5 Common Questions about Working with Lighthouse Advisory Answered

Maybe you just stumbled across this blog and are getting to know me. Or, maybe you’ve been following me for a while and weren’t sure if I could possibly help your business grow. I hope this blog post helps you understand how I help and if I may be the right fit for you.

This all started a few weeks ago when a business owner reached out with some questions about working with me. I had a realization that other business owners could have the same questions. While I love participating in 1:1 networking and my free introductory calls, I thought that if I took the time to record our conversation it could answer those questions for you and when we meet, we can focus more on your business. 

You can watch the video of our conversation below, otherwise, I summarize our discussion below for easy reading! I hope this answers your questions, and you feel ready to go ahead and schedule our initial call.

 

5 Questions to Ask Your Potential CFO 

One of the best parts of my job is when a business owner lights up during one of our meetings and says, “Thank you for explaining that to me and not making me feel stupid!” Guess what, you are NOT stupid. We all have our strengths and I’m here to help you with the financial side of your business. I’m always happy to answer questions and help you feel confident in reaching your goals. 

 

1. What are some signs a business owner needs your help? 

This depends on your business, but a few common signs are if you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or taking a reactive approach to finances. 

Do any of these apply to you?

  • Overwhelmed by financial reports or struggling to understand them.

  • Maybe you keep financial data outside of a system.

  • You’re reacting to situations instead of following through on a plan.

  • Tax time feels stressful.

  • Have plans or goals for expansion, but not sure where to begin.

  • You aren’t sure which of your products/services are most profitable.

2. What is an expense analysis? 

This wonderful piece of financial planning includes a clear guide on where your money comes in and where your money goes out. 

Do you need any of these?

  • Breaking down your business spend, understanding your COGS (cost of goods sold) vs CODB (cost of doing business)

  • Reviewing detailed transactions by category, looking for hidden fees, overlapping services, or subscriptions that are no longer needed.

  • Prioritizing the importance of recurring costs to determine ways to quickly cut costs if the business is bleeding money

3.  If I need your help, what are the next steps? 

Now that you’ve been overwhelmed with all the financial support you need, where do you even begin? I have a simple process for walking you through the next steps. 

It’s all about having a conversation! We’ll talk through the challenges or barriers you’re facing. I’ll recommend a consulting package to meet your needs. Remember, my initial consult is always free because it’s important to make sure engaging with each other makes sense for both of us. 

4. How do you support me after auditing my business? 

My consulting packages are always a full year so that we set ourselves up for success. I’ll have enough time to fully analyze your business and you have time to fully implement recommendations. Each month, we’ll meet to discuss your financial results, any ongoing projects, and to talk through the evolving priorities of your business.

5. I'm worried about the investment... how will I know I'm ready? 

If you’re really serious about reaching that next level, I’m confident that we can find a package that will work within your budget. The cost of the investment should be more than covered by the improvements you’ll see in your profitability and efficiency.

Finding a Trusted Financial Partner for Your Business

I hope this blog post provided you with insight and clarity into how I can help you implement a strategic plan for your business and achieve your biggest goals. We all have our gifts and talents to share with the world and mine is helping small businesses succeed! I’d love to get to know you through my free introductory call. If you’re not quite ready to chat but would like to stay in touch, I highly recommend joining my mailing list!