Good accounting is imperative for any business – and in ways beyond just properly managing the books. It supports decision making, can forecast future performance, attracts potential investors, and ensures that any firm stays compliant with taxes and other regulations. For marketing and advertising agencies, having strong accounting practices is key to staying competitive in a rapidly changing market.
Accounting isn’t as cut and dry of a practice as it may seem – and it can become significantly more complicated for companies with variable revenue streams, like marketing firms or ad agencies. Marketing firms often handle one-off projects, work on commission and may even have certain clients on retainer, which can create complexities for financial professionals.
One effective solution is to outsource the accounting work to a qualified agency CFO. When you do this, you can free up resources within the company to support your firm’s clients – all while ensuring that an expert professional properly manages the books.
Due to their unique business structure, agencies often face more challenges than the average business. Working with a qualified external CFO can help a marketing or advertising agency overcome many of these challenges. One significant challenge is revenue recognition. A key principle in accounting, revenue recognition involves recognizing revenue when the company has fulfilled its obligations to the customer, not necessarily when payment is received.
Proper revenue recognition on financial statements is imperative to accurate financial reporting. Other key challenges include managing cash flow and navigating long payment cycles, tracking project profitability, and scaling the business while efficiently allocating resources. Cash flow management helps an agency maintain working capital and liquidity, and also plan for growth. Understanding project profitability helps decide which projects to take on and what fees to charge. Additionally, agencies must manage a diverse workforce that includes full-time, part-time, and freelance talent, especially in response to seasonal demand.
One of the key benefits of working with an outsourced CFO is that your agency can fully tap into the experience and expertise of this external partner. Some ways this partner can help your firm achieve financial success include:
Outsourcing accounting services has benefits, especially for a business with a unique business model like a marketing or advertising agency. One of the biggest advantages of outsourcing is cost savings. Managing overhead is important in any business, and it’s almost always more affordable to work with an external, outsourced partner than it is to hire a full-time professional in-house. When you outsource, you won’t have to worry about hiring, training, paying out benefits or investing in any accounting software. Additionally, when you outsource, you’re only paying for the services you need when you need them.
Outsourcing accounting services can help ensure that you’re working with an experienced professional who knows the ins and outs of the business. This type of experience and expertise can prove valuable for providing insight and guidance on all financial matters.
As your agency grows, so can the level of accounting services it receives. You can easily scale these services without the expense of hiring new staff. Outsourcing offers more flexibility than managing an in-house team, in addition to time-saving benefits. Time is money. Outsourcing certain tasks frees up time for your in-house professionals to focus on improving your marketing strategy and growing the business.
Various KPIs that are important to marketing and advertising agencies include:
These – and other – KPIs provide clear information on factors that include efficiency, quality and performance. They also chart a course for an agency to progress and grow over time.
Technology helps empower companies with real-time, valuable insights that help with strategic planning. From basic tools like QuickBooks to more advanced tools that integrate systems and provide one dashboard for project management, time tracking and accounting, the right financial management software is essential to helping agencies make smart, data-based decisions.
When it comes to selecting an external partner for your accounting and CFO services, you don’t just want to work with anyone. It’s imperative for the health of your advertising or marketing agency to work with a professional who’s not just well-versed in accounting best practices, but who also knows the ins and outs of the type of business you run. With experience serving marketing and ad agencies, Propeller Industries can help.
Gain the flexibility to invest in specific services tailored to your company’s needs. Our fractional CFOs across the United States, including CFOs in Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Dallas, Boston and Seattle, are your solid investment for growth.
Fractional CFO companies like ours operate based on the specific needs of our clients. We tackle the needs you have, work to create a clear path forward and empower growth and development by managing financial operations flexibly. Take a look at some key responsibilities a fractional CFO may bring to the table for your company:
One of the most important ways our team can work with small businesses is to overcome the very specific financial challenges they are having, such as managing cash flow obstacles, low gross margins, finding ways to cut costs, improving existing systems that are no longer the right fit, reducing high expenses, overcoming an audit, and finding solutions for financing.
Companies can only grow and develop when they have a plan for getting there. With fractional CFO services, we can help you carve out a plan to make that possible. This includes creating short- and mid-term financial forecasts, building long-term financial goals and objectives, creating budgets for the company based on those forecasts, and analyzing future goals, including future products, services, and opportunities in new markets.
Fractional CFOs also empower companies by providing hands-on support. If your company is struggling financially right now, our team can help you create a path for growth. This may include improving tools and processes to better efficiency, working to improve vendor relationships, creating new customer segments and target audiences, building company reputation with vendors and investors, and developing employees with the best skill sets for the future.
At the heart of what CFOs do is manage funds, and that is no different from a fractional CFO. You can count on us to handle responsibilities such as cash flow management, strategic planning, capital budgeting, and financial decision-making support.
Utilizing a Fractional CFO Solves This Problem.
