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The Operating View

The financial thinking behind the decisions that drive owner-operated businesses.

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Oil Went From $118 to $70 and Back. Your Pricing Didn’t Move.

Fuel, tariffs, and now rates moved this year. Most owner-operators held their prices. Here is what absorbing it costs, and the number to know.

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Tax Preparation Looks Back. Tax Planning Looks Ahead.

Tax preparation reports what happened. Tax planning shapes what happens next. Here’s why owner-operators who plan ahead keep more and get surprised less.

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Getting It Wrong With the Right Function

No financial leader gets every decision right. What the CFO function changes is how early a bad outcome is caught, and how much it costs the business.

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What a Controller Isn’t Built to Answer

A good controller keeps the books accurate. But hiring, expansion, and valuation are decision questions. Here’s why they belong to the CFO function.

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The Decision You Made Alone

Owner-operators make their biggest financial decisions without anyone to test them against. Here’s what that costs, and what changes when someone is in the room.

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Why the Modern CFO Role Outgrew the Traditional Title

Any business that makes financial decisions needs the CFO function. Here’s what it includes today, and why it has no revenue minimum.

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The Whitespace Nobody Is Talking About

Most fractional CFO firms serve businesses that already have financial infrastructure. Owner-operators from sub-$1M to $10M are left out. Here’s why that gap matters.

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What Owner-Operators Keep Teaching Me About Financial Decisions

Lessons from Stratovus founder Dan Vong on how owner-operators make financial decisions, where they get stuck, and what changes when the CFO function is in place.

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Before You Sign the Lease, Run the Numbers

A new lease is one of the largest commitments an owner-operator makes. Here’s what the monthly rent leaves out, and how to know the business can carry it before you sign.

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You’re Profitable on Paper. So Why Is Cash Always Tight?

A profitable business can still run short on cash. Here’s why profit and cash tell different stories, and what it takes for owner-operators to see a shortfall coming.

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The CFO Question Your Bookkeeper Can’t Answer

Bookkeepers and CPAs answer what happened. Decisions about hiring, growth, and value need the CFO function. Here’s why the distinction matters for owner-operators.

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