Which Financial Hire Would Save You the Most Headaches Right Now?

Paul Whitley
3 days ago
2 min read

Let’s be honest: You didn’t start your plumbing business, HVAC crew, or general contracting firm so you could spend weekends sorting receipts or wondering if your estimator's numbers are solid. But as your trades business grows, the money side of things gets more complicated and urgent.

Still, hiring the wrong financial role can be worse than hiring no one at all. You burn cash, waste time, and still don’t get the clarity you need to run your business confidently.

At C-suite Support, we help founders in the trades right-size their financial leadership — so they hire smarter, save more, and grow faster.

Here’s how to figure out the right Financial Hire for your business.

Bookkeeper: The Data Organizer 🧾

Who it's for: You’re buried in receipts, invoices, and reconciling headaches.

What they do: Record transactions, reconcile accounts, and make sure your books are clean for taxes.

What they don’t do: Offer strategic advice or forecast cash flow.

Signs you need one:

You’re behind on invoicing or vendor payments
You don’t trust your numbers
Tax season is a panic attack

✅ A bookkeeper is the first hire for any trades business doing more than $250K/year.

Controller: The Accuracy Enforcer 📊

Who it's for: You’ve got someone doing the books, but you need clean, reliable financials to guide decisions.

What they do: Manage reporting, enforce internal controls, and ensure accuracy.

What they don’t do: Create long-term financial strategies or fundraising plans.

Signs you need one:

You're not sure your P&L reflects reality
You need job costing reports you can trust
Cash flow surprises are killing your momentum

✅ A controller helps you stop flying blind as you scale past $1M/year.

CFO: The Strategic Advisor 🧠

Who it's for: You’re making six- or seven-figure bets and need real financial strategy, not just clean books.

What they do: Build forecasts, manage risk, optimize cash flow, and help you use financial data to grow.

What they don’t do: Reconcile accounts or run payroll.

Signs you need one:

You’re growing fast, but unsure if it’s profitable growth
You want to open another crew or location
You’re looking to exit or attract investment

✅ A fractional CFO gives you this firepower without the full-time cost.

“No clue — help!” 🤷

If all this sounds like a foreign language — or you feel like you might need some of all of the above — you’re not alone.

Most trade business owners wait too long to get financial support, and when they finally do, they hire the wrong person for the job. That misstep can cost tens of thousands in mistakes and missed opportunities.