Highlights from "Navigating the Legal Minefield: Critical Legal Issues Every SMB CFO Manages"

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), enacted July 4, 2025, restores immediate expensing for domestic research and experimental costs. For qualifying small businesses, this creates both retroactive refund opportunities for 2022-2024 and go-forward tax savings starting in 2025.

The Top 10 Effects of OBBB Tax Law on Small Businesses

by Gardner Oleson, CPA Technology and General Business Practice Leader In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, CFOs and CEOs of startups and small firms rely on financial analytics to transform raw data into strategic insights. By integrating dashboards, scenario planning, and real-time KPIs into your finance function, you can make faster, smarter decisions that unlock growth. Here are some key points to consider. REAL-TIME DASHBOARDS & KPIs Consolidate data from accounting sys

by Kevin Sarney, CPA Life Sciences Practice Leader Taking a company public through an IPO is a significant milestone, but it also introduces a new set of financial reporting responsibilities. Many firms, after the initial excitement of going public, find themselves unprepared for the rigorous quarterly reporting requirements mandated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). At Charles River CFO (CRCFO), we specialize in providing fractional finance services to su

Why Startups Are Turning to Fractional CFOs, Controllers, and FP&A Specialists to Scale Smartly by Gardner Oleson, CPA Technology and General Business Practice Leader In today's fast-paced technology landscape, startups scale–sometimes rapidly–with lean teams and limited resources. Financial leadership is crucial, yet hiring a full-time CFO or building an in-house finance department may not be feasible. This is where fractional finance professionals—such as CFOs, controllers,

Recently, Jack McCullough, CFO thought leader, author, Founder and President of The CFO Leadership Council, and member of Charles River CFO’s Advisory Board, presented his perspectives for 2025 to our team. 1. Economic Landscape and Policy Outlook CFO optimism is rising with confidence projected to reach 2021 levels (StrategicCFO360). Pro-business policies at the federal level including lower corporate taxes and deregulation may boost growth. Global trade risks persist and su

Join us for our quarterly "CFO Call" Webinar Series Wednesday, November 13, 11:30 AM -12:30 PM EST With 2025 fast approaching, now is the time to address two important topics that may be on your planning horizon. First, we will review key considerations and a suggested timeline of actions if you are planning a potential public offering. Additionally, we will provide an overview of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's (FinCEN) new Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) f

Three Key Challenges for Review this Fall As we approach year-end insurance renewals, it's crucial to review three important areas: Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance, clinical trial insurance, and cyber insurance. Early planning ensures your firm is prepared for upcoming changes and challenges. 1. Directors and Officers Insurance D&O insurance has experienced substantial changes since 2020. According to S&P Global, premiums increased by 38% in 2021 and 41% in 2022. Whil

With last week's solstice announcing summer, some adhere to tradition by leaping over bonfires for protection throughout the year. However,

Understanding potential tax-saving strategies is crucial. One such strategy is the Massachusetts Security Corporation (MA Security Corp).

Seven areas of expertise an insightful CFO brings to a small business.

As a CEO, the decision to hire a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is pivotal in shaping your company's financial trajectory and overall success. When interviewing a potential CFO candidate, consider their professional experience, strategic outlook, and vision for the role. Here are five key topics to raise in an interview and what to anticipate from their responses: 1. Professional Experience and Track Record: Look for a seasoned CFO with a robust background and a track record o

Join us for this webinar panel to learn financial and legal insights for tech and life science businesses.

In our 20+ years of working with clients, a senior CFO has improved these companies’ fundability, operating health, and exit value.

A new U.S. compliance law is mandatory for many businesses to provide Beneficial Ownership Information. Are you ready?

by Kevin Sarney, Life Sciences Practice Leader Taking your firm public is a significant milestone, opening up new opportunities for raising capital. However, the process can be complex and time-consuming, requiring careful planning and execution. In the US, there are three common routes to public listing. The fourth route, utilizing a SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Corporation) is not as popular in the last two years. OPTIONS 1. The first option is a traditional Initial

And Why Every Entrepreneur Should Know About It by James Crane, Tax Services Practice Leader The C Corp doesn't get much attention. In my experience with our clients, it is not well known. While many entrepreneurs gravitate towards and are best suited with an LLC or S Corp corporate structure, understanding the uniqueness of a C Corp as an alternative is important. Let me start by sharing two profiles that may be appropriate for a C Corp structure. The first is a high-income

5 Tips for Cost-Efficient Audit Readiness by Gardner Oleson, Technology and Manufacturing Practice Leader 1. Make sure the firm you hire is qualified to do the work. If they are not experienced as auditors themselves, it is highly unlikely they will understand the issues your auditors face. 2. Avoid audit adjustments. If you hire a qualified firm for audit readiness, you may avoid expensive and time-consuming adjustments during the auditing process. Delivery of audit readin

The Imperative of Compliance by Year End Is your company in compliance? The rules and regulations can seem overwhelming and complicated. Charles River CFO (CRCFO) has experienced Human Resource Advisors ready to perform an audit and get your company in compliance. Highlights Form I-9 Verification has changed effective 2023 Employees hired since March 20, 2020 need documents confirmed physically Verification compliance deadline is December 31, 2023. A recent Federal mandate r