The European: Time to hire an A-team C-suite?

We’ll use a fractional C-suite until we can afford to employ”

…is something I hear often.

I understand why - historically, ‘access’ of an asset rather than ‘ownership’ has been badged as ‘temporary’.

Many see it as a pit stop on the way to the final destination 🏁

But I want to share with you something a business owner said to me last week which flips this perspective on its head …

“I only needed some help for 6 months to buy another business … yet my fractional CFO is still here … 6 years later”

Now I know most of you will read that and think … oh dear, that’s a weekend guest who outstays their welcome and never leaves! How can you move them on?!

But when I probed a bit more, I found it wasn’t like that at all … in fact quite the opposite.

It turns out the CFO did such an excellent job with the initial project and went above and beyond to share their expertise that the business owner just kept her on, project after project.

When she looked at the ROI - it was a no brainer.

She needs a CFO, but, realistically, not all the time… so fractional is perfect for her.

It isn’t a temporary solution. It’s the final destination.

What’s interesting is that it is actually the lack of an employment contract and the ‘independence’ of these C-suite professionals that makes these relationships so effective.

They choose to be there, they don’t ‘have’ to. There’s a big difference.

And if it’s not right for either parties, they leave. No lengthy and costly processes to part ways.

That’s the beauty of the model, it’s easy in and easy out.

What are your thoughts?

My latest article in The European magazine speaks to this. I'd love to hear your thoughts. You can subscribe for free using the link below:
🔗 https://lnkd.in/eaW55u9c