Consider our services if any of the following scenarios apply:
We listen, learn, and guide you when you work with Propeller Industries. To help your company embrace success in the future, we want to find the best CFO for your company. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our first and primary goal is to provide very specific services and support for your needs. We engage with you to do that, gathering insight into your needs to ensure there is a solid fit for compatibility and quality of CFOs with the companies they are supporting.
We aim to find the right fit based on the following:
A fractional CFO collaborates directly with all stakeholders within the company to achieve financial goals. This means working with all management team members as the company owner or leadership determines is best.
Working with a fractional CFO means hands-on support, and they can often begin providing value and highlighting opportunities right away. You can create a timeline that works for your business’s needs and goals.
If your company is working through a merger or acquisition, having the key insights and strategic planning opportunities that a fractional CFO offers on your side can make a big difference in the long term. This includes managing areas of due diligence, integration of teams and services, and cost-saving opportunities.
One of the core ways your business may benefit from working with a fractional CFO is just that – they can help to prepare financial projections, presentations, and data to help support your efforts in obtaining funding. Then, they can work to help you find the potential investors your company needs.
The flexibility of a fractional CFO can make a big difference in your company’s goals. You can scale up or down as your company’s needs change.
Fractional CFOs can specialize in a wide range of industries, whether that is customer-centric companies, industrial organizations, or others. Having access to a professional with specialized knowledge of your industry could be a boon to your business.
An interim CFO is a person filling in a gap, often until a professional can be hired to do the job full-time. A fractional CFO can provide ongoing financial services tailored to your needs without requiring you to hire someone full-time.
One of the biggest advantages of working with a fractional CFO is gaining their expertise in strategic financial planning. They can develop financial strategies that align with your business’s specific long-term growth objectives.
Fractional CFOs like the ones we provide at Propeller Industries leverage their industry knowledge to help companies ensure they meet regulatory compliance requirements in their sector. They also provide specialized support for audits, risk management planning, and related needs.
Some key areas where a fractional CFO can help minimize risk and avoid pitfalls include improving cash flow management, right-sizing staff, performing due diligence before major investments, and relying on data instead of gut feelings when making big financial decisions. Their specialized expertise helps you avoid costly mistakes.
A fractional CFO is a part-time CFO solution designed to meet the specific needs and requirements of smaller companies. Typically, utilizing these services gives you customized, tailored access to financial leverage and insights to help your business grow without having to commit to a full-time CFO, which is often out of reach for many smaller companies.
A fractional CFO can provide you with a wide range of services to meet your needs. Their ultimate goal is to work hand-in-hand with you to build a professional financial strategy that meets your objectives and creates a growth plan. Some services offered by a fractional CFO include:
These are just some services a fractional CFO can offer your company. You do not have to invest in a professional to handle all of these. That is the benefit Propeller Industries brings to the table. You gain the flexibility to invest in the specific services you absolutely need to help support your company’s growth.
Is your company not yet ready to hire a full-time Chief Financial Officer (CFO), but you know having this professional’s expertise and insight could change the trajectory of your business? Utilizing a fractional CFO solves this problem by providing you with access to competitively priced, exceptionally skilled professionals who can help your company make better decisions.
At Propeller Industries, our prowess in providing fractional CFO services helps our clients reach their goals and thrive. With fractional CFO services across the United States including CFOs in Austin, CFOs in Los Angeles, CFOs in San Francisco, and CFOs in Seattle, we tailor financial solutions to address your specific needs. Our team is the solid investment you need to keep growing.
The insights and solutions we offer at Propeller Industries are tailored to your business’s objectives. Utilize as many or as few of our fractional CFO services as you need to help your business thrive. Ready to learn how?
Making the decision to hire a fractional Chief Financial Officer can seem like a big one, especially if the company is already struggling with financial considerations. Yet, there are benefits that come from hiring these professionals to provide ongoing service and support. Aside from providing financial and accounting expertise, here are some of the biggest benefits our clients at Propeller Industries see on a routine basis from working with our team:
From solving problems to creating new ideas for growth potential, fractional CFOs can help companies start up, grow, overcome financial risk, and scale at a rate they may not have been able to do before.
Fractional CFO companies like ours operate based on the specific needs of our clients. We tackle the needs you have, work to create a clear path forward and empower growth and development by managing financial operations flexibly. Take a look at some key responsibilities a fractional CFO may bring to the table for your company:
It's never too early to hire a fractional CFO, but there are some instances in which you should not put off hiring a professional. If your company is experiencing excessive financial and administrative burdens, a fractional CFO can help when:
Hiring Propeller Industries means you get insight, support, and guidance tailored to your business. Let our team offer the strategic financial expertise you need to thrive.
How much do fractional CFO services cost? The cost of fractional CFO services nearly always depends on your company’s specific goals and needs. It is impossible for any well-qualified company to provide a specific rate that fits all situations. Rather, consider it a type of service that is geared towards your objectives and goals and fits within your budget.
