The Designer's CFO

Home
United States
Chattanooga, TN
The Designer's CFO

You design boldly. We make sure the money holds. | Founder, The Designer’s CFO READY TO LEARN MORE?

YOUR STRUGGLE: Managing the accounting of your architecture firm can be a challenge. You know you need to get the right processes in place to increase your profits and cash flow, but you just don't have the time. HOW WE HELP: We specialize in helping architecture and interior design firms increase profits and cash flow through Outsourced CFO and accounting services. We handle the accounting side of your business, allowing you to focus on handling everything else. Send us a message directly here in Facebook or our visit our website at: www.kathrynoneil.com

10/29/2026

Don’t pull your 2027 goals out of thin air!

Start with your actual 2026 numbers.

Here’s what to look at:

- Revenue: What did you actually bring in this year?

- Profit: How much did you keep after expenses?

- Expenses: Where did you overspend or where could you cut back?

- Cash flow: Which months were tight and which were strong?

- Best sellers: Which services or products made you the most money?

- Budget vs. actual: Where did you miss or exceed your targets?

Then use those numbers to set realistic revenue goals, build your budget, plan expenses, and forecast your cash flow for 2027.

Your 2026 numbers should help you decide what to do differently in 2027.

But you need accurate, up-to-date books to plan with accurate numbers, and that’s where we can help.

To learn more about our services, book a call using the link in our profile or comment “books” below.

10/28/2026

This has been our theme all month, and I mean it.

The designers who have the calmest holidays aren't the ones with the biggest studios. They're the ones who looked at their numbers in October.

They know where their cash is. They collected their W-9s. They checked their pricing. And they can close the laptop on December 20th and actually mean it.

That's what your CFO is for. Clarity first. Decisions second.

Comment NEWSLETTER and I'll keep the weekly money notes coming.

10/28/2026

Making sales is great, but do you know what your numbers are actually telling you?

Swipe to learn the numbers worth watching.

You don’t need to obsess over every number in your business.

But you should know the numbers that help you understand your profitability, cash flow, and overall financial health.

Need help keeping your books accurate and your financials up to date?

Book a call using the link in our profile or comment “books” below to learn more about our services.

10/28/2026

The main difference is fixing past mistakes vs. catching up on missing work:

Clean-Up Bookkeeping
Your books are up to date, but they may contain errors or inconsistencies. Clean-up can include:

- Correcting miscategorized transactions
- Fixing duplicate or inaccurate entries
- Reconciling account discrepancies
- Reviewing financial records for accuracy

Catch-Up Bookkeeping
Your bookkeeping has fallen behind and needs to be brought current. Catch-up can include:

- Entering months of missing transactions
- Reconciling past bank and credit card accounts
- Recording outstanding income and expenses
- Bringing financial reports up to date

Either way, getting your books in order means clearer numbers, better decisions, and less stress at tax time.

Not sure which one your business needs? Let’s talk!

10/27/2026

Okay, profit isn't really an opinion. But it can feel like one.

Here's the simplest way I explain it to designers.

Profit is the story your books tell over a period of time. What you earned minus what you spent.

Cash is what's in the bank right now. Today. The money that pays payroll on Friday.

You can have a great profit year and a scary cash month. That's not a contradiction. It's timing.

And design businesses have a lot of timing. Deposits come in, product goes out, invoices sit, trades get paid.

Once you see the timing, you can plan for it. That's what your CFO is for.

Comment NEWSLETTER and I'll send you my weekly money notes for designers.

10/27/2026

Not all business expenses are treated the same!

Some are everyday costs of running your business, while others are purchases that provide value over a longer period of time.

Knowing the difference matters because how an expense is recorded can affect your financial reports and tax liability.

Not sure your expenses are being recorded correctly? That’s where we can help!

Book a call using the link in our profile or comment “books” below to learn more about our services.

10/26/2026

Number 1 is the one that keeps designers up at night.

A big deposit lands and it feels like a great month. Then the project kicks off, the orders go out, and the deposit is already gone.

That isn't a spending problem. It's a visibility problem. Once you know where to look, the stress drops fast.

Which one hit home for you? Tell me in the comments. And comment NEWSLETTER if you want the full post Thursday.

10/26/2026

Ready to stop stressing about your bookkeeping?

We make it easy to get started and get the bookkeeping and financial support your business needs.

Book a call using the link in our profile or comment “books” below to learn more about our services.

10/24/2026

What’s ONE business task you would happily never do again?

Share it below!

10/23/2026

This takes 20 minutes. Maybe less.

Look at your P&L profit for the year. Then look at your bank balance. Big gap? Good. Now you know where to dig.
Add up the deposits you're holding for projects that haven't wrapped. That money isn't yours yet. Know the number.
Pull your unpaid invoices. Anything over 30 days gets a friendly nudge on Monday.

You don't need to fix everything this weekend. You just need to see it.

Clarity first. Decisions second.

Comment NEWSLETTER for a weekly email that makes this stuff simple.

Address

Chattanooga, TN

Website

https://www.thedesignerscfo.com/book-your-cfo-call

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Designer's CFO posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.