As companies grow, things naturally get more complicated. More customers, more employees, more moving pieces, and more decisions that need to be made quickly. At a certain point, many leadership teams realize they’ve outgrown the systems and processes that got them to where they are.
That’s usually when an outsourced CFO comes in.
An outsourced CFO helps bring more clarity and structure to the business. That includes improving visibility into the numbers, tightening up forecasting and planning, creating accountability around goals, and helping leadership make smarter decisions as the company grows.
While every company is different, the first 90 days usually focus on three main phases:
- Understanding the business
- Building better structure
- Helping leadership reach clear priorities.
Disclaimer: The 90-day plan outlined below is intended to showcase the type of strategic support and execution Evergreen Advisors can provide for clients. As every client engagement is tailored to specific business objectives, priorities, and circumstances, this sample plan should not be viewed as a one-size-fits-all approach. We evaluate each client’s individual goals and develop customized strategies and deliverables accordingly.
Days 1–30: Understanding the Business
The first month is focused on learning how the business actually operates, not just what the reports say. This usually starts with conversations across leadership teams to understand:
- What’s currently slowing growth down
- Where the company stands out in the market
- How well the company is attracting and retaining customers
- Which parts of the business are running efficiently, and which are not
- Whether leadership has accurate, timely financial information
- How forecasting, budgeting, and cash flow are currently managed
- What long-term goals leadership is working toward
This phase is also about identifying gaps. In growing companies, it’s common for teams to make decisions using incomplete information or outdated processes. Reporting may be inconsistent, forecasting may be reactive instead of proactive, and different departments may not be aligned around the same priorities.
Early improvements often include:
- Cleaning up reporting processes
- Improving cash flow visibility
- Tightening forecasting
- Identifying operational bottlenecks
- Creating clearer ownership and accountability across teams
nsistent, forecasting may be reactive instead of proactive, and different departments may not be aligned around the same priorities.
This is also where larger conversations start happening around pricing, service offerings, operational efficiency, and how the company may need to evolve as technology and AI continue changing how businesses operate.
Days 31–60: Putting Better Structure in Place
Once the business has been assessed, the next step is building systems and processes that can better support growth.
A big focus during this phase is helping leadership get clearer visibility into how the business is performing and where attention is needed.
That often includes:
- Improving financial reporting
- Establishing KPIs and performance metrics
- Building better budgeting and forecasting processes
- Creating a more consistent operating rhythm for leadership
- Improving communication between finance and operations
- Developing scorecards to track progress against company goals
This phase also usually includes reviewing pricing models, contracts, and customer processes to make sure they still make sense as the company grows.
For example:
- Are pricing models scalable?
- Is there an opportunity to create more recurring revenue?
- Are contracts and SOWs standardized or overly customized?
- Does leadership have visibility into pipeline health and customer retention?
- Do teams know how to identify upsell opportunities or at-risk customers?
The goal is not to overcomplicate the business. It’s to create enough structure so leadership can make decisions faster and with more confidence.
Days 61–90: Executing Against Long-Term Goals
By the final phase, the outsourced CFO becomes more integrated into strategic decision-making and long-term planning.
At this point, the focus shifts toward helping leadership:
- Make more data-driven decisions
- Prioritize growth opportunities
- Improve profitability
- Allocate resources more effectively
- Build systems that can support future scale
- Prepare for future fundraising, lending, or transactions if needed
This phase also helps establish a more consistent cadence for running the business, including:
- Monthly financial and KPI reviews
- Weekly forecasting and cash flow discussions
- Quarterly operational and pricing reviews
- Annual planning tied to measurable business goals
An outsourced CFO also helps leadership think ahead. That includes building longer-term growth plans, evaluating hiring and compensation structures, improving accountability across the organization, and helping leadership understand what will create the most long-term value for the business.
What Companies Typically Gain After the First 90 Days
By the end of the first 90 days, the goal is not just cleaner financials. The bigger goal is helping leadership feel more confident in how the business is being run and where it’s headed.
That often includes:
Better Visibility into the Business
- More accurate reporting, clearer KPIs, and stronger insight into performance.
Stronger Forecasting and Cash Flow Management
- Better planning around growth, spending, and future decisions.
More Efficient Operations
- Cleaner processes, clearer accountability, and better alignment across teams.
A Stronger Foundation for Growth
- Systems and reporting structures that can support a larger, more complex business.
Clearer Priorities and Direction
- A better understanding of what matters most, where the business is constrained, and what needs to happen next.
Where Things Start to Get Clearer—and Easier to Run
An outsourced CFO is ultimately there to help leadership slow down enough to see the full picture, while still helping the business move forward. The first 90 days are about creating structure, improving visibility, and helping companies build a stronger foundation for long-term growth.
If you’re exploring whether an outsourced CFO makes sense for your business, reach out to our team to start a conversation.
