For owner-run service businesses on QuickBooks
Profitable, but never sure about cash?
Every Monday, see your cash 13 weeks ahead. Built from your QuickBooks. Checked by a CFO.
Morning Dana. Here is where cash stands.
What changed. Bayside's $14,200 invoice is now 61 days old. That moved the low point a week earlier.
One thing to do. Call Bayside this week. If they pay by Nov 7, the low point clears one payroll.
Reviewed by Simon
Sound familiar?
Most owners know their profit. Few know how much cash they will have in eight weeks. The profit and loss does not tell you.
“We had a good month. So why is there less in the bank?”
“I find out we are short when payroll is two days away.”
“My bookkeeper sends a P&L. I am not sure what to do with it.”
“I cannot tell if we can afford another hire.”
“I would pay myself more if I knew it was safe.”
“I need a CFO. I cannot justify a full-time one.”
Your P&L tells you what happened. This tells you what is coming.
Same books. Same month. Different questions answered.
| Your P&L says | One Page CFO adds |
|---|---|
| You made $10,900 last month. | Cash still fell $13,500. Customers owe you $14,200 more than a month ago. |
| Revenue is up 4% on last month. | Customers now take 43 days to pay, up from 41. |
| Nothing about next month. | Your lowest cash week is Nov 10, at $18,600. That is less than one payroll. |
| Nothing about what to do. | Collect the $21,500 over 60 days, starting with the two largest accounts. |
How it works
No new software to learn. No change to your books. You get an email.
- 01
Apply
Five short questions. I reply within two business days.
- 02
Invite me to QuickBooks
As an accountant user. I never change your books, and you can remove me any time.
- 03
I check your books
The forecast is only as good as the books. Not ready means no charge.
- 04
Mondays start
Your first forecast within five business days. I explain every assumption.
What lands in your inbox
A short email every Monday. One page every month. An alert when something needs you now.
Every Monday
Cash today, the lowest point in the next 13 weeks and its date, what changed since last week, and one thing to do.
Every month
The one-page report. Profit against last month and last year, where the profit went, six numbers to watch and three actions. Signed by me.
When it matters
An alert if your low point drops under two payrolls, customers start paying slower, or one customer grows too big.
When you ask
Reply to any email with a question about your numbers. "Can we afford a hire in March?" gets a real answer.
Profit
| Sep | Aug | Sep last yr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 102,400 | 98,100 | 91,800 |
| Direct labor | (61,400) | (59,200) | (54,900) |
| Gross profit | 41,000 | 38,900 | 36,900 |
| Overhead | (30,100) | (29,800) | (27,600) |
| Net profit | 10,900 | 9,100 | 9,300 |
Where the profit went
| Net profit | 10,900 |
| Customers owe more than last month | (14,200) |
| Loan principal paid | (2,500) |
| Owner draw | (8,000) |
| Other | 300 |
| Change in cash | (13,500) |
Six numbers to watch
Three things to do this month
- Collect the $21,500 that is over 60 days. Start with the two largest accounts. That alone lifts the November low point above one payroll run.
- Hold the owner draw until the November low point has passed.
- Ask the bank now about the line of credit limit, while the numbers still look good.
A note from the CFO
I spent ten years in corporate finance. Then I worked with owner-run companies, and I kept seeing the same thing.
The owners were good at the work. They had a bookkeeper. They got a P&L every month. And they still found out about cash problems when payroll was two days away.
The fix is not complicated. Look 13 weeks ahead, every week, and act early. Big companies have a finance team for this. A $1 million service business does not.
So I built One Page CFO. Software does the building. I check every forecast and sign every report. It costs a fraction of a part-time CFO. It answers the question owners actually ask. Are we okay?
Simon Shim
Fractional CFO, Toronto
One plan. One price.
I check every forecast myself, so I take ten businesses at this price.
Founding price. Yours for as long as you stay.
- 13-week cash forecast, every Monday
- One-page monthly report, signed by a CFO
- Alerts when cash needs you
- Questions answered by email
- No changes to your QuickBooks, ever
Books not ready? You pay nothing. Cancel any month.
A good fit
- Service business with steady or repeat customers
- About $500,000 to $2 million in revenue
- QuickBooks Online, with a bookkeeper who closes each month
- One company, not a group
Not a fit yet
- Online stores and retail with a lot of stock
- Construction and project work billed by stage
- Medical practices that bill insurance
- Businesses without a bookkeeper
Questions owners ask
Do you change anything in my books?
No. You add me as an accountant user in QuickBooks. I read your books and never change them. You can remove my access at any time.
Do you replace my bookkeeper?
No. Your bookkeeper keeps the books and closes the month. I turn their work into a forecast and a report you can act on. You need a bookkeeper to use this.
What if my books are not in good shape?
I check them before you pay anything. If they are not ready, I tell you what to fix and you are not charged.
How accurate is the forecast?
It starts from your own history: when payroll lands, when each customer usually pays, and what your bills look like. Every week you see last week’s forecast against what actually happened, so you know how far to trust it.
Why $500 a month?
Fractional CFOs who publish their prices usually start above $1,500 a month. Software builds the forecast and the report here, and I check them. That keeps the price down without cutting the review.
What happens after I apply?
I read your answers and reply within two business days. If it is a fit, you get a payment link and an invite guide for QuickBooks. Your first forecast arrives within five business days of access.
Can I cancel?
Yes, any month. There is no contract.
See the next 13 weeks every Monday.
Two minutes to apply. No payment until your books pass the check.
Check if my business fits →P.S. Not ready? The one-page report template is free. Use it with your bookkeeper this month.