My business is growing, and I'm starting to feel like I'm managing more finances than operations. Spreadsheets are getting confusing, and making strategic decisions feels like a gamble. I've heard about s as a scalable solution for SMEs, but I'm unsure about the practicalities. Specifically, I'd love to hear from other Australian business owners who've taken this step.

I'm especially curious about:

Timing: When did you know it was time to hire a Virtual CFO? Was it related to a specific revenue milestone, a growth phase, or just feeling overwhelmed?

Value: What was the most valuable outcome? Was it better cash flow management, strategic planning for an exit, improved profitability, or something else?

Logistics: How does the collaboration work day-to-day? Is it purely remote, and how do you integrate their insights into your existing team and accounting software?

Cost vs. ROI: For those comfortable sharing, what is the typical cost structure (e.g., monthly retainer), and how did you measure the return on investment?

Hiring a full-time CFO is a massive commitment, and a Virtual CFO seems like a flexible alternative to access top-tier financial strategy. Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated as I weigh this decision for my company's future.