Entrepreneurs are built differently. They start with nothing—no playbook, no guarantees, no safety net—and they build something. Through hustle. Grit. And, intuition. They take an idea and will it into a real business. But somewhere between $5M and $50M, everything changes. The systems that worked? Stop working.The instincts that got the business this far? Start […]
Everyone loves a big transaction. The revenue. The market share. And, of course, the press releases. But, closing the deal is just the beginning. And, a successful acquisition isn’t just about getting the deal done—it’s about seamlessly integrating operations, teams, and financial systems to ensure long-term success. So many business owners underestimate this critical phase, […]
The Reality of Leadership: Not Every Decision Will Be Popular Leadership is often glamorized as vision. Strategy. Inspiring teams. But the truth is, one of the hardest parts of leadership is making the decisions no one else wants to make. The decisions that make people uncomfortable. The decisions that create short-term pain for long-term financial […]
Today, they're a $100M company with great market share. Solid margins. And, steady cash flow. Everyone wants a piece. But, less than a decade ago, they were running on sheer momentum with no financial infrastructure to support their growth. At $30M in revenue, they were operating without reliable financials, struggling through a failed ERP implementation, […]
When I recently bought a business, it wasn’t my first rodeo in M&A. But, before this, my acquisition experience was as a CFO inside a business. I had the spreadsheets. The diligence. The bankers. And, the attorneys at my disposal. But when YOU'RE the one buying the business, the game changes. If you’re an entrepreneur […]
Hiring a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) isn’t like hiring a bookkeeper or a controller—it’s more like finding the right life partner. And, if you've ever been on a date, you know that what works for you might not work for someone else. And, vice versa. It's the same story here. There is no one-size-fits-all CFO. […]
Fast-growing businesses often find themselves in a paradox. Sales are booming. But, cash is tight. And, many times, it's not an issue with profitability. Rather, it's a timing issue. Because, as sales increase, so does the float. Payroll, vendors, and production costs have to be covered well before cash lands in the bank. The solution? […]
At The William Stanley CFO Group, we’ve completed nearly 30 financial diagnostics over the last two years. Across industries ranging from healthcare to manufacturing, hospitality, and professional services. These diagnostics go beyond just examining spreadsheets—they reveal the stories behind the numbers. And, the story of 2024 was clear: it was a tough year for many […]
Every entrepreneur starts with a vision. But, not every entrepreneur steps up to the plate with the same fire. At The William Stanley CFO Group, we've noticed a themes. Our most successful clients share one defining trait: they’re hungry. They’re not the ones coasting on endless resources. Deep-pocketed investors. Or, an established safety net. They’re […]
A Vertical Income Statement is one of the most insightful financial tools for any business. Unlike traditional income statements, this format shows every expense as a percentage of revenue, allowing you to evaluate operational efficiencies and financial health more effectively. Whether revenue increases or decreases, a Vertical Income Statement helps you identify trends and make […]
