From the numbers to the change
- Your numbers sayCash is tight, margin is flat, debtors are 20 days longer
- The cause underneathCash is stuck in receivables and one slow stock line
- What changesCollect, clear, reprice: three actions, not thirty
- What to expectCash released in weeks, margin in months
An illustration of how the thinking runs, not a client result.
The five parts of a plan that works
A one-page diagnosis.
What the numbers say and the cause we found, in plain language.
Cash first.
Actions that release or protect cash in the first 30 days: collections, stock, payment terms, lender conversation.
Margin next.
Pricing, mix, discounts, cost of goods, waste. These take longer but last.
Overheads last.
Cut only what the diagnosis shows is not earning its keep, and protect what produces revenue.
The scoreboard.
Five to eight numbers reviewed weekly. If a number is not moving, the plan is not working.
What 30, 60 and 90 days look like
| Window | Focus | Evidence you are on track |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 30 | Stabilise cash. Cash forecast live. Quick wins in collections and stock. Lender conversation prepared. | Cash is no longer a surprise. Overdue receivables are falling. |
| Days 31 to 60 | Fix the main margin cause. Reprice, change mix, tighten discount approval. | Gross margin stops falling and begins to recover. |
| Days 61 to 90 | Right-size overheads. Lock the new rhythm. Review lender position. | Operating profit trend turns. Monthly review runs without us. |
How we choose what goes in
Every candidate action is scored on three things: the cash it releases or saves, how fast it lands, and how likely it is to work given the cause we found. The actions with the best combined score go in. The rest wait. This is the discipline that keeps a plan short.
Business under pressure? Let a CFO read your numbers.
A senior CFO reads them with you and tells you what is really going on. No cost, no obligation.
What a plan should not be
- A list of everything that could possibly be improved.
- A set of targets with no owners.
- A document prepared once and never reviewed.
- A plan that lenders see but staff do not.
Try one number now
The cash runway calculator shows how many months you have to act, which decides how aggressive the first 30 days must be.
CFOAvatar complements every turnaround
A human CFO sees your business at the review. Problems do not wait for the meeting. CFOAvatar is connected to your accounting data and checks your numbers every day, so the scoreboard in a turnaround is always current. Ask it what an owner in trouble would ask:
What owners say after the numbers started talking
We now prepare monthly business plans that clearly show revenue, costs, and final profit. This has helped us plan better and avoid last-minute surprises.
Working with CFOSurge has truly transformed how we look at our business finances. They helped us set up monthly business plans right down to the bottom line, which has given us so much more clarity and control. Highly recommend them to any business looking to get a real grip on their numbers!
Quoted word for word from our clients. Read more client words →
Questions owners ask us
What is a turnaround plan?
A time-bound plan of specific actions to stabilise a struggling business and restore profit, with owners, dates and measures for each action.
Why 90 days?
Ninety days is long enough for cash actions to land and margin actions to start showing, and short enough to keep urgency. The plan continues beyond it.
What goes in a turnaround plan?
A diagnosis, cash actions, margin actions, overhead decisions, a 13-week cash forecast and a weekly scoreboard.
Can I use the plan with my bank?
Yes. Lenders respond better to a plan with numbers behind it. We help you present it.