Consulting Services for Small & Mid-Sized Businesses
Financial clarity and steady cash flow—without the overwhelm of managing it alone.
Two Lanterns Consulting helps business owners move from reactive, unclear finances to a calm, structured view of their numbers. Together, we build financial systems and operational habits that support a more profitable, stable company.
- Clarify where your cash is going and why
- Understand which parts of the business are actually profitable
- Create simple financial rhythms that fit your existing operations
Short, focused call to understand your business and determine if we’re a good fit.
“Most business owners I work with feel constantly behind on their numbers and unsure what’s actually driving their cash flow.
Once we put structure in place, they gain clear visibility and the confidence to make decisions without second-guessing everything.”
Maria — Founder, Two Lanterns Consulting
Primary Service
Fractional CFO Advisory
A structured, one-on-one advisory engagement where Maria becomes your financial thinking partner—helping you interpret your numbers, strengthen cash flow, and align operations with your goals.
What we work on
The Fractional CFO Advisory is designed for owners who want clear, actionable insight—without hiring a full-time CFO.
- Translate financial statements into plain language
- Identify where profit is gained or lost each month
- Clarify owner compensation, margins, and overhead
- Untangle messy or incomplete financial data
How the engagement works
- Initial review of your books, reporting, and cash position
- 90-minute strategy session to understand goals and constraints
- Monthly working sessions to review performance and decisions
- Email support for questions between sessions
Engagements are tailored to the size and complexity of your business, typically starting with a focused 90-day period.
Outcomes you can expect
- A clear, realistic 90-day profitability plan
- Simple dashboards for the numbers that matter most
- Improved cash flow visibility and runway planning
- Greater confidence in pricing, hiring, and investment decisions
Supporting Services
Targeted support to stabilize and strengthen your financial operations
Whether or not you move into a full advisory engagement, these services help you reset the foundations—so your books, cash, and reporting can actually support good decisions.
For businesses whose books have fallen behind or become difficult to trust. We review your existing systems, streamline workflows, and establish a clean, reliable financial baseline.
- Assess current bookkeeping and reporting tools
- Document who does what and when in your financial process
- Recommend practical improvements and automations
- Hand off a clear, documented financial workflow
Quarterly Financial Review
A structured quarterly review to step back from the day-to-day, understand what the numbers are telling you, and adjust your plans accordingly.
- Review revenue, margins, and operating expenses
- Highlight trends that need attention—positive or negative
- Discuss pricing, staffing, and investment decisions
- Capture a short, written summary of priorities for next quarter
Cash Flow Advisory
Focused support to understand, forecast, and manage your cash so you can meet obligations calmly and plan for growth with fewer surprises.
- Map timing of cash in and cash out across the month
- Design a simple, living cash flow forecast
- Create clear guardrails for spending and saving
- Establish a routine for monitoring cash each week
Systems-First Approach
Better decisions start with reliable systems and clear information
Two Lanterns grew out of a bookkeeping practice. That experience on the ground—inside messy books and imperfect systems—shapes how we work today. Rather than handing you abstract recommendations, we focus on building financial and operational systems that your team can actually run.
Every engagement blends three layers:
- Financial systems – how data is captured, categorized, and reported
- Operational workflows – who does what, when, and with which tools
- Decision-making rhythms – the meetings, check-ins, and habits that keep you aligned
The result is a calmer, more structured way to run the business—where your numbers become a tool you actually use, not something you avoid until tax time.
Simple, owner-friendly views of your numbers—no complex dashboards you’ll never open.
Defined responsibilities across you, your team, and any outside bookkeepers or CPAs.
Monthly and weekly rituals to keep books current and decisions grounded in data.
Practical recommendations for bookkeeping, invoicing, and payment tools that work together.
Next Step
Start with a calm, focused consultation
We’ll use this time to understand your business, your current financial setup, and what feels most urgent. From there, Maria will recommend whether Fractional CFO Advisory or a supporting service is the best next step—if we’re a fit at all.
There is no pressure to commit on the call. The goal is clarity—for both of us.
If you prefer, you can also email a brief overview of your business and current challenges.