Fractional CFO Services for Growing Beverage, CPG Brands, and Manufacturing Companies

Is Growth Creating More Financial Stress Than Success?

Your brand is growing.
Sales are climbing.

But somehow, cash flow feels tighter than ever.

Sound familiar? You're not alone.

Growth in the beverage and CPG space brings unique challenges that most entrepreneurs aren't prepared for:

  • Customer payment terms stretching 60-90 days - while you need to pay suppliers in 30

  • Seasonal demand swings creating feast-or-famine cash cycles

  • Inventory management nightmares - too little and you lose sales, too much and you're cash-strapped

  • Complex cost structures making it impossible to know your true profitability per SKU

  • Financial reports that feel like reading a foreign language

  • Big decisions feeling like educated guesses instead of strategic moves

  • Trade spend eating your cash flow - Promotional investments tie up capital for months before returns hit

What if you had total clarity around your finances and a clear path to profitable growth?

Transform Financial Chaos
Into Strategic Advantage

Imagine having complete confidence in every financial decision. Picture cash flow that supports growth instead of strangling it. Envision the peace of mind that comes from knowing exactly where your business stands—and where it's headed.

That's the reality we deliver for companies just like yours.

When you partner with Flow CFO, here are the results you can expect:

    • Master the art of trade spend timing and forecasting

    • Navigate retailer payment terms without cash crunches

    • Build cash reserves that fuel growth instead of limiting it

    • Know your true margins by product, channel, and customer

    • Identify which SKUs drive profit and which drain resources

    • Make pricing decisions based on data, not guesswork

    • Forecast seasonal demands and prepare cash flow accordingly

    • Plan inventory investments that maximize ROI

    • Build financial models that support funding conversations

    • Get actionable insights from financial reports that actually make sense

    • Receive real-time strategic guidance on major business decisions

    • Access experienced CFO expertise without the full-time salary

Bookkeepers look backward.
Accountants manage compliance.
A Fractional CFO focuses on your financial future.

We're strategic partners who become embedded members of your leadership team, providing the financial expertise that transforms growing businesses into category leaders.

What Exactly Is a Fractional CFO?

Our Process

    • Develop 13-week cash flow forecasts tailored to beverage/CPG seasonality

    • Build financial models for new product launches and market expansion

    • Create trade spend strategies that optimize promotional ROI

    • Optimize working capital management

    • Implement systems for better inventory and cost control

    • Streamline financial processes as you scale

    • Monthly financial packages designed for CPG decision-making

    • Key performance indicators that matter to beverage brands

    • Real-time dashboards showing cash, inventory, and profitability metrics

    • Prepare investor-ready financial presentations

    • Build business cases for new market opportunities

    • Structure deals and partnerships with financial clarity

Why Beverage & CPG Brands Choose Flow CFO

Unlike generalist CFO services, we understand the unique financial challenges of your industry:

Industry Expertise That Matters

We know that trade spend can tie up significant capital for emerging CPG brands with limited reserves, and we help you forecast and manage these investments strategically. We understand how retailer payment terms of 30-90 days create cash flow timing challenges while you still need to pay suppliers upfront.

Beverage, CPG Brands, and Manufacturing Solutions

  • Seasonal Planning: Navigate the peaks and valleys of demand cycles with confidence

  • Trade Spend Optimization: Balance promotional investments with cash flow needs

  • Multi-Channel Strategy: Manage the complexity of retail, DTC, and wholesale channels

  • Inventory Intelligence: Right-size stock levels to avoid cash traps while preventing stockouts

  • Margin Mastery: Understand true profitability across products, channels, and customers

Proven Track Record

We've helped beverage and CPG brands:

  • Navigate successful funding rounds by presenting clean, investor-ready financials

  • Optimize working capital to free up hundreds of thousands in tied-up cash

  • Build sustainable growth strategies that don't sacrifice profitability

  • Successfully scale from startup to acquired by major brands

How It Works: Your Path to Financial Clarity

Getting started is straightforward:

Discovery Call (45 minutes)

Let’s have an honest conversation about your current challenges, growth goals, and financial situation. Together, we’ll uncover immediate opportunities for improvement so you leave with actionable insights—no pressure, just clarity on where you are and where you want to be.

Implementation (One Month)

If we're a good fit, we'll integrate with your team and start delivering immediate value:

  • Week 1-2: Financial systems audit and quick wins identification

  • Week 3-4: Cash flow forecasting and KPI dashboard setup

  • Month 2+: Ongoing strategic support and monthly business reviews

Ongoing Strategic Support (Months 2 and Beyond)

  • Monthly financial packages and business reviews

  • Real-time guidance on major decisions

  • Quarterly strategic planning sessions

  • Unlimited access for urgent financial questions

Ready for Financial Clarity and Confident Growth?

Stop letting financial uncertainty hold your brand back. Discover if partnering with Flow CFO is the right step for your business.

Let's start with a simple conversation—no pressure, just clarity.

Schedule Your Complimentary Discovery Call

During this 45-minute call, we will:

Discuss your biggest financial challenges and growth goals

Address any accounting concerns

Identify immediate opportunities for improvement

Determine if Flow CFO is the right fit for your business

Outline potential next steps

Ready to transform financial chaos into strategic advantage?

Book Your Discovery Call

About Flow CFO

Flow CFO is the fractional CFO practice of Shockley Financial, bringing decades of financial leadership experience specifically to the beverage and CPG industry.

We understand that your business isn't just about numbers—it's about the people depending on you, the customers you serve, and the vision you're building. That's why we don't just manage your finances; we become strategic partners in your success.

Our mission: To provide growing beverage and CPG brands with the financial clarity, strategic insights, and operational excellence needed to scale sustainably and profitably.

FAQS

Ready to stop letting financial uncertainty limit your growth?
Let's talk.

  • Bookkeepers record transactions, and accountants ensure compliance. We focus on strategy and growth. We help you understand what your numbers mean for your business decisions and future planning.

  • We typically work with beverage and CPG brands generating $1M-$50M in annual revenue. Our sweet spot is companies that have outgrown basic bookkeeping but aren't ready for a full-time CFO.

  • Minimal. After initial setup, we typically need 2-3 hours of your time monthly for strategic reviews. We handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on building your brand.

  • We're platform-agnostic and work with QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, and other major systems. We'll work with your existing setup or recommend upgrades if needed.

  • Most clients see immediate value from our financial health assessment. Meaningful cash flow improvements typically happen within the first 30-60 days.

  • We offer various service levels, from project-based work to full fractional partnerships. We'll find the right fit for your current needs and budget.

Client Success Stories

  • "We were growing fast but burning through cash faster. Flow CFO helped us understand where our money was really going. Now we have much stronger controls on our cash flow, and a roadmap to better margins with the accountability to get there."
    - Greg Hershner CEO of New River Brewing

  • "Our previous accounting firm produced months of inconsistent data that we couldn't rely on for investor meetings or internal decisions. Flow CFO fixed their mess and created accounting systems that produce reliable reporting. Now we finally have clean, trustworthy financials that give us confidence when making critical business decisions and presenting to potential investors."
    - Anthony Cadieux, CEO of CoAqua