Benefits of Outsourced CFO Services

Every business needs financial consulting, but not every business can afford a full-time CFO. That is why, these days, many small and even some medium-sized businesses are turning to professional outsourced CFO services.

The job of the outsourced CFO (also known as a virtual CFO) entails a range of business financial services, from auditing the expenses of various departments to choosing the best accounting software for the company. They are also highly valued for special circumstances, like getting a company through a cash flow crunch or helping to secure a certain loan. In addition to CFO Services, some experts are able to offer unclaimed property reporting solutions – these fields are highly relevant.

Why So Many Turn To Virtual CFO Services

Across the world, with increasing frequency, services that used to be handled in-house by most companies are being outsourced to specialty companies. There are a number of major reasons why outsourcing to a business financial consultant makes for the best ROI:

• Cost Reduction: One thing a virtual CFO could tell you right off the bat is that they are already saving you money. Besides the $120,000+ salary a typical CFO would generally get for compensation, it is simply more efficient to receive services without adding personnel and technological resources.
• Quality of Services: One thing that can be assured for all successful virtual CFO services; these people are professionals. They have worked with various industries and know what works across the board.
• Allows Better Focus: It is very important for businesses, especially small businesses, to pay attention to their core competency. There is little more detrimental to a new company than trying to overreach beyond the bounds of what they know.
• Larger Pool of Experts: Enlarging your pool of experts helps companies, across the board. Many larger businesses have the capacity to employ a large number of accountants, but accounting firms are still often preferred means of managing finances.
• Large Projects: One of the chief reasons that medium sized businesses outsource a CFO for a relatively short interval of time is to help them through either a tough financial time, a major change in law, or obtaining a large loan or grant. Also, a virtual CFO finds that mergers, acquisitions, and business closings are prime times when a company needs the expert help of someone who has been through such a situation before.
• Overall Efficiency: An outsourced CFO services company is generally going to be far more efficient when it comes to meeting the deadlines and other requirements of a variety of projects. They have experience with nearly any situation, and you never have to wait for the learning period to end before they can move ahead with any particular service.

Outsourced CFO Consulting Is Not Just For Small Businesses

It is, however, not only about the relative affordability of outsourcing your CFO services. Even larger businesses that can pay a full-time (or are in fact paying a full-time CFO) still seek the services of a virtual CFO.

Expanding the expertise of your financial departments is important for all businesses, regardless of size. As virtual CFO Manny, from the Baltimore based CFO Consulting company, PortalCFO.com, says, “CFO consulting allows your growing company to benefit from decades of knowledge and experience, allowing you to avoid the common mistakes made by typical business owners on a daily basis. Through the process of strengthening your business financial profile, you will reap all of the advantages that come along with a strong banking relationship as well as long-term fiscal stability.”

Letting You Get Back To Business

It is always best to let people work in their core competency, and as many small business owners soon learn, starting a company based on a good idea does not free you from doing the finances, even if you are ultimately unprepared or largely unwilling.

The real benefits of outsourcing CFO services revolve around letting companies compete only in the areas in which they are experienced. Even the best and the brightest know that they cannot handle everything, and it is always important to have people with experience. That is what you gain from outsourced CFO services; years of combined and varied experiences, at a fraction of the cost.

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