Outsourced Finance Team

Early Stage Needs

There are four basic financial service needs during your initial stage of business.

• Pitch Deck
  Your pitch deck is the most important tool you have when trying to raise capital and appeal to investors. This deck shows your business, your goals, how and where you will spend the money you raise, and your vision for the future of your business. Because all investors need to look at this, your finance and accounting advisors will help you develop it as early as possible.
  
  
• Budgeting/Forecasting
  Before your business can make any great leaps, you need to determine the parameters of what your company does, what you want your company to look like long term, and what resources you will need to reach your business goals. Financial forecasting encompasses all of these areas and helps you plan your company’s future.
  
  
• Metrics
  Metrics provide tangible insight into investors’ ROI when financing your company. Tracking your startup’s metrics give you key insights into business performance and areas where improvement is needed. A strategic finance and accounting professional will help you identify the metrics you should track and pinpoint areas for improvement.
  
  
• Funding Preparation and Process Help
  Often, new companies need expert financial guidance when identifying their funding needs. Determining the kind of funding you need to target – venture capital, angel investors, bank debt, private equity, etc. – is easier with an experienced financial service provider guiding your choices. Once you find out what is right for you, you’ll be ready to develop a plan to secure this funding.

Mid-Stage Needs

While many companies invest time and resources into their finance functions at the onset of their business, most fail to consider the financial team that is needed when their business has matured. 

• GAAP Financial Statements
  When you enter the mid-stage of your business, you need support to prepare your GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) financial statements for the business. Experienced accounting professionals can keep your books accurate and help you make informed decisions about the business, all while preparing your business for a potential audit.
  
  
• Metrics
  At every stage of your business, metrics play an important role. Like the metrics you need to watch in the early stages of your business, metrics are continuously essential to measure the success of your business. And, they are key in helping you identify areas for improved profitability in your business, as you grow.
  
  
• Robust Forecasting
  At this stage of your business, your forecast should have a fair amount of historical data to help you plan for your future. To forecast for future growth, you need to consider historic numbers and incorporate them into projected financial statements like P&L balance sheet, cash flow and projected borrowing base.
  
  
• Budget vs Actual 
  When your company has built a solid foundation of revenue to be tracked, you should start conducting budget comparisons to actual results. With the help of a financial expert, you can compare your actual financial performance to your projected performance. This practice also helps you identify variances that you may have missed in your financial planning or adjustments to your operations to conform to your plan.

End-Stage Needs

As your company matures, you are likely to consider your exit. When you reach this stage of your business, working with trusted finance and accounting professionals is essential for securing a beneficial deal. Continue with all of the financial processes you are currently following, but add the following three action items. 

• Financial Statement Auditing
  To enter into the selling process as a viable prospect for buyers, you need 2-3 years of financial statement audits. Potential buyers want to ensure that your reported results conform to GAAP.  A financial expert can help you get this information vetted and in order.
  
  
• Synergy
  When you sell a company, you may find your business merging into the buyer’s company. Strategic financial service providers can help you determine which costs can be eliminated due to the merging of redundant operations. By identifying areas where costs may be trimmed, your business’ value may increase.
  
  
• Pitch Deck
  Just like the pitch deck you prepared when attracting investors at the onset of your business, you need a solid deck to attract potential buyers. Your finance partner will help highlight the attractive features in your business to show why your business is a good purchase.

At any stage of business, it is important to have experienced finance and business advisors on your side. The best decision you can make as a business owner is partnering with trusted and skilled finance and accounting partner to guide you to the next stage in your company’s lifecycle.