Retail and Distribution Companies

Retail and distribution businesses operate on tight margins, fast-moving inventory, and constant cash demands. Sales growth alone does not guarantee stronger performance when purchasing, freight, markdowns, returns, or slow-moving stock absorb the profit. Our fractional CFO team brings financial discipline to inventory, margins, working capital, and forecasting—so leadership can grow without losing control of cash.

Inventory and Working Capital

Understand how purchasing decisions, stock levels, lead times, and sell-through affect liquidity and available working capital.

Inventory turnover and GMROI

Days inventory outstanding

Open-to-buy planning

We help maintain enough inventory to support sales without trapping unnecessary cash on the shelf.

Margin and Landed Cost

Measure true profitability after product cost, freight, duties, rebates, discounts, returns, shrinkage, and channel fees.

Gross margin by SKU and channel

Landed cost variance

Markdown and return impact

We show which products, customers, and channels generate profit—not simply revenue.

Forecasting and Cash Flow

Connect demand, purchasing, supplier terms, receivables, payroll, and operating expenses in one rolling financial forecast.

Cash conversion cycle

DSO and DPO

Rolling cash forecast

We give management earlier visibility into inventory gaps, cash pressure, and future financing needs.

Our fractional CFO support brings the income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, and operating data into one management view. This helps retail and distribution leaders make better decisions about buying, pricing, supplier terms, warehouse capacity, financing, and expansion.

Expected Outcomes

Stronger financial management helps retail and distribution companies protect margin while keeping products and cash moving. Leadership gains earlier visibility into inventory performance, purchasing commitments, operating costs, and liquidity—before a manageable issue becomes an expensive one.

A healthier inventory position. Purchasing aligns with demand, turnover, and service levels, reducing excess stock and costly stockouts.

Clearer margin by product and channel. Landed cost, discounts, returns, rebates, and fees reveal the true contribution.

More disciplined buying and vendor management. Open-to-buy limits, payment terms, and reorder decisions support working-capital targets.

Faster cash conversion. Better control of receivables, payables, and inventory days releases more cash for operations and growth.

More reliable financial planning. Rolling forecasts connect sales, purchasing, payroll, overhead, capital expenditure, and financing requirements.