What CFO Simplified does

CFO Simplified is a Chicago-based fractional CFO services firm founded in 2009 by Lawrence Chester, providing part-time Chief Financial Officer expertise to small and mid-sized businesses that cannot justify a full-time CFO. The firm targets companies with roughly $3 million to $75+ million in annual revenue across the greater Chicago region, with named clients spanning law, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, food and beverage, real estate, staffing, logistics, technology, and construction. Service delivery is primarily remote with on-site visits as needed, and the team is described as operationally-experienced veteran CFOs with 100+ years of combined experience across roughly seven total employees (including administrative support).

The product portfolio is organized around a core Fractional CFO engagement and extends into adjacent service lines: Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Management, Performance Tracking, Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Expense Control, Organizational Leadership, Operational Efficiency, Profitability Improvement, M&A Advisory, Succession Planning, and a one-to-two-day Deep Dive Strategic Analysis. Specialized verticals include dedicated Law Firm Services and a QuickBooks/Bookkeeping offering that the firm has been expanding via the acquisition of an existing accounting firm in Cary, IL. Underlying tooling is limited to standard ERP/QuickBooks expertise rather than proprietary software.

Commercially, the firm operates on a sales-led, quote-based monthly billing model with no publicly disclosed pricing. A dedicated Business Development Executive drives new client acquisition through networking, cold outreach, and a referral network of lawyers, bankers, accounting firms, business coaches, and private equity firms, supplemented by memberships in ICNC, The Hatchery Chicago, IMEC, and other regional business associations. Marketing channels include blog content, email newsletter, organic social, WGN Radio and podcast appearances, and PR coverage in outlets such as Crain's Chicago Business. The company is privately held, founder-owned, has no disclosed funding rounds, and does not publish revenue.

Name

CFO Simplified

Legal name

CFO Simplified

Website

https://cfosimplified.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CFO Simplified is a Chicago-based fractional CFO services firm providing part-time financial leadership to small and mid-sized businesses ($3-75M revenue) across the greater Chicago region, delivered by veteran CFOs through monthly engagements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fractional CFO Services

akta.pro primary industry

Outsourced Finance & CFO Services (BPAHABAE)

Keywords

• Fractional CFO services
• Part-time CFO consulting
• Financial consulting
• Small business financial advisory
• Cash flow management

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Fractional CFO Services: Providing part-time and fractional CFO services to small and mid-sized businesses. Services include financial reporting, cash flow management, strategic planning, budgeting, organizational leadership, and performance tracking. Work is delivered remotely with site visits as needed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CFO Simplified provides fractional and part-time Chief Financial Officer services to small and mid-sized businesses in the greater Chicago region. The firm delivers strategic financial leadership including cash flow management, financial reporting, budgeting, performance tracking, strategic planning, profitability improvement, and M&A advisory, executed by operationally-based financial executives with veteran experience across multiple industries.

