Accounting Made Easy, Insights Made Extraordinary


Simplify Your Processes, Organize Your Financials, and Gain Insight into Your Business.

Let's Talk

Accounting Made Easy, Insights Made Extraordinary


Simplify Your Processes, Organize Your Financials, and Gain Insight into Your Business.

Let's Talk
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Why Use a Fractional Accounting Firm?

We’re a remote team of number-loving accounting experts who go beyond balancing books—we integrate into your business to drive real change.


What sets us apart:

  • Cost-effective, hands-on solutions that fit your needs
  • Integrated with your company culture for seamless collaboration
  • Strategic insight & financial expertise to fuel growth
  • Flexible, scalable support—FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis), bookkeeper, and controller in one


Unlike traditional outsourced accounting, we become part of your operations, providing proactive guidance to help you build sustainable success.

"We know what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and we empower our team with the tools they need to support one."

Areas of Expertise


At First Steps Financial, we’re more than just accountants—we’re your partners in success.


Our fractional approach means we roll up our sleeves, adapt to your needs, and genuinely care about helping your business thrive. Whether you’re looking for strategic guidance, smoother processes, or day-to-day financial support, we’re here to craft solutions that fit your goals.

Let us take the financial stress off your plate, so you can focus on what you do best—growing your business.


Check out our services below to see how we can help.

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Accounting


For over a decade, First Steps Financial has been a trusted partner for reliable bookkeeping and accounting services.

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First Steps Financial delivers expert financial guidance to empower smarter decisions and drive business success.



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Providing tailored solutions, tracking results, and delivering professionalism with clear, transparent communication.



Why You Should Choose Us


We bring FP&A (Financial Planning & Analysis) expertise to help you take control of your financial future:



  • Gain better insights & control over your financials
  • Improve budgeting & forecasting for smarter decisions
  • Streamline bookkeeping & bill management to save time


  • Boost cash flow with strategic planning
  • Integrate seamlessly into your company culture as a hands-on partner
  • Drive real business growth with data-backed financial strategies


FP&A goes beyond bookkeeping—it’s about collecting and analyzing data, creating budgets, forecasting trends, and optimizing business performance to help you scale with confidence.

LET'S TALK

Trust the Process.


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Whether you’re scaling up, streamlining operations, or just want someone to handle the numbers so you can focus on your passion, we’re here for you. Take the first step toward financial clarity today.

Hover Over the Steps to Learn More

What Our Clients are Saying...


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First Steps has been a lifesaver. We very much appreciate what

you do and how you do it.


Hanan l.

Kingston Law Group

We very much appreciate your help and feel like you are a true

member of our team. We have included you on our holiday card,

and hope you like it!


Tara D.

TellMed Strategies

Thanks for the overview, Gena, and all your hard work wrapping

up the year-end! I cannot express how much we appreciate

everything you do for us! We could not manage without you.


Anna-Lisa Mackey

PATHS program LLC

Thank you! I get stressed about these things—I need to take a

deep breath and remind myself that we have the amazing

people at FSF taking care of us!!


The Bryant Group

Before we worked with FSF I was involved on a daily basis with

financials, and it was a massive chunk of my time. I am so grateful

for your work, Jodi! My silence is only me being hyper focused

on all the stuff I wanted to get to for all those years! Thank you

for all you do!'


