Three to four weeks. Fixed fee. A clear answer to where your business actually stands.
A focused diagnostic that delivers prioritized findings, ranked recommendations, and an honest read on whether you need ongoing financial leadership or whether you have what you need.
Who this is for
- Owners who suspect their numbers are not telling them the full story but are not yet ready to commit to ongoing CFO leadership.
- Owners preparing for a major decision (capital raise, acquisition, exit, hiring push) who want a structured read first.
- Investors evaluating a portfolio company that needs an outside financial perspective.
The process
What happens, week by week
Week one: review, observe, analyze. We collect the data, read the financial statements, examine the chart of accounts, the bank reconciliations, and the AR and AP aging. We interview the people involved in financial operations and look for what the numbers are saying and what they are not.
Weeks two and three: focused assessment. A Pareto analysis identifies the highest-leverage areas, then a focused diagnostic across the dimensions that matter most: working capital, demand generation economics, vendor management, inventory and capacity utilization, margins and costing, performance management, and leadership team effectiveness. The dimensions that do not apply get acknowledged and skipped.
Week four: findings and recommendations. A written diagnostic, typically five to ten pages. Key strengths and weaknesses. The two or three highest-leverage actions, ranked, with quantified financial impact where data supports it. The go-forward plan and the contingencies that could change it. Delivered in person or by video, one hour to walk through.
What you walk away with
- A written diagnostic with prioritized findings.
- A ranked list of actions with quantified impact where possible.
- An honest read on whether ongoing CFO leadership is the right next step or whether you have what you need.
- A 30-day, 90-day, and 12-month plan, depending on what you choose to act on.
Pricing
Fixed fee, scoped in advance. Typical range is $7,500 to $15,000 depending on company complexity and the specific dimensions that need depth. The price you see in the engagement letter is the price you pay. No scope creep.
What happens after
Three things. Some clients act on the recommendations themselves with their existing team. Some hire us for ongoing CFO leadership to execute the plan. Some discover they do not need what they thought they needed. All three are good outcomes.
If you want a clear answer in three to four weeks instead of a six-month engagement, the Assessment is the way in.
Book a 30-minute scoping call. We will tell you whether an Assessment is the right first step and what it would cover.
Book a Clarity Call