Lafayette Associates in Alexandria, VA
Overview
Lafayette Associates delivers fractional FP&A and CFO-grade financial leadership to founders and CEOs at $2M-$30M businesses in Alexandria, building financial models, budgets, management reporting, and strategic finance. Its work spans cash and runway planning, pricing and unit economics, and multi-unit expansion modeling, with engagements in food and beverage and consumer services.
Specialties & expertise
Frequently asked questions
What does Lafayette Associates specialize in?
Lafayette Associates lists fractional CFO, finance, cash flow and business strategy. The questions below explain these areas in plain terms — every listed area comes from the provider’s own site or profile.
What is a fractional CFO, and when do you need finance help?
A fractional CFO brings CFO-level expertise — cash flow, forecasting, profitability, capital — part-time, without the full-time cost. The usual trigger: finances have outgrown bookkeeping but not yet justified a hire. Bookkeeping records the past; a CFO-level advisor shapes the decisions ahead.
What is strategic planning, and how is it different from strategy?
Strategy is the choice of where to play and how to win; strategic planning turns that choice into priorities, budgets, and accountable owners. A common failure mode is a plan with no real strategy underneath — a list of goals nobody chose between. Good advisors force the trade-off decisions first, then plan.
What does a food & beverage focus mean?
It means the provider specializes in the food and drink industry, from restaurants to manufacturers, where thin margins, safety compliance, and distribution are recurring challenges.
What is a fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO is an experienced finance leader who works with a company part-time, bringing CFO-level expertise in cash flow, profitability, forecasting, and capital without the cost of a full-time hire.
What does a fractional CFO do?
A fractional CFO sets up financial reporting and forecasting, improves cash flow and margins, supports fundraising or lending, and gives owners the numbers and guidance to make better decisions.
When does a business need a fractional CFO?
Typically when finances outgrow a bookkeeper but do not yet justify a full-time CFO — for example during growth, fundraising, tighter cash flow, or preparing for a sale.