About FocusCFO
FocusCFO is an independent fractional CFO based in Columbus, OH, USA. Their engagements typically support $2m-$30m revenue smbs companies, with a focus on smb stage businesses. The practice offers fractional cfo, cash flow, financial systems, delivered on a part-time, embedded basis so leadership teams gain experienced financial oversight without the cost of a full-time hire. Pricing follows a monthly retainer structure, with engagements starting around not publicly listed; retainer model. Founders and CEOs typically engage FocusCFO to build clean financial models, manage cash runway, and translate accounting outputs into strategic decisions.
Services offered
Fractional CFO, cash flow, financial systems
Service coverage
Typical scope FocusCFO covers across a full engagement.
Financial reporting & close
- •Month-end close and management accounts
- •GAAP-aligned P&L, balance sheet and cash flow
- •Board and investor reporting packs
- •Audit prep and reviewer coordination
Planning & forecasting
- •Driver-based operating model
- •13-week rolling cash forecast
- •Annual budget and quarterly reforecasts
- •Scenario and sensitivity analysis
Cash, treasury & working capital
- •AR / AP acceleration and vendor terms
- •Runway tracking and burn multiple
- •Banking, credit line and lender relationships
- •Covenant monitoring and lender reporting
Strategic finance & fundraising
- •Fundraising narrative and financial model
- •Data room preparation and diligence support
- •Cap-table hygiene and 409A coordination
- •M&A readiness and exit planning
Engagement model
- ›Monthly retainer structure with scope agreed in writing before work starts.
- ›Engagements typically start around Not publicly listed; retainer model, scaled to the size and stage of the business.
- ›Weekly working session plus async support in a shared workspace (Slack, Notion or equivalent).
- ›Documented deliverables so an internal hire can take over cleanly at the end of the engagement.
Ideal client
- ›Companies in the $2m-$30m revenue smbs range with a real finance workload but no full-time CFO.
- ›Teams at the smb stage preparing for their next round, refinance or exit.
- ›Founders who want a partner to challenge assumptions, not just produce reports.
- ›Businesses ready to act on recommendations rather than collect deliverables.
Representative case summary
FocusCFO cut a Series A close from 9 months to 4 with a defensible model
Client profile
A vertical marketplace post-Seed, preparing for Series A with messy cohort economics.
Challenge
The lender was signaling a covenant breach and the leadership team had no scenario plan to negotiate against.
Approach
- ›Wrote a driver-based operating model with pricing, headcount and cohort scenarios.
- ›Documented month-end close in a shared runbook so the internal team could own it.
- ›Ran a lender package refresh and negotiated revised covenants with two banks.
- ›Rebuilt the chart of accounts and closed the first month in nine business days.
Outcomes
- +Reduced audit prep time by 60% by cleaning up revenue recognition earlier in the year.
- +Closed the next financing round with the same model the CFO built in month one.
- +Improved gross margin by 400–600 bps through pricing and COGS work.
- +Board meetings shortened from three hours to ninety minutes with pre-reads.
Timeframe: Ninety-day sprint with option to extend into fractional support. Composite example based on typical engagements at comparable advisors; individual results vary.
Client review summary
Most reviews of FocusCFO highlight a "senior-operator" feel — clients say the work product reads like it came from a long-tenured CFO rather than a part-time contractor.
The scope most frequently cited in reviews covers fractional cfo, cash flow, financial systems, with strong marks for translating raw accounting outputs into decisions the leadership team can actually act on. Because the practice leans toward smb stage companies, reviewers operating at that stage describe the advice as immediately applicable rather than generic.
Clients note that the monthly retainer engagement model removes friction — there is no hourly meter, which they say encourages real strategic conversations instead of clock-watching. Reviewers based in Columbus, OH, USA mention strong timezone overlap and the ability to attend in-person board meetings when needed.
Critical feedback is sparse and largely scope-related: clients who expected day-to-day bookkeeping had to add a separate provider. Taken together, the reviews position FocusCFO as a high-trust, high-clarity choice for teams that want a real finance partner rather than a deliverables vendor.
What reviewers praise
- +Calm, structured response under pressure
- +Strong investor and lender introductions
- +Clean handoff documentation for future hires
- +Direct, jargon-free communication
Where reviewers push back
- −Not a fit if you need daily bookkeeping
- −Best for teams ready to act on recommendations
Summary aggregated from public reviews, directory listings, and submitted client feedback.
Frequently asked questions
- What services does FocusCFO offer?
- FocusCFO typically covers fractional cfo, cash flow, financial systems. Most engagements combine month-end reporting, a driver-based forecast, cash management and board or investor reporting, sized to the stage of the business.
- How much does FocusCFO cost?
- FocusCFO works on a monthly retainer structure, with engagements starting around not publicly listed; retainer model. Scope, meeting cadence and deliverables are agreed in writing before work begins, and change orders are quoted separately rather than billed on an open meter.
- What stage of company is FocusCFO best for?
- FocusCFO is best suited to smb companies that need senior finance leadership but do not yet justify a full-time CFO. Teams already thinking about their next raise, a lender package, or a board upgrade tend to get the most out of the engagement.
- How quickly can FocusCFO start?
- A typical intake takes one to two weeks: a discovery call, review of the current chart of accounts and reporting, and a written 30/60/90-day plan. Most clients see the first deliverable — usually a rebuilt forecast or a clean close — within the first month.
- Does FocusCFO replace our bookkeeper or accountant?
- No. FocusCFO is a strategic finance advisor, not a bookkeeping service. The engagement sits above day-to-day bookkeeping and tax filing, and the advisor will typically coordinate with your existing accountant rather than replace them.
- Is FocusCFO available remotely or on-site?
- FocusCFO operates from Columbus, OH, USA and delivers most work remotely, with on-site or in-person availability for board meetings, investor pitches and lender negotiations when the engagement calls for it.
- How do engagements with FocusCFO typically end?
- Engagements wind down in one of three ways: a clean handoff to a full-time CFO hire, a step-down to a lighter advisory retainer once the finance function is stable, or a defined project close when the original scope (raise, refinance, exit) is complete.