Ruth Adams

Art Omi

Our Latest Insight


By Alisa McCabe October 16, 2025
1. Cash Flow Cash flow is the lifeblood of any small business. This metric shows you exactly how much money is flowing in and out of your business over a specific period. Unlike profit, which can be theoretical, cash flow represents real money you can actually spend. Positive cash flow means you're bringing in more than you're spending, while negative cash flow signals potential trouble ahead. Monitor both your operating cash flow (from daily operations) and free cash flow (what's left after necessary investments) to get a complete picture of your financial health. 2. Gross Profit Margin Your gross profit margin reveals how efficiently you're producing and delivering your products or services. A healthy gross profit margin indicates that you are pricing your offerings appropriately and managing production costs effectively. Financial KPIs like gross profit margin help you understand whether your core business model is fundamentally sound before considering overhead expenses. 3. Net Profit Margin While gross profit margin focuses on direct costs, net profit margin gives you the complete financial story. This metric shows what percentage of your revenue remains after all expenses, including overhead, taxes, and interest payments. It's the ultimate measure of your business's profitability and efficiency. A declining net profit margin might indicate rising costs, pricing pressure, or operational inefficiencies that need immediate attention. 4. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) Understanding how much you spend to acquire each new customer is crucial for sustainable growth. Customer Acquisition Cost includes all marketing and sales expenses divided by the number of new customers gained in that period. This Financial KPI helps you evaluate which marketing channels deliver the best return on investment and ensures you're not spending more to acquire customers than they're worth to your business. 5. Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) Customer Lifetime Value predicts the total revenue you can expect from a customer throughout your entire relationship. Financial KPIs like CAC and CLV help you make informed decisions about how much to invest in customer acquisition and retention. When your CLV significantly exceeds your CAC, you have a healthy, scalable business model. Focus on increasing CLV through improved customer service, upselling, and building long-term relationships. 6. Accounts Receivable Turnover This metric measures how efficiently you collect money owed to your business. Calculate it by dividing your net credit sales by average accounts receivable. A higher turnover ratio indicates you're collecting payments quickly, which improves cash flow. If this ratio is declining, you might need to tighten credit policies, improve collection processes, or reconsider which customers you extend credit terms to. 7. Inventory Turnover Financial KPIs for businesses that carry inventory, show how quickly you're selling and replacing stock. A high inventory turnover typically indicates strong sales and efficient inventory management, while a low turnover might signal excess stock, poor demand forecasting, or products that aren't resonating with customers. Strike the right balance to avoid stockouts while minimizing carrying costs . 8. Debt-to-Equity Ratio This ratio compares your total debt to your business equity, providing insight into your financial leverage and risk profile. A high debt-to-equity ratio might indicate heavy reliance on borrowed money, which increases financial risk but can also accelerate growth. Understanding this ratio helps you make informed decisions about financing options and manage your capital structure effectively. 9. Working Capital Ratio Working capital measures your ability to meet short-term obligations and is calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. A ratio above 1.0 indicates you have sufficient liquid assets to cover immediate debts. This Financial KPI is vital for managing seasonal fluctuations and unexpected expenses that could otherwise disrupt your operations. 10. Revenue Growth Rate Track how your revenue is growing month-over-month, quarter-over-quarter, and year-over-year. This metric helps you identify trends, evaluate the effectiveness of growth strategies, and make realistic projections for the future. Consistent revenue growth indicates a healthy business trajectory, while declining growth rates signal the need for strategic adjustments. Take Control of Your Financial Future Mastering these Financial KPIs transforms you from a business owner who's simply hoping for success into one who's strategically driving toward it. However, implementing robust financial tracking systems and interpreting these metrics correctly can feel overwhelming when you're already juggling countless other responsibilities. That's where expert guidance makes all the difference. At First Steps Financial, we specialize in helping small business owners like you establish comprehensive financial monitoring systems, interpret key metrics, and translate data into actionable strategies. Our team understands the unique challenges you face and can help you build the financial foundation necessary for sustainable growth. Don't let uncertainty cloud your business decisions any longer. Let’s connect and discuss how proper financial tracking can accelerate your path to success.
By Alisa McCabe October 3, 2025
