Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about fractional CFO services, financial strategy, and working with eCommerce brands scaling from $3M to $100M+
Limited partnerships available for 7-9 figure brands

CFO Services for eCommerce Businesses

A Fractional CFO is a senior financial executive who works part-time with your eCommerce business to provide strategic financial leadership. Unlike traditional accountants who focus on compliance and tax preparation, a fractional CFO helps you make forward-looking decisions about cash flow, profitability, inventory management, and scaling strategies.
For eCommerce businesses doing $3M-$100M+ in revenue, a fractional CFO bridges the gap between basic bookkeeping and having a full-time CFO on staff. We focus on profit optimization, cash flow management, and creating financial systems that support sustainable growth.

Virtual CFO: Provides financial reports, insights, and advisory services remotely. They analyze your data and give strategic recommendations but aren't deeply involved in day-to-day operations.

Fractional CFO: Gets intimately involved with your business operations and data. Beyond reports and advice, they implement financial systems, work directly with your team, and actively manage your financial strategy. They become part of your leadership team.

The right choice depends on your business stage. Companies in "financial purgatory" (successful but stressed) typically need fractional CFO services to build proper systems and escape reactive decision-making.

Bookkeepers record transactions and maintain accurate books. Accountants prepare tax returns and ensure compliance. CFOs provide strategic financial leadership and forward-looking guidance.

Traditional accountants are historians, they tell you what happened. CFOs are strategists, they help you plan what's next. For eCommerce businesses, this means understanding metrics like True Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Lifetime Value (LTV), contribution margins, and inventory turnover that accountants typically don't track.

eCommerce has unique financial challenges that traditional accountants don't understand:

  • Inventory cycles that affect cash flow
  • Digital marketing spend that requires specific understanding of eCommerce analytics, nCAC, nMER, LTV
  • Platform dependencies (Amazon, Shopify, Facebook) that create risk
  • Real-time data needs for fast-moving decisions
  • Subscription and repeat purchase models that require LTV calculations
  • Accurate reconciliation of payouts to include all data that tells the story of your business. The devil is in the details.

Most accountants tell you to "spend less on ads" without understanding that advertising is the lifeblood of eCommerce. We understand both finance and digital marketing, ensuring your financial strategy supports profitable growth.

Working with The eCommerce CFO

Over the last decade, I've worked exclusively with 8 and 9-figure eCommerce brands, helping them optimize financial systems, improve cash flow, and scale profitably.

Recently, I've also created specialized programs for 7 and 8-figure brands so that you can access the same strategic financial guidance that's typically reserved for much larger companies. This means you get enterprise-level CFO expertise while you're still building toward that next growth phase, preventing the "financial purgatory" that traps so many successful businesses.

You work directly with me, not an outsourced team. No bait-and-switch.

I provide comprehensive financial leadership services designed to transform eCommerce businesses from profit-bleeding chaos to strategic financial clarity. My approach focuses on three core areas: building owner-first financial architecture that works for you (not just your P&L), creating margin and cash flow intelligence so you understand exactly where money flows in your business, and developing operational foresight and resilience to protect everything you've built.

Services include strategic financial leadership and planning, real-time cash flow management, profit optimization and margin analysis, financial forecasting and scenario planning, exit preparation, financial systems implementation, and Profit First methodology specifically adapted for eCommerce businesses.

During our free clarity call, I'll assess your business stage and recommend the right level of support.

  • Communication happens through dedicated Slack channels for direct access
  • Depending on your service level, you'll have monthly or weekly strategic calls
  • Financial reports are either delivered by the 3rd week of each month or in real time
  • I provide personalised videos to walk you through your numbers and key insights

I don't just give advice, I implement systems and work alongside your team to create lasting change.

I've built and scaled four eCommerce brands myself, plus run a digital marketing agency. I understand both finance and marketing, and the critical gap that usually exists between them.

Most CFOs come from corporate backgrounds with understanding of the financial theory and don't understand eCommerce as they haven't got their hands dirty in the practicality of running their own business or have felt the emotion behind placing that big inventory order. My background in actuarial science gives me the analytical foundation, but my hands-on eCommerce experience means I understand the real-world pressures you face.

Most accountants don't understand digital marketing. I bridge both worlds, ensuring your financial strategy supports profitable scaling, not just compliance.

Profit First and Financial Strategy

Profit First flips the traditional formula from Sales - Expenses = Profit to Sales - Profit = Expenses. You allocate profit first, not last.

As a former Certified Profit First Professional, I've adapted this methodology specifically for eCommerce. The traditional model uses blended industry benchmarks that don't work for fast-moving eCommerce brands with inventory cycles and ad spend fluctuations.

