Restore Control. Recover Profit. Build a Business That Performs.
When a business starts losing money, most owners do not need more reporting. They need control. At Authentic CFO Solutions, we work with companies that are under financial pressure and need immediate action on cash flow, pricing, margins, staffing, accountability, and profitability.
This is not passive advisory. This is hands-on turnaround support.
Best fit for companies that:
- Are at or near break-even, or losing money
- Need better cash visibility and faster decision-making
- Have margin erosion, pricing issues, or operational inefficiencies
- Need stronger financial leadership and management accountability
- Generate between $2M and $50M in revenue
When a Business Needs Turnaround Support
Most struggling companies do not fail all at once. They decline in patterns:
By the time the problem feels urgent, the business usually has multiple issues happening at once. That is where we step in.
Who This Is For
We only engage where there is a real fit.
Situation Fit
We look for businesses where:
- There is a genuine turnaround need
- The business is still operating
- Most customers are still intact
- The issues are serious, but fixable
- Debt and operating pressure are still manageable
Owner Readiness
Turnarounds only work when ownership is prepared to act:
- Acknowledging the real problem
- Being open to change
- Making hard decisions quickly
- Adjusting pricing if necessary
- Restructuring roles if needed
- Eliminating unprofitable work when required
Engagement Authority
For a turnaround to work, we need:
- Access to full financial data
- Access to key managers
- Clear decision-making authority
- A defined accountability structure
If the owner wants change but will not support implementation, the turnaround usually stalls.
Our 12-Month Profit Recovery Plan
Our turnaround process is built around four stages, followed by optional ongoing oversight.
Triage & Control
The first priority is immediate control. We identify the main financial risks, establish a weekly cash discipline, and create visibility around the decisions that cannot wait.
Focus Areas
- 13-week cash flow
- Weekly cash control
- Spending controls
- Critical receivables and payables
- Lender and vendor pressure points
- Profit leak diagnosis
- Weekly leadership accountability meeting
Outputs
- Immediate Control Plan
- 13-week cash flow
- Top required changes
- Weekly turnaround meeting in place
Stabilization
This stage is about stopping deterioration. The goal is to implement the changes needed to stabilize cash and stop ongoing profit loss.
Focus Areas
- Pricing changes
- Cost reductions
- Staffing and compensation adjustments
- Collections improvements
- Vendor and lender communication
- Weekly KPI and action tracking
Outputs
- Cost reductions implemented
- Pricing changes executed
- Cash stabilization achieved
- Weekly action tracker active
Recovery
Once the business is stable, the work shifts to rebuilding profitability. This is where disciplined execution matters.
Focus Areas
- Margin improvement by customer, service line, and operation
- Labour and asset productivity
- Weekly operating KPI review
- Named accountability
- Removal of waste and underperformance
Outputs
- Margin recovery plan in execution
- KPI-based management discipline
- Monthly profitability improvement reporting
Sustainability
The final stage is about making the gains stick. We install the financial and operating routines that protect performance after the turnaround period ends.
Focus Areas
- Reporting and accountability training
- Forecasting and budgeting discipline
- Dashboards and review process
- Internal ownership of controls and cadence
Outputs
- Financial Operating System
- Accountability cadence
- Profit Protection Plan
Profit Protection Oversight
After the core turnaround, some clients retain us for ongoing oversight.
Focus Areas
- Quarterly strategy review
- Monthly dashboard and financial review
- On-call support for major decisions
- Ongoing coaching for ownership or finance leadership
What Makes This Different
A turnaround does not improve because the numbers are cleaner. It improves because decisions get made.
Our work is built around:
We do not show up to observe the business. We show up to help change it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Book a Turnaround Assessment
If your business is losing ground, delay has a cost. The earlier the issues are identified and acted on, the more options you keep.
If you want a clear view of what is going wrong, what needs to change, and whether the business is fixable, the first step is a turnaround assessment.