What the role covers
A cannabis CFO's job is different from a general one because tax consumes an unusual share of gross profit and capital is expensive. Priorities shift toward margin engineering, tax funding and disciplined capital allocation.
- Rolling forecast and scenario models tied to the live ledger
- Unit economics by product, category, license and facility
- Capital structure, lender relationships and raise preparation
- Board and investor reporting packages
- Expansion, acquisition and license-purchase analysis
- KPI framework and management reporting cadence
Forecasting in a market that keeps repricing
Missouri wholesale pricing has moved sharply since adult-use sales began, and a static annual budget stops being useful within a quarter. We run a rolling forecast that updates against actuals, with scenarios for price compression, yield changes and new competition in a given market.
The forecast carries a thirteen-week cash view alongside it, because in a 280E business the tax accrual and the cash available to pay it move independently.
Capital readiness
Lenders and investors in this industry underwrite on documentation quality as much as on performance. Clean books, an inventory position that holds up, a defensible tax accrual and a model that reconciles to the ledger materially change terms.
We prepare operators before the process starts: data room, historical normalization, forecast, and answers to the diligence questions that always come.
Growth and consolidation decisions
Whether to add a second retail location in the St. Charles market, buy a struggling license, or vertically integrate into cultivation are all capital allocation questions with a tax overlay. We build the model, stress it, and give a recommendation with the reasoning visible.
Frequently asked questions
How much time does a fractional CFO engagement involve?
Typically a set number of days per month, scaled to the business. Early-stage operators often start light and increase around a raise, an expansion or a transaction.
Do you work with our existing accountant?
Yes. CFO advisory sits above the accounting function and can be delivered alongside internal staff or an outside bookkeeper, though results are stronger when the underlying books are reliable.
When is it time to hire full time instead?
Usually once a group passes several licensed facilities or complex multi-entity financing. We help recruit and transition when that point arrives.
