Bringing in outside financial leadership can feel like a leap, partly because it’s hard to picture what actually happens once you say yes. Will it take months to get going? Will your team be buried in questions? Will you see anything for the money?
Here’s how it works at Crown CFO, step by step, so there are no surprises.
Step 1: The Initial Assessment
We always start with listening and looking, not with changes. The initial assessment takes no longer than 20 hours and has three parts:
- We review your financials, to see where the business really stands
- We meet with the key people, because the numbers only tell part of the story
- We review your processes, to see how things actually get done day to day
This is how we learn your business before we start recommending anything.
Step 2: A Prioritized List
From the assessment, we put together a list of priorities, the things we’ve found that we believe we can help you address. It’s a working list based on what we saw, not a generic checklist.
Step 3: Reviewing It Together with the CEO
Next, we sit down with the CEO and walk through the assessment. Then we prioritize the potential actions together. You know your business, your people, and your goals, and we bring the financial perspective. The final priorities are shared, not handed down.
Step 4: Setting the Scope
Two things decide how much time we put into your business: how urgently you want these priorities completed, and your budget. Our on-site time typically looks like one of these:
| On-Site Time | Tends to Fit When |
| Half day a week | Priorities are important but not urgent, or budget is tighter |
| One day a week | Our typical engagement when you want real momentum |
| Two days a week | There’s real urgency and complexity to match |
Since we bill by the hour, there’s no flat retainer. You’re paying for the time we actually spend, and the scope can change as your priorities do.
Step 5: A Weekly Cadence
Once the scope is set, we establish a weekly rhythm to work through the priorities. It’s simple on purpose: a regular time on site, regular check-ins, and steady progress on the list, so things keep moving instead of waiting for a monthly meeting.
What We’re Aiming For
Our goal is to add positive value right away, and to deliver a significant return on what you’re investing. That’s why we start with the priorities we believe we can actually move, rather than long projects that take a year to show anything.
What We Ask of You
- Access to your financials and key information
- A little time with the people who run the business
- Honest input on what matters most, and what’s urgent
- Willingness to act on what we find
That last one matters most. The return comes when the recommendations turn into changes.
Curious What This Would Look Like for You?
Every business starts from a different place, so the specifics will look different for yours. If you’d like to talk through how an engagement might work for your company, we’re happy to walk you through it, no pressure. Contact us here or send an email to Kerry George at kerry@crowncfo.com.