As your agency grows past $500k… then $1M, you start thinking like a bigger business.
And that’s a good thing.
But one of the most common questions we hear from agency owners is:
“At what point should I hire a CFO?”
Here’s the honest answer:
Most agencies aren’t ready for a full CFO yet – but they are ready for financial clarity, structure, and guidance.
At Agency CPAs, we call that CFO Lite – a layer of strategic financial support built on a rock-solid accounting foundation.
If you’re wondering when your agency might truly need a CFO, start here:
Step 1: Get Your Books Clean – Every Month
You can’t make smart financial decisions without clean data.
The first step isn’t forecasting or cash flow modeling – it’s accuracy.
Our team ensures every transaction is categorized correctly, reconciliations are complete, and your books are closed on time every single month.
Without this foundation, everything else is guesswork.
Step 2: Build a Chart of Accounts That Makes Sense
Too often, agencies rely on the default QuickBooks chart of accounts that tells them nothing about their business.
We customize your chart so it reflects how your agency really operates – breaking out ad spend, in-house vs. freelance labor, and software tools.
When your chart of accounts matches your operations, you finally see what’s driving your margins and where your profits are going.
Step 3: Track Profit by Service or Client Type
A single bottom-line number doesn’t tell you much.
You need to know which parts of your business are truly profitable. We help agencies see profit by service line or client type – whether that’s paid media, design, dev, or strategy.
That insight helps you decide where to scale, where to improve, and where to stop wasting resources.
Step 4: Review Monthly Financial Reports (with Context)
At Agency CPAs, our clients never have to wonder how they’re doing – we tell them.
Each month, we deliver clean financials and highlight:
- What changed
- What’s trending
- What to watch
It’s your financial pulse check – so you’re always one step ahead instead of reacting after the fact.
Step 5: Have CPA Oversight to Catch Red Flags Early
Having a CPA review your numbers means experienced eyes are watching for problems before they become expensive.
We don’t just file taxes – we build systems for long-term financial health.
That includes avoiding IRS red flags, planning for taxes year-round, and spotting cash flow issues before they show up in your bank balance.
When You’re Ready for a CFO
Once your systems are clean, your data is reliable, and you’re consistently reviewing results – that’s when a CFO can truly add value.
A CFO helps you:
- Forecast growth and cash flow
- Model hiring and capacity
- Analyze margins by department
- Advise on fundraising or M&A
But without solid accounting and reporting in place, even the best CFO is flying blind.
That’s why at Agency CPAs, we embed CFO Lite support into every client relationship so you get strategic guidance built on clean, reliable numbers.
When your agency is ready to scale into forecasting, growth modeling, or acquisitions, we’ll help you level up your financial leadership.
Want to Know Where You Stand?
Let’s talk.
We’ll show you how close your agency is to being CFO-ready and what steps will get you there faster.
