12 signs you need a CFO
- Profit is up but cash is down
- You can't say which products, jobs or customers are most profitable
- You don't have a cash forecast beyond next month
- A bank, investor or board has asked for forecasts
- You're about to make a big hire, lease or capex decision
- Payroll tax or ATO debt surprised you
- Revenue has passed about A$2–3M
- You're expanding into another state or overseas
- You have multiple entities and no consolidated view
- Month-end numbers arrive after the 20th
- You're planning to sell in the next 3 years
- You're the only person who understands the numbers, or nobody is
Take the 60-second CFO readiness diagnostic
Frequently asked questions
At what revenue should I hire a CFO?
Many businesses benefit from CFO-level support from about A$2–3M in revenue. Full-time CFOs usually make sense above A$30–50M.
Can a small business afford a CFO?
Yes. AI-assisted CFO services start at A$1,500 a month.
What should a CFO do in the first 90 days?
Get the numbers right, build a 13-week cash forecast and budget, set KPIs, and identify the three biggest cash and margin opportunities.
Is it too late to hire a CFO if we're in a cash crisis?
No. It's when a CFO adds the most value, fast.