What Founders Miss: Why Most Businesses Don't Need a Full-Time Controller

Here's a truth bomb that might save you tens of thousands of dollars: most founders don't need a full-time Controller.

I know, I know. You're probably thinking, "But every successful business has a Controller, right?" Wrong. That's exactly the kind of thinking that leads to hiring too early, spending too much, and creating overhead that actually slows down your growth.

Let's talk about what you actually need versus what you think you need.

The Full-Time Controller Trap

Picture this: You're growing fast, cash is flowing, and suddenly you think, "We need to get serious about our finances. Time to hire a Controller!"

So you post the job, interview candidates, and before you know it, you're paying $100,000-$120,000 a year (plus benefits) for someone to... wait, what exactly are they doing all day?

Here's the uncomfortable reality: unless you're doing $30-40 million in revenue with 150+ employees, you probably don't have enough complexity to justify a full-time Controller sitting at a desk every single day.

That doesn't mean your finances don't matter. They absolutely do. It just means you're solving the wrong problem with the wrong solution.

What You Actually Need (And It's Not What You Think)

Most founders get caught up in titles and org charts when they should be focusing on outcomes. Here's what your business actually needs to run smoothly:

• Cash Flow Forecasting 🧮

You need to know if you can make payroll next month. You need to see cash crunches coming before they hit. You need to understand seasonal patterns and plan for growth without running out of runway.

A full-time Controller might build you a fancy 13-week cash flow model... that sits in a spreadsheet and gets updated once a month. Meanwhile, you're making daily decisions without knowing where your cash really stands.

• Reliable Monthly Closes 📊

Your books need to be closed accurately and on time, every single month. No more waiting until March to see how December really went. No more "we think we made money" conversations with your spouse or investors.

But here's the thing: a solid monthly close process doesn't require someone sitting in your office 40 hours a week. It requires someone who knows what they're doing, has the right systems, and can execute consistently.

• Clear Reporting for Decisions 📈

You need reports that actually help you make better decisions. Not 47 pages of numbers that would make an MBA cry. Clean, clear insights about what's working, what's not, and where to focus next.

Most full-time Controllers get bogged down in daily operational tasks and never have time to create the strategic reporting that actually moves the needle.

• Someone to Keep Tax Compliance Clean ✅

Nobody wants a surprise tax bill or a letter from the IRS. You need someone making sure quarterly payments are handled, deadlines are met, and you're not missing deductions that could save you thousands.

Again, tax compliance doesn't require full-time attention for most businesses. It requires expertise applied at the right times throughout the year.

Quick reality check: expecting one Controller to cover everything from transactional accounting to monthly closes, strategic reporting, and tax compliance is a lot to pile on one person. It takes a team. With JOLT's fractional controller services, you get that whole-team experience in one package — transactional accountants, controller-level oversight, and tax pros working together so nothing slips through the cracks. If you've been trying to make one hire do it all, you're not alone.

Why Fractional Makes More Sense (For Most of You)

Think of it this way: you wouldn't hire a full-time surgeon to live in your house just because you might need medical care. You'd call one when you need one.

The same logic applies to financial expertise. Here's why fractional controller services actually work better for most growing businesses:

You Get Senior-Level Expertise Instead of hiring someone junior who can afford to work for what you can pay, you get access to someone who's been there, done that, and seen it all. They've closed books for companies 10x your size and know exactly what works.

You Get Better Systems Fractional controllers work with multiple clients, so they know what best-in-class looks like. They're not reinventing the wheel for your business – they're implementing proven processes that already work.

You Get Faster Results Here's something nobody talks about: full-time hires often move slower because they have all day to do everything. Fractional controllers are efficient by necessity. They show up, execute, and move on to the next priority.

You Get Flexibility Need extra help during year-end close? Done. Growing fast and need more strategic planning? Easy. Slow quarter and want to scale back? No problem. Try doing that with a full-time employee.

When You Actually Do Need Full-Time

Look, I'm not anti-full-time Controller. There are definitely times when it makes sense. You probably need someone full-time when:

• You're doing $40M+ in revenue with complex operations

• You have multiple entities, international operations, or intricate compliance requirements

• You need someone managing a team of 3+ accounting staff

• You're in a heavily regulated industry requiring daily oversight

• You're preparing for an IPO or major acquisition

If any of those describe your business, then yes, go hire that full-time Controller. But if you're a $2M, $5M, or even $15M business with straightforward operations, you're probably solving an airplane problem with a rocket ship.

The Real Cost of Getting This Wrong

Let's do some quick math. A full-time Controller costs you roughly $100,000 all-in (salary, benefits, payroll taxes, office space). With JOLT's fractional controller services, you can get the full team for less than 40% of that $100,000, and you still get the expertise across transactional accounting, controller oversight, and tax compliance.

That same $100,000 could buy you:

• Professional fractional controller services for 2-3 years

• A solid accounting system implementation

• Tax planning that actually saves you money

• Cash to invest in growth initiatives that actually drive revenue

Which option sounds better for a growing business?

Plus, here's what nobody mentions: if you hire the wrong full-time Controller (and trust me, it happens), you're stuck. You've got to go through the whole termination process, start recruiting again, and hope the next person works out better.

With fractional services, if it's not working, you adjust the scope or find a better fit. No drama, no HR headaches, no unemployment claims.

Making the Smart Move

Here's my advice: start with fractional controller services and scale up only when you have genuine full-time needs. Most businesses find that fractional services actually give them everything they need at a fraction of the cost.

The key is finding the right partner – someone who understands your industry, uses modern systems, and can grow with you as your needs evolve.

At JOLT Strategies, we've worked with hundreds of growing businesses, and we've seen this pattern over and over. Companies that start with the right fractional support tend to grow faster and more profitably than those that over-invest in full-time roles too early.

What This Looks Like in Practice

So what does good fractional controller support actually look like? Here's what we deliver for our clients:

Monthly: Clean books closed by the 15th, management reports that highlight key trends, cash flow projections updated for the next 13 weeks.

Quarterly: Tax planning conversations, deeper analysis of profitability by product or service, strategic recommendations based on what the numbers are telling us.

Annually: Tax preparation that maximizes deductions, annual planning sessions, system improvements to make everything run smoother.

All of this gets done by senior-level professionals who know your business, understand your goals, and care about your success. And you pay a fraction of what you'd spend on a full-time hire.

The bottom line? Stop trying to solve your financial management challenges by throwing a full-time salary at them. Start with fractional expertise, get the systems and processes right, and scale up only when your business truly needs dedicated daily attention.

Your cash flow will thank you, your growth will accelerate, and you'll sleep better knowing the right expertise is handling your finances – without the overhead that slows down everything else.

Ready to see what proper fractional controller support looks like? We'd love to show you what's possible when you get the right expertise at the right time for the right price.