Fractional CFO for boat builders & specialty manufacturers
Long builds. Big deposits. Clear numbers.
CFO-level leadership for boat builders, shipyards and specialty manufacturers with long, high-value builds.
- Build costing
- Milestone billing
- Customer deposits
- Revenue recognition
- Lender reporting
Where long builds hide risk
Choose a challenge to see what we do about it, and the decision it helps you make.
Deposits that look like profit
Customer deposits are work you still owe until the build is delivered. Treating them as income overstates results.
Deposits recorded as liabilities and released as the work is done, with revenue by milestone or stage of completion.
Overruns discovered at delivery
Without build-by-build costing, overruns only show up when the boat leaves the yard.
A budget for every build, with cost-to-complete tracked monthly.
Cash timing across long builds
Materials and labour are paid months before the final milestone payment arrives.
A cash forecast tied to the production schedule and milestone payments.
Questions from auditors and lenders
Revenue on long contracts is where auditors and lenders look first.
A revenue recognition policy, WIP schedules and support ready before year-end.
The One Clear Path for long builds
The One Clear Path, applied to your business: one structured process, alongside your bookkeeper and accountant.
- 01
Get Oriented
A clean baseline: the real margin on each build and how deposits and milestones are recorded.
- 02
Define the Targets
Margin by build type, a cash buffer across the production schedule and capacity targets.
- 03
Monthly CFO Guidance
A scoreboard with build margins, deposits and a rolling cash forecast, plus clear priorities.
What is one point of margin worth?
Move the sliders. Small improvements in pricing, mix and costs add up faster than most owners expect.
That is $480,000 over three years, from the same sales.
Find your points Illustration only: revenue × margin improvement. Your numbers will differ.Marine & specialty builds: common questions
Anything else? Call 778-651-9736 or book a Right-Fit Call.
How should customer deposits be recorded?
A customer deposit is recorded as a liability, not revenue, until the work it pays for has been done. Recording deposits as income makes results look better than they are and is a common audit finding.
Can revenue on a long build be recognized before delivery?
Often yes. Depending on the contract and the accounting framework (ASPE or US GAAP), revenue can be recognized as the build progresses. The method has to fit the contract terms and be supported by reliable cost estimates.
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Engagements are flat monthly packages, so there are no hourly surprises. The fee depends on the size of the business and the scope of work; we discuss it openly on the Right-Fit Call.
Will you replace my bookkeeper or accountant?
No. We work alongside your existing bookkeeper, accountant and accounting system, and add CFO-level analysis and decision support.
Do you work on-site?
Yes, on-site in Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle, and remotely with businesses across North America. Monthly guidance runs on video calls and shared reporting, with visits when it matters.
Start with a 20-minute Right-Fit Call.
No pitch. No pressure. Just a clear look at what’s happening in your business, and whether CFO-level support would materially help.