The 16 Drivers of Getting Back on Track A Fractional CFO’s Framework to Regain Focus, Revenue & Cash Flow After Disruption

When life disrupts your business, clarity becomes your greatest advantage.

Whether it’s surgery (like the two hip replacements I just recovered from), a family emergency, burnout, or something unexpected—life happens. And when it does, your ability to stay on top of your business often takes a hit.

The hard part isn’t the setback.
It’s the comeback.

Getting back on track after being away - physically, mentally, or strategically - requires more than brute force or catching up on 100 unread emails. It requires focus on the right financial and operational levers that actually move the needle.

That’s where the 16 Drivers come in.

In my Fractional CFO practice, we use this framework to help business owners refocus, recover, and regain control after any interruption. These drivers touch every part of your business - revenue, profit, cash flow, and operational resilience.

Start by reviewing this checklist. Identify what’s slipping. Then prioritize what to fix.

You don’t have to fix everything. Just the right things.

The 16 Drivers of Revenue, Profit & Cash Flow

Use this checklist to diagnose what’s off - and what to fix first.

Revenue Drivers – Are you still set up to grow?

1. Lead Generation
   Are you consistently bringing in new qualified leads - or did marketing fall off?

2. Conversion Rate
   Are sales conversations leading to closed deals? Is follow-up slipping?

3. Pricing Strategy
   Have you reviewed pricing lately? Are you priced for value and margin?

4. Client Retention
   Are you keeping your best clients - or seeing churn creep in?

Profit Drivers – Are you protecting your margins?

5. Gross Margin
   Are rising costs or discounts cutting into your profitability?

6. Delivery Efficiency
   Are you delivering products or services without rework, delays, or hidden costs?

7. Client Mix
   Are the majority of your clients profitable and aligned with your strengths?

8. Overhead Control
   Are recurring expenses still justified - or have they bloated during the slowdown?

Cash Flow Drivers – Are you in control of inflows and outflows?

9. Billing Timeliness
   Are invoices going out quickly, clearly, and consistently?

10. Collections Process
    Are outstanding invoices being followed up on - or aging quietly?

11. Expense Timing
    Can you time or delay any large expenses to manage cash better?

12. Available Credit
    Do you have access to short-term capital or credit if needed?

Operational Resilience – Can your business run without you?

13. Owner Dependence
    What broke down while you were out? Are you still the bottleneck?

14. Team Capacity
    Is your team stretched too thin—or unclear on priorities?

15. Systems & SOPs
    Are key processes documented, or stuck in someone’s head?

16. Visibility & Metrics

If this checklist helped you realize that your business is missing structure, strategy, or support - it might be time to bring in a Fractional CFO.

We help business owners do three things exceptionally well:

·         Get financially organized

·         Prioritize the right next moves

·         Build a business that runs without chaos - even during personal challenges

Let’s talk about how we can help you rebuild momentum with clarity, confidence, and a plan that works.

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Cash flow isn’t just about tracking numbers—it’s about understanding the levers you can pull to drive financial stability and long-term success. With the right cash flow strategies in place, you gain control, confidence, and the ability to scale without financial uncertainty. Let’s implement a cash flow system that works for you, not against you.

Power Your Success, by booking a Right Fit call today!