My eCommerce-specific approach factors in:

  • Inventory purchasing cycles
  • Digital marketing spend patterns
  • Seasonal revenue variations
  • Platform fee structures
  • Shipping and fulfillment costs

Cash flow is the #1 killer of profitable eCommerce businesses. We create systems to:

  • Separate cash by purpose so you're not mentally lumping inventory money with ad spend or tax reserves
  • Map inventory cycles to prevent cash crunches during reorder periods
  • Model ad spend scenarios to understand cash impact before scaling
  • Build cash reserves specific to your business model and risk factors
  • Create forecasting models that show cash position 90 days out

Beyond basic P&L metrics, eCommerce businesses need to track:

  • True Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) by channel and campaign
  • Lifetime Value (LTV) with realistic retention curves
  • Contribution Margin by product and category
  • Inventory Turnover and days of stock on hand
  • True ROAS accounting for fulfillment and fees
  • Cash Conversion Cycle from purchase to collection

Most accountants don't track these metrics. We make them central to your financial dashboard.

Investment and Results

Investment varies based on your business size and needs. If you're looking for a cheaper CFO then I am not the right fit for you.

My guarantee is simple: I'll help you recover more profit than you invest in my services, making the decision to work together an obvious win.

We'll discuss what's right for your situation during your free clarity call.

Most clients see immediate results within 90 days:

  • Profit leak identification often saves 5-15% of revenue
  • Cash flow optimization eliminates expensive financing
  • Marketing efficiency improvements of 20-40%
  • Inventory optimization frees up working capital

One client discovered their accounting software was duplicating sales entries, costing hundreds of thousands in unnecessary taxes. Another found their inventory wasn't even appearing on their balance sheet, hiding 32% more profit than reports showed.

Absolutely not. That's my job. I translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights you can use to make confident decisions.

My approach is: Simple systems scale. Complex systems fail.

Getting Started

No, the earlier I come on board the more profit we can save. You do need to have a bookkeeper.

You might need CFO services if you're experiencing:

  • Strong revenue but unclear profitability
  • Cash flow stress despite good sales
  • Not paying yourself a consistent wage
  • Difficulty making confident scaling decisions
  • Reliance on accountants for strategic insights
  • Fear of placing large inventory orders
  • Uncertainty about true marketing ROI
  • Working 60+ hours while feeling financially lost

If you're in "financial purgatory", successful but stressed, CFO services can transform your business clarity and confidence.

Click the Apply Now button to book your free Financial Clarity Strategy Call. We'll review your current financial structure, identify profit leaks, and create a custom roadmap for your business.

I only work with 10 eCommerce brands per month to ensure exceptional results. When spots are full, you'll join a waiting list for the next opening.

 

Yes! Visit our Results Page for detailed case studies showing how we've helped eCommerce brands:

  • Recover hundreds of thousands in duplicate accounting entries
  • Discover hidden inventory assets increasing profit by 32%
  • Eliminate high-interest inventory financing
  • Transform loss-making customer acquisition into profitable growth
  • Build substantial cash reserves without increasing revenue

About Judith Hobdell

I bring 17 years of finance experience plus hands-on eCommerce expertise:

  • Co-founded 4 successful eCommerce brands
  • Ran a digital marketing agency serving eCommerce clients
  • Former Certified Profit First Professional
  • Endorsed by Mike Michalowicz (author of Profit First)

This combination means I understand both the financial and operational realities of scaling eCommerce businesses.

Direct. Strategic. Empowering.

  • DISC Profile: D/C (Decisive, detail-oriented)
  • Myers-Briggs: INTJ-A (Strategic, confident)
  • Core Values: Communication, Accuracy, Simplicity, Integrity, Transparency, Evolve

I cut through confusion with plain English, no jargon. I'm here to build your financial capability, not create dependency.

Click the Apply Now button to book your free Financial Clarity Strategy Call. We'll review your current financial structure, identify profit leaks, and create a custom roadmap for your business.

I only work with 10 eCommerce brands per month to ensure exceptional results. When spots are full, you'll join a waiting list for the next opening.

Ready to Stop Guessing and Start Growing?

Stop leaving profit on the table. Start building the financial foundation your growth deserves.

Limited partnerships available for 7-9 figure brands

Contact Us

The eCommerce CFO

30 N Gould St #54191, Sheridan, WY 82801

Contact Us

The eCommerce CFO

30 N Gould St #54191, Sheridan, WY 82801

©The eCommerce CFO 2025
All Rights Reserved

Do you know your true Breakeven CAC?

Enter your details to unlock instant access to my calculator, no guesswork, no fluff.