When the Business Needs a CFO Before It Can Afford One
In many businesses, the owner reads the financials and decides whether the business can afford the next truck or the next hire. The owner also negotiates with the bank and estimates whether cash will hold through a slow quarter. The bookkeeper records transactions accurately, and the outside accountant files the return.
As a result, prices get set without a clear view of margin by job or customer. A lender asks for a forecast, and nobody in the business has built one. Monthly reports arrive weeks late and describe a period the owner has already moved past. Each of these suggests the business may need financial leadership.
The obvious answer is to hire a CFO, but the numbers often do not support it.
S.M.A.R.T. Management treats this as a staffing decision with defined objectives. Before engaging anyone, list the financial or operating decisions you expect to make over the next two quarters that currently lack reliable information. Give each one a measurable outcome, such as a rolling cash forecast reviewed every Monday or margin reported by service line each month. Then estimate how many hours per month that work requires. If the workload is steady and close to a full workweek, hiring may be the better choice. If it amounts to a few days a month, a fractional leader may fit better, provided the engagement has a defined scope and a formal review after 90 days.
WEEKLY RECOMMENDATION
This Week's Pick: The I in Team
One of the ideas at the center of Positive Influence: Be the "I" in Team is that many of the obstacles leaders face are traps they set for themselves. An owner who overrules a new leader in public rarely intends to undermine them. It often happens in the moment, out of habit, because the owner has been the last word on every decision for years.
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Driving Purposeful Success
In this episode, Brian Smith explores the importance of aligning a company’s values with its day-to-day operations. The episode looks at how values can move beyond statements and become part of individual contributions, team dynamics, and operational decisions. For owners and leaders, the takeaway is that purpose becomes meaningful when it shows up in how people work, make decisions, and interact with one another. The episode also emphasizes reflection, accountability, and adaptation as ways to keep the organization’s actions connected to the values it says it represents.
SMB SIGNALS
81.9
the Conference Board's September Consumer Confidence Index which fell from 88.6 in August, its lowest level since 2014.
Q3 2026 Small Business Index
The Q3 2026 Small Business Index from Justworks and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that 71% of small businesses described their own business as being in good health, while 72% said they were comfortable with their cash flow. Only 27% rated the U.S. economy as being in good health, down from 40% a year earlier.U.S. Chamber's 2026 Empowering Small Business Report
The U.S. Chamber's 2026 Empowering Small Business report found that 41% of small businesses now use six or more technology platforms, up nine percentage points from 2025. The report also found that 84% plan to increase their use of technology over the next two to three years, while 66% now use AI, up from 58% in 2025.Citizens' Q4 2026 Business Pulse Survey
Citizens' Q4 2026 Business Pulse survey found that 54% of small-business owners expect revenue to increase over the next three months, the highest reading of 2026, while 83% plan to maintain or increase full-time headcount and only 3% expect to reduce it. The survey also found that 30% plan to increase technology spending, including AI, in the fourth quarter, up from 23% in Q3.
EVENTS
CO-100 Small Business Forum 2026 (Washington, DC - October 21, 2026)
The CO-100 Small Business Forum, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will bring entrepreneurs, business leaders, and innovators together at the Chamber’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, with a livestream available for virtual attendees.
WBE Canada National Conference 2026 (Toronto, ON - November 18-19, 2026)
The WBE Canada National Conference brings together women entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, buyers, and business decision-makers for two days focused on scaling women-owned businesses. The 2026 conference, themed “Boundless Opportunities,” includes business insights, networking, and opportunities to connect enterprise-ready businesses with potential buyers and partners.
MORE TO READ
2026 Small Business Findings (LinkedIn)
LinkedIn and Ipsos surveyed 300 U.S. small-business decision-makers at companies with 2-50 employees in early 2026. Referrals generated the most leads (41%), while 61% said customer or partner referrals produced closed deals last year.
Overtime Share
Most owners can tell when their crew is stretched, but may not know how much of their paid labor is overtime. Measuring that share helps distinguish a temporary surge in work from a recurring staffing shortage. The Overtime Share takes about 30 minutes to calculate.
WEEKLY INSIGHT
"The best leaders don't just adapt to change — they anticipate it and prepare their teams."
— SMART Advantage Team
