Strategic advisory
Strategic advisory services for founders and CEOs
Senior financial and strategic counsel for the decisions that don’t fit a job description: plateaus, turnarounds, capital events and board conversations.
Built for$1M–$40M founder-led companies
CadenceWeekly or bi-weekly
From$5,000 / month
Reviewed by Calvin Wu, CPA (inactive) · Updated October 2026
In short
Senior, confidential counsel for founders and CEOs facing big decisions, led directly by Calvin Wu.
FormatRetainer, 60–90 day intensive
Onboarding90-minute structured session
ConfidentialityMutual NDA on every engagement
Pairs withFractional CFO, M&A, integration
Who it’s for
You likely need a strategic advisor if you recognize one of these
The performance plateau
Revenue has stalled and you can’t tell whether it’s a market, structure, pricing or leadership problem.
The high-stakes decision
A major investment, new business line, partnership or refinancing with asymmetric consequences.
The capital event
A raise, sale process or recapitalization where your numbers and narrative decide the terms.
The turnaround
Margins compressing and cash tightening, with no clear path to where you want to be.
The board or investor relationship
You want reporting and strategy that build confidence, not anxiety.
The scaling inflection
You’ve outgrown your org structure, finance infrastructure or leadership team.
What we work on
Seven domains of strategic advisory
| Domain | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Performance diagnosis | Revenue quality, margin decomposition, overhead benchmarking, pricing power, customer concentration |
| Financial strategy and capital allocation | Build vs. buy vs. partner, debt capacity, scenario models, cash conversion, ROIC by initiative |
| CEO decision support | Structured sessions, rapid analysis on time-sensitive calls, a second opinion on term sheets |
| Board and investor readiness | Board packages, meeting prep, investor update cadence, covenant monitoring |
| Turnaround and recovery | 13-week cash flow, cost prioritization, lender communication, a 30/60/90-day stabilization plan |
| Scaling the finance function | Gap assessment, CFO/controller hiring profiles, ERP evaluation, KPI dashboards |
| Exit readiness | Eight-dimension readiness review, QoE self-assessment, buyer positioning, 18–36 month plan |
Engagement structure
Three ways to work together
Advisory Retainer
Month-to-month with 60 days’ notice.
Investment$5,000–$10,000/mo
- Bi-weekly 60-minute sessions
- Support between sessions by email or message
- Documented decisions
Most comprehensive
Senior Advisory Retainer
Six-month minimum commitment.
Investment$10,000–$18,000/mo
- Weekly sessions
- Priority access between sessions
- Board and investor preparation
Intensive Engagement
A defined 60–90 day sprint.
InvestmentScoped
- Daily availability
- Structured weekly deliverables
- For fast-moving situations
Why CW Business Advisory
How our approach differs
| Typical alternatives | CW Business Advisory | |
|---|---|---|
| Financial rigor | Strategic narrative without the model | Every recommendation is financially grounded |
| Operating experience | Theory from consulting or academia | Built finance functions inside Hulu and Beats Music |
| Transaction fluency | Limited or sell-side only | Buy-side and sell-side across the deal lifecycle |
| Scale | Enterprise frameworks scaled down | Built for $1M–$40M from the ground up |
| Continuity | Rotating teams | One senior advisor whose context compounds |
FAQ
Strategic advisory questions
What is the difference between strategic advisory and a fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO is a recurring operational role that runs your financial function, reporting and forecasting. Strategic advisory is a senior counsel relationship focused on the biggest decisions and challenges the business faces. Many clients combine both: advisory sets the direction and the CFO engagement executes it.
How is this different from a board advisor?
Board advisors provide periodic governance input, usually quarterly. Strategic advisory is a working relationship with weekly or bi-weekly sessions, reactive support between sessions and financial context that deepens over time.
What situations is strategic advisory most useful for?
Performance plateaus with unclear causes, high-stakes capital, acquisition or restructuring decisions, board and investor communication, scaling inflection points, and exit preparation in the 18–36 months before a sale.
How quickly can you get up to speed?
Every engagement starts with a structured 90-minute onboarding session covering financials, organization, key stakeholders and the most pressing decisions. Most clients see substantive value by the second session.
Is the relationship confidential?
Yes. Every engagement is covered by a mutual NDA, and client situations are never discussed with other clients.
How much does strategic advisory cost?
The Advisory Retainer runs $5,000–$10,000 per month with bi-weekly sessions and support between sessions. The Senior Advisory Retainer runs $10,000–$18,000 per month with weekly sessions, priority access and board preparation. Intensive 60–90 day engagements are scoped individually.
Related services
Where this work often leads
Next step
Facing a decision that’s too big to get wrong?
Book a free advisory session. We’ll talk through the situation and whether a strategic advisory relationship is the right fit.
