll, spend controls
    • Capital readiness package for lenders or investors (as applicable)
    • Leadership meeting structure with financial review agenda

    Operating Cadence

    Weekly

    • KPI scorecard review
    • Cash and AR/AP position
    • Operational pulse metrics
    • Issues and blockers flag

    Monthly

    • Full financial close (by day 10)
    • Leadership dashboard review
    • Budget vs. actual deep dive
    • Rolling forecast update

    Quarterly

    • Strategic planning session
    • Full P&L and margin review by segment
    • Capital and investment planning
    • Annual forecast refresh

    Typical Outcomes

    While outcomes vary, clients at this stage commonly see:

    • Segment-level profitability visibility (know which locations/services make money)
    • Leadership team operating from shared, trusted financial data
    • 12-month rolling forecast enabling proactive decision-making
    • Lender-ready or investor-ready financial package
    • Reduced cash cycle time and improved working capital
    • Clear accountability for financial performance by department

    Core Deliverables

    • 1Monthly performance dashboard and leadership review agenda
    • 2Rolling 12-month forecast + scenario models
    • 3Cost structure visibility by location/service/department
    • 4KPI scorecard with 10–15 key metrics tracked weekly
    • 5Capital readiness package (loan or investor prep)
    • 6Cash conversion cycle analysis and improvement plan
    • 7Budget-to-actual variance reports with commentary

    KPIs That Matter

    Revenue by SegmentGross Margin by LocationEBITDA %Labor Cost RatioCash Conversion CycleAR DaysInventory TurnsCustomer Acquisition CostCustomer Lifetime ValueRevenue per Employee

    Install the operating cadence and reporting discipline needed to scale.

    Schedule a Strategy Call

    Information provided is general in nature and is not legal or investment advice. Outcomes described are typical but not guaranteed and vary based on individual circumstances.