Frequently asked questions

We give companies with $1M–$40M in annual revenue a complete outsourced finance team: bookkeeping, controller and fractional CFO services, plus strategic advisory, corporate development, M&A support, exit planning and post-acquisition integration.

Founder-led and owner-operated companies with $1M–$40M in revenue that have outgrown basic bookkeeping, want reliable monthly numbers and need senior financial judgment without hiring a full-time CFO. Our core industries are professional services, SaaS and technology, e-commerce, real estate and B2B.

No. We are based in San Diego and work remotely with companies across the United States. San Diego companies can learn more on our San Diego fractional CFO page.

• We learn about your business, goals and the decisions in front of you.
• We look at how your books, reporting and systems work today.
• We point out the biggest gaps and opportunities.
• We recommend the package or engagement that fits, and what it costs.

8am to 6pm Pacific, every day. You can also email calvin@cwbusinessadvisory.com.

Monthly packages start at $500 for sole-proprietor bookkeeping, $900 for Starter, $1,800 for Growth + Accounting, $4,500 for Controller and $8,500 for Strategic CFO. Strategic advisory retainers start at $5,000 per month, and M&A integration typically runs $10,000–$20,000 per month. Full details are on our pricing page.

Your fee depends on transaction volume, the number of bank and card accounts and entities, and the level of reporting you need. We confirm a fixed monthly fee in your proposal before any work begins.

Revenue is a good first guide:

• Sole-Proprietor Bookkeeping: under $500K in revenue.
• Starter: $500K to $2M.
• Growth + Accounting: above $2M.
• Controller: around $5M to $10M.
• Strategic CFO: when you need CFO-level guidance.

Yes: budgeting services ($2,500–$5,000 one-time, depending on complexity), an investor reporting pack with pitch decks and board materials ($500–$1,000 per month), and audit prep and documentation support ($250 per hour).

Yes. Many clients start with bookkeeping and move up to Controller or Strategic CFO as they grow, raise capital or prepare for an exit.

For most $1M–$40M companies, yes. A fractional team costs less than the salaries, benefits and turnover risk of an in-house accountant, controller and CFO. Our aim is not to be the cheapest service but the best value for Big 4-quality work.

Depending on the package: bank and credit card reconciliations, bill pay entry, AR and AP aging reports, expense reimbursements, and monthly financial statements. Higher packages add accrual accounting and monthly review meetings. See bookkeeping services.

QuickBooks Online and Xero, alongside tools such as Ramp, Bill.com, Brex, Gusto and A2X. If you are on spreadsheets or desktop software, we can move you to a cloud setup during onboarding.

Cash basis is simpler and suits many small businesses. Accrual basis matches revenue and expenses to the period they occur in, which lenders, investors and buyers usually expect. Our Starter package uses cash basis; Growth + Accounting and above support either.

Yes. Onboarding includes organizing and cleaning up your books before monthly service begins. We scope any catch-up work in your proposal.

Payroll processing, plus bonus and commission calculations, is included in the Controller package for up to 10 employees.

We keep your books tax-ready and work alongside your tax CPA, so year-end is a hand-off rather than a scramble. All packages include collaboration with your tax CPA.

A fractional CFO is an experienced chief financial officer who works part-time for your company. They handle forecasting, cash management, KPI reporting, budgeting, investor and lender communication and transaction support for a monthly fee instead of a full-time salary. See fractional CFO services.

• Bookkeeper: records and reconciles transactions.
• Controller: owns the monthly close, payroll, internal reporting and budget-vs-actual analysis.
• CFO: looks forward, covering forecasting, cash strategy, pricing, capital raising, lenders, investors and transactions.

Our packages build on each other, so you can add the next level when you need it.

Common triggers: cash feels tight despite growing revenue; you can’t tell which clients, products or channels are profitable; you are preparing to raise capital, add debt or sell; or investors, lenders or a board want better reporting.

A rolling, week-by-week projection of cash coming in and going out over the next quarter. It shows when cash will get tight, so you can time payments, collections, hiring and financing before a shortfall becomes a crisis.

Yes. Our fractional CFOs work alongside internal or external bookkeepers and your tax CPA, and adapt to your existing processes.

Yes. The Strategic CFO package includes pro forma modeling, investor reporting and working directly with banks and investors. For a specific raise, our corporate development service covers capital needs analysis, financial models, the investor narrative and data room preparation.

Ideally 18 to 36 months before you go to market. That gives you time to clean up the financials, reduce reliance on the owner and on key customers, and improve margins so buyers see a track record. See exit planning.

An analysis of whether a company’s reported earnings are accurate and sustainable. It adjusts for one-time items and owner expenses, and reviews revenue quality, margins and working capital. Sellers use it to find issues before buyers do; buyers use it to confirm what they are paying for.

Both. We help owners prepare for and navigate a sale, support buyers with due diligence, quality of earnings and deal structuring, and help integrate the business after closing through our M&A integration service.

Brokers and bankers run the sale process and find buyers. We focus on the financial work that drives the outcome: readiness, earnings quality, diligence, modeling and structure. We often work alongside your broker or banker.

Yes. In 2018, Calvin Wu guided a consumer e-commerce company through a successful exit. Read his bio.

In select cases, yes. We consider strategic advisory for equity, equity investments, and full acquisitions of profitable businesses with at least $250K in seller’s discretionary earnings (SDE). See partnerships.

Every engagement has a senior CFO-level point of contact, supported by our finance and bookkeeping team for the monthly close and reporting. Strategic advisory engagements are led directly by Calvin Wu. Meet the team.

We work in your cloud accounting system and connected tools, share reports and dashboards, and meet by video on a regular cadence, monthly for most packages and weekly or bi-weekly for advisory clients.

The Advisory Retainer is month-to-month with 60 days’ notice. The Senior Advisory Retainer has a six-month minimum. Intensive 60–90 day engagements are scoped individually.

Yes. Strategic advisory engagements are covered by a mutual NDA, and we never discuss one client’s situation with another.

Professional services, SaaS and technology, e-commerce, real estate and B2B companies. See industries.