Understanding Cost, Value, and Competitive Pricing Strategies Let’s start by exploring the fundamental relationship between cost structure, perceived value, and market positioning. Understanding these strategies will help you develop pricing strategies that maximize profitability while remaining competitive. These core concepts enable you to make informed pricing decisions that align with both your financial objectives and customer expectations. Cost-based pricing ensures each product or service covers expenses while providing a reliable baseline profit margin. Relying exclusively on cost plus markup may miss opportunities to generate additional revenue strategically. Comparing internal costs against industry benchmarks allows pricing that stays competitive without reducing profitability. Value-based pricing emphasizes the benefits customers perceive rather than only production costs. Customers often pay higher prices when pricing accurately reflects the value and benefits they receive. Ongoing assessment of customer preferences and market shifts is essential to keeping pricing effective and sustainable. Competitive pricing evaluates your offerings relative to competitors’ market positions and pricing structures. Analyzing competitor prices uncovers opportunities for differentiation while protecting overall profit margins. Leveraging Tiered Pricing and Bundling Tiered pricing encourages customers to select higher-value options by presenting multiple pricing levels. Offering basic, standard, and premium tiers motivates clients to upgrade without feeling pressured. The highest tier should provide clear, tangible benefits that justify the increased cost and value. Bundling complementary products or services increases average purchase value while reinforcing perceived benefits. Grouped offerings often encourage additional spending and enhance overall customer satisfaction. Financial modeling helps determine which bundles maximize profit margins effectively and support strategic objectives. Key Takeaways: Offer multiple pricing tiers to guide customers toward higher-value options Bundle complementary products or services to increase average transaction value Use financial modeling to identify bundles that improve profit margins Monitoring the performance of these tiers and bundles provides actionable insights for improvement. By tracking revenue, conversion rates, and customer responses, you can make data-driven decisions to refine strategic pricing approaches. Applying Psychological Pricing Strategies Psychological pricing can subtly influence customer decisions while maintaining product value. Pricing strategies that set items just below round numbers, such as $49 instead of $50, increase perceived affordability. This strategy leverages human behavior rather than relying on direct cost adjustments or discounts alone. Anchoring high-priced options alongside standard offerings nudges customers toward mid-tier selections. Strategic placement encourages larger purchases and guides customers to perceive higher value within their choices. By offering comparative displays, you enhance the buyer’s decision-making confidence and the effectiveness of your pricing approach. Key Techniques: Price just below round numbers to increase perceived affordability without reducing profits Anchor high-priced options alongside standard offerings to encourage mid-tier purchases Use price framing and comparisons to highlight perceived savings and enhance customer value Highlight limited availability or urgency to subtly motivate quicker purchase decisions Employ decoy pricing to make certain options appear more attractive and valuable Assessing Market Position and Competitor Pricing Regularly reviewing competitor pricing uncovers gaps and areas where your offerings can increase perceived value. Understanding your market position informs decisions regarding strategic price adjustments, promotional offers, and sustainable margin protection. It also helps you ensure that your products or services remain appealing to customers. Competitor monitoring is, however, not a once-and-done. To support long-term financial stability and growth strategies, you need to continually monitor market trends and emerging competitors. Testing and Iterating for Profitability Testing different price points, packages, or promotional offers helps identify strategies that improve profitability. By executing small-scale pricing experiments, you can gain valuable insights without risking overall revenue or customer satisfaction during implementation. By conducting financial modeling and scenario analysis, you can forecast the impact of pricing changes before full implementation. Continuous iteration creates a dynamic pricing framework that responds to evolving market conditions and customer behavior. This adaptive approach is vital to maintain consumer trust and satisfaction while optimizing profits. Are You Leaving Revenue on the Table? Pricing decisions directly influence revenue, customer perception, and long-term growth potential. At First Steps Financial, we deliver tailored consulting solutions designed specifically for your business needs and goals. Our experts can help you evaluate your business strategies through financial analysis and forecasting. With a results-driven approach, we continually monitor outcomes and make adjustments to create measurable impact. With First Steps Financial, you’re not just getting a consultant; you’re gaining a trusted ally in achieving your goals! Let’s connect.
By Alisa McCabe September 16, 2025
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SEE ALL INSIGHTS

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We love working with awesome people.


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Our Core Values:

Be Innovative | Be a Team Player | Be Kind | Take Ownership

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Let Us Tell You More:

Be Innovative | Be a Team Player | Be Kind | Take Ownership

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Our Mission:

Collaborating with entrepreneurs to create success, as they define it, and solve issues together

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Current Opportunities:

Accounting Support LI | Controller | CFO | Accounting Supervisor

Work With Us: Be Part of Something Great


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At First Steps Financial, we’re not just about helping small businesses succeed—we’re about building an amazing team, too! If you love numbers as much as we do and enjoy working with passionate people who make a difference, this is your chance to shine.

Our Business runs on EOS

We know what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and we empower our team with the tools they need to support one.

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