Why Small Businesses Struggle with Growth, and How CFOs Keep Them from Burning Out

Every entrepreneur dreams of growth. It’s what gets most businesses off the ground, that spark of momentum, new customers coming in, bigger contracts, more attention.

But if that growth isn’t managed well, it quickly turns into a burden.

In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20% of small businesses fail in their first year and about 50% fail by their fifth. Often, it’s not because the product or service was flawed. It’s because the growth wasn’t sustainable.

Here’s the thing. When small businesses grow quickly, they tend to focus on keeping up with demand rather than planning for long-term success. Inventory is ordered in a panic. New hires are made without strategy. Expenses balloon. And worse, leadership starts making decisions based on next month’s cash flow instead of the company’s five-year trajectory. This short-term focus is one of the biggest traps for emerging companies. It's like flooring the gas pedal while ignoring the fuel gauge.

That’s where the right financial leadership can change the game. CFOs and Controllers aren’t just number crunchers. They are strategic partners. A Controller brings operational discipline and financial accuracy, helping businesses understand where their money is going and why. A CFO takes that data and transforms it into forward-looking strategies. Together, they create a roadmap that aligns growth with resource availability and helps ensure that expansion is grounded in reality.

Consider this: a 2023 survey by Deloitte found that 69% of CFOs play a critical role in shaping business strategy, not just financial reporting. That influence can mean the difference between scaling up and flaming out. With help from an experienced financial team, companies can forecast demand more accurately, manage cash flow with confidence, and invest in infrastructure that supports real and sustainable expansion.

At Procuris Consulting, we’ve seen firsthand how financial clarity transforms a business. When small companies bring in CFO and Controller support early, they build a foundation strong enough to weather uncertainty and smart enough to seize opportunity. Growth is exciting, but only if it leads somewhere worth going.