Product overview

CFO Simplified is a financial consulting firm that provides fractional/part-time CFO services to small and mid-sized businesses. The company's core offering is its outsourced CFO services, which include Financial Reporting, Cash Flow Management, Performance Tracking, Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Expense Control, and Organizational Leadership. The service portfolio also includes specialized offerings such as Deep Dive Strategic Analysis (a comprehensive health check process), Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory, Succession Planning, Operational Efficiency improvements, and Profitability Improvement consulting. Additional verticals include Law Firm Services and QuickBooks/Bookkeeping Services. The company operates as a professional services firm rather than a software product company, delivering its services through experienced operationally-based financial executives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fractional CFO Services Outsourced part-time Chief Financial Officer services providing strategic financial leadership to small and mid-sized businesses, including cash flow management, profitability improvement, and financial statement visibility.
• Deep Dive Strategic Analysis One to two-day health check including analysis of financial reporting, month-end close process, operational review, workflow analysis, AP/AR evaluation, and cash flow assessment.
• Financial Reporting Generation of accurate, detailed financial reports providing an overview of business financials for informed decision-making.
• Cash Flow Management Strategic analysis and management of business cash flow using careful analysis to improve cash availability and fund operations.
• Performance Tracking Monitoring and tracking of business performance metrics to boost productivity and identify improvement areas.
• Strategic Planning Navigation of market conditions and creation of effective business strategies to help companies reach performance peaks.
• Budgeting and Expense Control Management of business expenses and development of optimal budgets using in-depth financial reports.
• Mergers and Acquisitions Advisory Strategic guidance and execution support for business acquisitions, divestitures, and mergers.
• Succession Planning Planning and execution support for business ownership transitions and leadership succession.
• QuickBooks and Bookkeeping Services Comprehensive bookkeeping and QuickBooks accounting services for small to medium businesses.
• Law Firm Services Specialized CFO services tailored for law firms and legal practices, including management of national and international income streams, partner buy-outs, and growth strategies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 72% sales volume increase in first year for hardware store client after cash management implementation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC)minorOthersCFO Simplified is a member of ICNC, a business incubator and economic development organization in Chicago. Larry Chester serves on the small business advisory council and volunteers his time to connect with blossoming owners and founders facing challenges. ICNC nominated Larry for the SBA Encore Entrepreneur of the Year award.
• Private Directors Association - Chicago ChapterminorOthersMembership in professional organization for private directors and fractional executives.
• The Hatchery ChicagominorOthersMember of The Hatchery Chicago, a food and beverage incubator supporting emerging CPG brands.
• Schaumburg Business AssociationminorOthersMember of Schaumburg Business Association supporting business networking in the Schaumburg region.
• Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of IMEC, an organization dedicated to helping manufacturers improve their operations and competitiveness.
• Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)minorOthersMember of IMA, a professional organization for accountants and financial professionals.
• The GOA (Governing Organizations Association)minorOthersMember of The GOA, a business membership organization.
• The FengminorOthersMember organization serving the business community.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Kreischer Miller: Mid-Atlantic and Chicago-area CPA and business advisory firm offering CFO advisory alongside tax and audit. Comparable on overlapping CFO advisory services and Chicago footprint, but operates as a broader professional services firm rather than a fractional specialist.

Direct peers

• FocusCFO: Fractional CFO services firm focused exclusively on small to mid-sized businesses across the U.S. Closely matches CFO Simplified's 'part-time CFO' positioning, target revenue band, and relationship-based engagement model.
• B2B CFO: National fractional CFO firm serving small and mid-sized businesses with part-time CFO engagements. Directly comparable to CFO Simplified on target customer (SMB/mid-market), service mix (fractional CFO, cash flow, reporting), and delivery model (senior advisors, project-based).
• CFO Centre: International fractional CFO provider with U.S. presence offering part-time CFO services to small and mid-sized companies. Directly comparable on service model, pricing approach, and target buyer profile.
• TGG Accounting: Chicago-based fractional CFO and outsourced accounting firm serving small and mid-sized businesses. Overlaps directly with CFO Simplified on geography, target client size, and the outsourced CFO + bookkeeping bundle.
• Warbird Consulting Partners: Fractional CFO and finance consulting firm focused on private equity-backed and mid-market companies. Comparable to CFO Simplified in delivering senior finance leadership on a part-time/interim basis, though tilted toward PE-backed clients.

Emerging players

• Paro: AI-enabled marketplace matching companies with fractional finance and accounting talent. Comparable in attacking the same outsourced CFO/finance use case, but uses a technology-driven matching platform rather than a traditional professional services firm.

Broad incumbents

• Anders CPA + Advisors: Mid-sized regional CPA and advisory firm offering outsourced CFO services to growing companies. Comparable on fractional CFO delivery and target SMB/mid-market clients, but bundled within a broader tax, audit, and wealth advisory practice.
• BDO USA: Top-tier global accounting and advisory firm with a CFO advisory / outsourced finance practice serving mid-market companies. Overlaps with CFO Simplified on outsourced finance leadership, but competes from a much larger scale and full-stack service portfolio.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Large U.S. accounting and advisory firm with dedicated outsourced CFO and finance leadership services for middle-market private businesses. Competes for the same $3-75M revenue clients as CFO Simplified, but with substantially broader capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CFOSimplified
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCN14NICcJ2juI-D1YJkZOLw
• Facebookfacebook.com/CFOSimplified
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfo-simplified
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfosimplified

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CFO Simplified