Finance resources for business owners

Articles for SMEs

Discover leading insights from our fractional CFOs and finance experts at The Finance People. Use this advice to enhance your strategy, overcome common financial challenges within SMEs, or to better understand key areas of finance for business. 

Emily Cooper Emily Cooper

Top 5 Fractional CFO Firms in the UK 

Whether you're looking for a hands-on CFO to guide your next stage of growth in your business, or simply want to fill a finance gap quickly and effectively, these are some of the most trusted names in the space.

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Why SME Growth Stalls Without a Strategic CFO – and How to Fix It

For many SME leaders, the early years of business growth are marked by momentum, opportunity and a strong sense of possibility. But then – often unexpectedly – that growth starts to plateau. Revenue flattens. Profitability wavers. Teams feel stretched, and decisions start to feel reactive rather than strategic. In this article, we’ll explore why SME growth stalls and why a CFO is the fundamental difference between a scaling SME and a failing one. 

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Carly Smith Carly Smith

The true cost of DIY finances

When you’re building a business, there’s a certain pride in doing things yourself - plus, it’s cheaper when you’re getting started and you’re trying to save the pennies. From branding to operations, founders often wear many hats in the early stages. It’s scrappy, cost-effective, and gives you a sense of control. But when it comes to managing your company’s finances without a professional background, the risk can start to outweigh the reward.

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Carly Smith Carly Smith

Where Most SMEs Go Wrong with Fractional Experts

Many SMEs have a skewed perspective of working with fractional team members, or do not fully utilise the opportunities available to them. Here are the most common mistakes SMEs make when taking on fractional experts - and how to fix them.

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Carly Smith Carly Smith

The Changing Landscape of Hiring for SMEs

Hiring in 2025 looks very different from even five years ago. Traditional full-time employment is becoming less sustainable for many SMEs. This article explores the best alternative hiring strategies for SMEs in 2025.

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Carly Smith Carly Smith

How to Delegate Like a Pro in SMEs

Delegation is often heralded as the hallmark of great leadership. The ability to entrust tasks and responsibilities to others not only empowers your team but also frees you to focus on the bigger picture. Discover how to delegate like a pro.

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Carly Smith Carly Smith

Preparing Your SME for a Potential UK Recession in 2025

For SMEs, a recession presents unique challenges, from managing cash flow and retaining customers to cutting costs and identifying growth opportunities. However, with the right strategies, your business can not only survive but thrive during economic turbulence.

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Carly Smith Carly Smith

Top 10 Scale-Up Challenges – And How to Overcome Them

Scaling up a business is an exciting yet demanding stage for SME owners and managing directors. However, this growth often brings unique hurdles that can derail even the most promising organisations. Explore the top 10 scale-up challenges and discover actionable advice on how to navigate them.

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The Common Finance Mistakes SME Owners Make and How a CFO Can Help

Learn how to identify and avoid the most common financial mistakes business owners make. From budgeting and taxes to cash flow management, gain some insight into how you can strategically improve your businesses financial health, and how a Fractional CFO can navigate this with you to secure the future of your business.

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Carly Smith Carly Smith

When to Transition from a Fractional CFO to a Full-Time CFO

As your business evolves, so do its financial needs. Many SMEs find immense value in leveraging fractional CFOs or other fractional finance experts to manage their financial strategy and operations. However, there comes a point in the lifecycle of a growing business when transitioning to a full-time CFO becomes not just beneficial but necessary. Read now.

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Finance Advice, SMEs Carly Smith Finance Advice, SMEs Carly Smith

8 Finance-Related Problems SMEs Face 

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of many economies around the world. However, managing the finances of an SME can be challenging, fraught with hurdles that can impact their growth and sustainability. Explore 8 common finance-related problems that SME owners often encounter, how to better prepare and overcome them.

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