How to Choose Your First Overseas Warehouse Location
Choosing the right overseas warehouse location is one of the biggest decisions a growing business will make when expanding into new markets and it’s also one of the easiest to get wrong. Many years ago, working with an international hardware brand, we had a warehouse in the Northwest, but 90% of the customers were freighting […]
Vetting Overseas Suppliers – What I Learned Standing on Factory Floors in China
I’ve lost count of the exact number, but it’s somewhere around nineteen trips to Chinese manufacturing regions over the course of my career. Nineteen sets of jet lag, nineteen rounds of tea ceremony small talk before getting down to business, and nineteen opportunities to learn that almost everything useful about vetting overseas suppliers is invisible […]
Profit vs Cash Flow: Why Profitable Businesses Run Out of Money
I get this call more often than you’d think. Someone rings me, and they’re baffled. “Pauline, my accountant just showed me the year-end figures and we made a decent profit. So why is my bank balance sitting at almost nothing, and why did I have to ring the bank manager last month to ask for […]
Fractional CFO for Importers and Exporters: Why Contacts Matter More Than Spreadsheets
If you’re searching for a fractional CFO for importers and exporters, here’s the honest answer most advisors won’t give you: the numbers only tell half the story. The other half lives in your network. When clients come to me about scaling internationally, the conversation usually starts with numbers: margins, freight costs, exchange rates, lead times. […]
Why Revenue Growth Doesn’t Increase Profits
I’ve sat across the table from a lot of business owners who’ve just had their best year on paper. Revenue is up. The team is stretched but proud. And then they ask me, almost sheepishly, some version of the same question I’ve heard a hundred times: “Why isn’t my profit growing as fast as my […]
What Does a Fractional CFO Actually Do All Day? A Realistic Look for UK Business Owners
You’ve probably heard the term. Maybe a fellow business owner mentioned their “fractional or outsourced CFO” in passing, or you’ve seen it discussed in UK entrepreneur communities and startup forums. You nodded along, but the honest question lingering in the back of your mind is: what does that person actually do? It’s a fair question. […]
Do I Need a Finance Director? A Guide to Making Informed Business Decisions
Introduction When it comes to running a business, managing finances can be a complex and time-consuming task. From ensuring compliance with regulations with HMRC and Companies House, to maximising tax benefits, handling finances effectively is crucial for long-term success. One question that often arises is whether hiring an accountant is necessary. In this post, we […]
Strategic Financial Management for your Manufacturing Business
Running a manufacturing business is complex and keeping control of the finances is no exception. Although most manufacturing business owners understand the need for compliance and financial accounting, the benefits of strategic financial management may be less obvious. Manufacturing is a cash-intensive business and cash could be tied up in working capital for weeks or […]
What is a Portfolio Finance Director?
A Portfolio Finance Director (‘FD’) can be an integral part of a business. The Portfolio FD operates the same as a Finance Director but on a part-time basis. They create and control the budget to ensure that all financial targets and regulations are adhered to; whilst offering financial guidance and advice. Their main task is […]
Integrity
What Is Integrity? When it comes to your business, there is so much to think about when contemplating to outsource. You need to ensure that the person or company that you are outsourcing to has similar values and qualities that you and your business have. If you have different values, it could potentially be detrimental […]