Articles
Tariffs, Trade Wars, and What Your Business Should Be Doing Right Now
Tariffs, Trade Wars, and What Your Business Should Be Doing Right Now: Lessons from the June 3 Ask the CFO Session with Lowell Mora
When it comes to tariffs and trade wars, one thing is clear: no one has all the answers. But during our June 3 “Ask the CFO” session, Lowell Mora didn’t aim to predict the unpredictable—he focused on the actions business leaders can and should take right now to weather tariff uncertainty and strengthen long-term resilience.
A Wake-Up Call for Vendor Strategy
Lowe…
How to Talk Price Hikes Without Losing Your Customers
Don’t Go Silent—Talk to Your Customers
Let’s be honest—no one likes delivering bad news, especially when it’s about rising costs. But if you’re feeling the pressure of tariffs, your customers probably are too. The worst move you can make? Going quiet.
In my experience, especially with small to mid-sized companies, too many leaders put off these conversations or try to absorb all the impact themselves. That leads to squeezed margins, strained operations, and resentment all aro…
Facing Tariff Pressure? Here’s How to Protect Your Margins
How to Cut Costs Without Cutting Corners
Let’s talk reality. Tariffs and trade disruptions aren't just headline news—they hit your bottom line fast. And while I’ve always believed you can’t “cut your way to growth,” there are smart, strategic ways to trim the fat and boost efficiency without putting your operations at risk.
Over the past few months, I’ve worked with multiple clients to protect margins by attacking costs with precision—not panic. What I’ve learned? Most busine…
Tariffs Are Changing Everything—Is Your Supplier Strategy Ready?
Navigating Tariffs: Why Supplier Diversification Is No Longer Optional
When tariffs hit, they don’t just impact your profit margins—they expose your operational vulnerabilities. One of the biggest? Overreliance on a single supplier or geography.
Too many businesses, especially in the $5–50M range, have “set it and forget it” supplier relationships. They’re working with the same vendor they’ve had for years, assuming that consistency equals safety. But when political tides shi…
Smart Vendor Strategy = Smoother Operations + Better Margins
Strengthening Your Supply Chain: Why Vendor & Supplier Management Is Key to Operational Excellence
In today’s unpredictable business environment, operational excellence isn’t just about running lean or hitting internal KPIs—it’s about building resilient systems that can adapt, flex, and scale. One of the most critical (and often underappreciated) areas for achieving this is how you manage your vendors and suppliers.
Whether you’re a manufacturer, distributor, or service provider, your ability …
Inventory, Pricing & Tariffs: What Every Business Needs to Watch Right Now
Thanks to everyone who joined me for the May 20th Ask the CFO! Whether you were on live or catching the replay, I’m always grateful for your time and engagement.
This session turned into a rich conversation that touched on three critical areas impacting small to mid-sized businesses today: inventory management, pricing and costing strategy, and the evolving landscape around tariffs and supply chains.
Let’s break down the big takeaways.
Inventory Optimization Isn’t Optional
I started our di…
Is Your Pricing Strategy Helping or Hurting Your Bottom Line?
Pricing & Margin Analysis: The Overlooked Lever of Operational Excellence
For many business owners, pricing is more gut instinct than strategy. You charge what the market seems to allow, adjust when competitors shift, and hope for healthy margins in the end. But here's the truth: without intentional pricing and margin analysis, you're leaving money—and stability—on the table.
Operational excellence isn’t just about cutting costs or improving efficiency. It’s also about knowing your value and p…
Are You Holding Too Much Inventory—or Not Enough?
Inventory Management & Optimization: Finding the Right Balance for Your Business
For many business owners, inventory feels like a moving target. Hold too much, and you tie up cash in product that collects dust. Hold too little, and you risk lost sales, delayed delivery, or missed production deadlines. Getting inventory “just right” isn’t just good operations—it’s a critical part of financial strategy.
As a CFO working with privately held and family-owned businesses, I’ve seen firsthand how inv…
Turning Numbers into Strategy: Highlights from May 6 “Ask the CFO” on Budgeting & Forecasting
This week’s Ask the CFO session focused on a topic that sits at the heart of operational success—budgeting and forecasting. While it might not be the flashiest topic in business finance, it’s one of the most essential tools for growth, decision-making, and long-term stability.
We kicked off the conversation by unpacking a common misconception: that budgets are restrictive or merely bureaucratic. In reality, a well-crafted budget serves as a roadmap, helping business owners set intentions for th…
Turning Uncertainty into Strategy: How Budgeting and Forecasting Drive Operational Success
Running a business comes with uncertainty—economic shifts, supply chain disruptions, unexpected expenses, and periods of unpredictable revenue. But the businesses that weather these storms aren’t lucky; they’re prepared. That preparation starts with a strong budgeting and forecasting process.
I’ve spent decades working with privately held and family-owned businesses, many of which operate without a real roadmap. They rely on instinct or past experience instead of a forward-looking plan. But i…
Categories
- News (1)
- family owned business (35)
- small business (18)
- small business, (7)
- financials (5)
- ebitda (1)
- it solutions (1)
- rpa (8)
- podcast (2)
- succession (7)
- legacy (8)
- debt (3)
- cash flow (4)
- budget (4)
- forecasting (3)
- askthecfo (6)
- succession (3)
- legacy (1)
- succession planning (1)
- business value (1)
- 13 week ca (1)
- operations (3)
- inventory (1)
- operations (3)
- supply chain (2)
- manufacturing (1)
- tariffs (6)
- pricing (1)
- customer (1)
- customer concentration (4)