Numerous factors play a role in what you can expect to pay, including:
Keep in mind that Propeller Industries is a leader in solving problems and facilitating growth, so we always keep your budget and costs in mind to deliver competitive pricing. We are also committed to transparency, which means we will always communicate costs with you upfront.
We listen, learn, and guide you when you work with Propeller Industries. To help your company embrace success in the future, we want to find the best CFO for your company. This is not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our first and primary goal is to provide very specific services and support for your needs. We engage with you to do that, gathering insight into your needs to ensure there is a solid fit for compatibility and quality of CFOs with the companies they are supporting.
We aim to find the right fit based on the following:
A fractional CFO helps navigate common financial and operational challenges. As you work with us, consider what a fractional CFO can do for your company in areas such as:
How does a fractional CFO interact with other members of my company's management team?
A fractional CFO collaborates directly with all stakeholders within the company to achieve financial goals. This means working with all management team members as the company owner or leadership determines is best.
How quickly can a fractional CFO get up to speed with my business?
Working with a fractional CFO means hands-on support, and they can often begin providing value and highlighting opportunities right away. You can create a timeline that works for your business's needs and goals.
How can a fractional CFO help my company during a merger or acquisition?
If your company is working through a merger or acquisition, having the key insights and strategic planning opportunities that a fractional CFO offers on your side can make a big difference in the long term. This includes managing areas of due diligence, integration of teams and services, and cost-saving opportunities.
Can a fractional CFO help my business secure funding or investment?
One of the core ways your business may benefit from working with a fractional CFO is just that – they can help to prepare financial projections, presentations, and data to help support your efforts in obtaining funding. Then, they can work to help you find the potential investors your company needs.
How flexible are fractional CFO services and how can they adapt to my business's changing needs?
The flexibility of a fractional CFO can make a big difference in your company's goals. You can scale up or down as your company's needs change.
What sort of industries or sectors can a fractional CFO specialize in?
Fractional CFOs can specialize in a wide range of industries, whether that is customer-centric companies, industrial organizations, or others. Having access to a professional with specialized knowledge of your industry could be a boon to your business.
What is the difference between a fractional CFO and an interim CFO?
An interim CFO is a person filling in a gap, often until a professional can be hired to do the job full-time. A fractional CFO can provide ongoing financial services tailored to your needs without requiring you to hire someone full-time.
How can a fractional CFO help with strategic financial planning for future growth?
One of the biggest advantages of working with a fractional CFO is gaining their expertise in strategic financial planning. They can develop financial strategies that align with your business's specific long-term growth objectives.
How does a fractional CFO ensure regulatory compliance and audit support for my business?
Fractional CFOs like the ones we provide at Propeller Industries leverage their industry knowledge to help companies ensure they meet regulatory compliance requirements in their sector. They also provide specialized support for audits, risk management planning, and related needs.
What are some common financial pitfalls a fractional CFO can help my business avoid?
Some key areas where a fractional CFO can help minimize risk and avoid pitfalls include improving cash flow management, right-sizing staff, performing due diligence before major investments, and relying on data instead of gut feelings when making big financial decisions. Their specialized expertise helps you avoid costly mistakes.
Fractional CFOs bring access to a wide range of financial technology designed to meet a company's unique needs. It can be challenging to have the latest tech on a limited budget. But fractional CFOs can provide that, including:
When you partner with a company like Propeller Industries, we work closely with you to determine the best technology solutions for your needs, based on expert recommendations.
Exciting new technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain have the potential to greatly benefit fractional CFO services in the future. These innovations can provide even more robust analytics, streamline processes, and enhance security. While adopting new technology does come with some risks for small businesses, partnering with an experienced fractional CFO service provider positions you to take advantage of cutting-edge solutions to push your company forward.
In today's complex and ever-changing business landscape, fractional CFOs play a critical role supporting the financial success and growth of small companies like mine. The on-demand expertise and insights fractional CFO firms provide allow businesses to scale intelligently and avoid pitfalls. If you're looking for a trusted partner to take your company to the next level, Propeller Industries stands ready with the fractional CFO services and solutions your business needs to thrive.
Propeller Industries' fractional CFO services provide an invaluable boost to growth-focused small businesses. From startups looking to get off the ground successfully to established companies seeking to scale intelligently, our fractional CFOs have driven transformative outcomes for clients across industries. Check out some case studies of companies we've partnered with here to see the tangible impact our fractional CFO services deliver.
Ready to amplify your small business success with expert fractional CFO support? Reach out to the team at Propeller Industries to get started. We make the process extremely easy - it starts with a consultation where we learn about your needs, and then we match you with the perfect fractional CFO for your objectives. Contact us today through our website consultation form, by email, or at 888-552-5710 to learn more about how our fractional CFO services can help your business thrive.
Propeller Industries is not licensed by the state of California and the accounting services being offered do not require a state license.