Frequently Asked Questions
These are the questions owners ask most often before working with CFO Enrollment. If you don’t see your question here, you’re always welcome to ask directly.
General Questions
What exactly is CFO Enrollment?
CFO Enrollment is a monthly, CFO-led financial system for owner-operated businesses. It combines clean bookkeeping, structured monthly reporting, and CFO-level guidance so you can make informed decisions about cash flow, pricing, and growth.
Who is CFO Enrollment a good fit for?
CFO Enrollment is built for serious owner-operators who want structure and clarity, not just someone inputting transactions. That includes:
- Service-based businesses (cleaning, consulting, trades, wellness, cafés)
- Creatives and studios (production, content, small agencies)
- Nonprofits and community organizations
If you care about being audit-ready, tax-ready, and able to sleep at night about your numbers, you’re likely a good fit.
Do you only work with businesses in Los Angeles?
No. CFO Enrollment is based in Los Angeles but can support clients remotely, as long as we can securely access your accounting system and financial documents.
How the subscription works
How does the subscription process work, step by step?
The subscription is designed to be straightforward and calm. The typical flow looks like this:
- 1. Clarity Call: We talk about your business, your current books, and your goals.
- 2. Assessment: You grant secure access to your accounting system so I can review the current state.
- 3. Recommendation: You receive a clear recommendation (Starter, Core, cleanup project, or a mix).
- 4. Proposal & Agreement: We agree on scope, starting price, and timing; you sign a simple engagement.
- 5. Onboarding & Cleanup: If cleanup is needed, we handle that first, then move into monthly rhythm.
- 6. Monthly Rhythm: Each month, books are closed, reports are prepared, and we review what matters.
The goal is to take you from “I’m not sure what’s going on” to “I know where we stand and what to do next.”
Is this a long-term contract?
The subscription is structured as an ongoing monthly service. I generally ask new clients to commit to the first three months as a practical runway:
- Month 1 – Stabilize and structure
- Month 2 – Set rhythm and build clarity
- Month 3 – Begin real decision support
After that, service continues monthly. If you ever need to pause or change your level of support, we simply talk through it and plan a clean transition.
How does billing work?
Monthly services are billed at the beginning of each month for that month’s work. One-time cleanup or pro forma projects are typically billed with an upfront deposit and a milestone or completion payment, depending on scope.
Can I upgrade or adjust my plan later?
Yes. Many clients begin at the Starter level, then move into Core once their books are stable and they’re ready for more strategy. We can adjust your plan as your needs and capacity evolve.
What if I need to pause the subscription?
Life and business both happen. If you need to pause services, we’ll agree on a reasonable transition date so we can deliver a clean final set of books and reports.
Services & Scope
What’s the difference between Starter and Core?
Starter – Compliance focuses on clean, accurate books and standard reports:
- Monthly bookkeeping and reconciliations
- Chart of accounts maintenance
- Audit-ready & tax-ready financial statements
- Quarterly review call
Core – Clarity & Growth includes everything in Starter and adds:
- Monthly CFO call
- Cash flow planning and simple forecasting
- Pricing & margin review
- Basic KPI dashboard
- Quarterly “what-if” planning
What is a one-time cleanup project?
A cleanup project is a focused engagement to bring your books current and accurate. It’s often needed if:
- You’re behind several months or more
- Your reports don’t match your bank or tax returns
- Multiple people have touched the books and the structure is inconsistent
Once the cleanup is complete, you can either continue with monthly support or use the organized books with your existing team.
What are Pro Forma Financial Statements & Pricing for Profit?
Pro forma financials and pricing for profit help you see the future impact of your decisions before you lock them in. This service can include:
- Projected income statements for 6–24 months
- Revenue and cost assumptions tailored to your business
- Pricing and margin analysis for key services or offers
- Breakeven and “what would it take?” scenarios
It’s especially useful when launching a new offer, opening a location, changing prices, or planning for growth.
Do you offer payroll, bill pay, or invoicing services?
In some cases, I can help you set up or refine these processes and systems. Day-to-day processing (like running payroll every week or sending every customer invoice) may be handled by your internal team or another specialized provider. We’ll clarify roles during the assessment.
Messy books, tech, and readiness
My books are a mess. Is it too early to talk?
No — that’s actually the best time to talk. Many clients come in with scattered spreadsheets, incomplete QuickBooks files, or no clear system at all.
The first job is to see what you have, decide what can be salvaged, and build a realistic plan for cleanup and structure.
What accounting software do you work with?
I primarily work with cloud-based systems commonly used by small businesses (for example, QuickBooks Online and similar tools). If you’re on something different, we’ll discuss what you’re using and whether it’s practical to stay or shift.
Do I need to switch software to work with you?
Not necessarily. If your current system can support clean, structured data, we can usually stay with it. If it’s working against you, we’ll recommend a transition plan that makes sense for your capacity.
How do you access my financial information securely?
Access to your accounting system and financial documents is handled through secure logins and shared portals. We’ll walk through the safest way to grant access during onboarding, based on your tools and comfort level.
Working with your CPA or tax preparer
Do you replace my CPA or tax preparer?
No. CFO Enrollment does not replace your CPA or tax professional. Instead, I focus on the monthly financial systems and clarity that support your tax filings, compliance, and long-term decisions.
Will you work with my existing CPA?
Yes. Many clients keep their existing CPA for tax filings and higher-level tax strategy. I collaborate with them by providing clean books, clear reports, and timely responses to their information requests.
Can you help me if I don’t have a CPA yet?
Yes. We can help you get your books in order first, then discuss what type of tax professional or CPA relationship would be appropriate for your size and complexity. If needed, I can help you think through what to look for.
Money, pricing, and value
Are the prices on the site starting points?
Yes. The prices listed for Starter, Core, and cleanup projects are starting rates. Your final fee depends on factors such as transaction volume, number of accounts, entities, and the complexity of your operations.
How do you think about “pricing for profit” in your work?
Pricing isn’t guesswork — it’s math plus reality. When we look at pricing for profit, we focus on:
- Your real cost to deliver each service
- Margins by service or product line
- Capacity and constraints (time, staff, cash)
- What has to be true for the price to be sustainable
The goal is to arrive at prices that support the profit you need, not just what “feels right” in the moment.
What kind of results should I expect?
Every business is different, but most owners experience:
- Cleaner, more reliable numbers each month
- Less anxiety about taxes and audits
- Clearer insight into which services are pulling their weight
- More confident decisions about spending, hiring, or growth
The biggest shift is often emotional: moving from “I’m guessing” to “I understand what’s happening and what to do next.”
Still have questions?
If something here sparked a question, that’s a good sign. Let’s talk through your situation and see if CFO Enrollment is the right fit.
Schedule a Clarity Call