Do I need a bookkeeper, a controller, or a CFO?

Most growing businesses need the work of all three roles, but very few need to hire any of them full time. A bookkeeper keeps your day-to-day records current. A controller makes sure those numbers are accurate and oversees your taxes and compliance, while a CFO uses the numbers to plan where the business goes next.

Many small businesses get all of this from one outsourced team instead of separate hires. At DBA, we call that team a Team of 3.

What does a bookkeeper do?

A bookkeeper records your transactions, categorizes income and expenses, and reconciles your bank and credit card accounts each month. Many also run payroll. Their job is to keep your records accurate and up to date, so your financial statements are ready when you need them. At DBA, this work belongs to your Client Service Manager, who is also your day-to-day point of contact.

What does a controller do?

A controller looks at the records the bookkeeper keeps and makes sure they're right. They oversee compliance, watch your filing deadlines and handle tax planning so you don't overpay. At DBA, your Client Controller prepares your annual tax return and looks for tax savings throughout the year.

What does a CFO do?

A CFO focuses on the future. They help you decide when to hire, how to price your services and how to manage cash flow as you grow. At DBA, your Client CFO meets with you every quarter to turn your goals into a plan, so big decisions rest on real numbers.

Which one does your business need?

If your books are months behind, start with reliable bookkeeping, since everything else depends on it. If tax time keeps surprising you or you aren't sure your numbers are right, you need controller-level oversight. If you're making decisions about hiring, pricing or growth without clear numbers, that's the work of a CFO.

Most owners recognize more than one of these at once. Hiring each role separately gets expensive quickly, which is why many businesses in the $2 million to $10 million range choose a fractional or outsourced team instead.

How DBA covers all three

With a Team of 3, each of these roles belongs to a dedicated person who knows your business. A payroll change goes to your Client Service Manager, while a question about whether you can afford a key hire goes to your Client CFO. You can reach any of them between meetings, too.

To see how this works in more detail, visit our Team of 3 page. You can also request a free business analysis, and we'll walk through your finances and what your team would focus on first.