Whenever former Boston Red Sox Manager Joe Morgan was questioned on why he made certain decisions in a game, his answer very often would be "six-two and even". This usually meant he didn't have a real reason for making the decision, he was just shooting from the hip.

Too many small business owners shoot from the hip. They simply don't have the information to make quantifiable, sound business decisions. A Part Time Chief Financial Officer provides the tools to avoid shooting from the hip. Through business forecasts and financial statements, the CFO can provide the small business owner the information that provides quantifiable guidance to the most commonly asked critical questions like:

• Will I have enough cash to get through a dip in my business and what kind of dip can I withstand without needing more cash?
• What will happen to my business if I invest in a new product line and what will be the impact on cash flow?
• What will happen if I maintain the status quo and keep doing business like I have been?
• Should I discontinue a product line and does dropping this line make me more profitable?
• Should I buy a truck or new piece of equipment? What will happen to my business if I try a new advertising campaign?
• I want to get involved in digital marketing. What investments need to be made in people, time and money and how does this impact the entire business?
• Should I add a location and can my business handle the additional investment in adding this location?
• What is the liquidation value of my business should I decide to discontinue my business?
• Can my business be more productive and are we operating at peak efficiency?
• Is there another business model that would be more effective?
• Should I add another employee or is that just going to build additional expense with very little benefit?
• Should I lay off staff and what impact will that have on the business?
• How do I evaluate sales performance?
• Is my overhead too high?
• Are my selling prices where they should be?
• Are my gross profit margins where they should be?

These are critical questions in business. Answers to these questions can make or break your company. A CFO for hire has the tools and the expertise to provide the quantifiable analysis that will make the answers to these questions much clearer. So the next time you have to answer any of the aforementioned questions, make sure your answer isn't "six-two and even".