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Mark Gandy

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Partner, B2B CFO

98 points

CFO for 10 different clients with combined sales exceeding $100 million. Implement and integrate driver-based planning models for SMB's in varying industries. Work closely with a leading budgeting and forecasting software vendor in implementing planning system.

Early background included ...

CFO for 10 different clients with combined sales exceeding $100 million. Implement and integrate driver-based planning models for SMB's in varying industries. Work closely with a leading budgeting and forecasting software vendor in implementing planning system.

Early background included several years at KPMG Peat Marwick and ten years for a large family-owned business serving in numerous senior-level financial capacities.

CFO industry experience includes distribution, e-commerce, agriculture, professional services firms, food service, constuction, environmental R&D, printing and publishing, and others.

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WEB: Mark Gandy

Dec. 6, 2011

Mark Gandy and 2 other people answered this question at this roundtable

6% Is Not Enough: The Case for Driver-Based Planning in 2012 [12/9 @ 1 pm]

What exactly is driver based planning?

Ben, outstanding. Concise and easy to understand.

General Management

Budgeting Software

Oct. 26, 2011

Mark Gandy and 2 other people answered this question

Business valuation cost: how much does a business valuation for a small business cost?

Scott, agree with Teresa and Nicole.
Just curious, what is the valuation for? Is it to get a gauge or rough idea of the valuation of your business?
If so, assuming your business is beyond the start-up phase and is generating reliable cash flows, then strategic buyers ... more

Business Valuation

Business Valuation Cost

Sept. 21, 2011

Mark Gandy and 1 other person answered this question

How much interest would I need to pay on a $20,000 business loan?

Drew, it depends on the type of loan. Business loans typically come in two flavors--lines of credit and term loans.
Your operating line (LOC) is typically backed by AR and/or Inventory and generally has a one-year maturity date. Your balance on the LOC will fluctuate like ... more

Sept. 8, 2011

Mark Gandy and 1 other person answered this question

I am a bootstrapped start up. Is Cloud the right choice for me?

I agree with Steve. But another question is, "For what purpose?"
What would your cloud computing be used for? Hosted ERP, CRM, project management, other?
It comes down to need and if the funds support a cloud option. Simple example, and I may be way off base ... more

Sept. 8, 2011

Mark Gandy and 3 other people answered this question

To Start-Ups: what are the main challenges you faced with when planning and starting your business?

Several issues come to mind when helping start-ups.
-1- Not fully understanding our total addressable or serviceable markets (or overstating both). In both cases, that meant slower-than-planned sales growth.
-2- Conversely, when growing too fast, hitting ceilings of complexity and outgrowing the original management team (or even ... more

General Management

Aug. 24, 2011

Mark Gandy and 1 other person answered this question

Do you have a credit management plan or credit policy for your business?

Most of my B2B clients do, and the others have informal process-driven systems they follow to set up customers in their accounting systems and for collecting past-dues.
While that is well and good, it's the follow-up that is weak on setup. In responding to your question, ... more

Accounts Receivable

Bad Debt Collection Tools

Credit Administration

July 25, 2011

Mark Gandy recommends this answer by Denny Portier

Where to start with CEO succession planning?

I think that this subject should not be painfull at all, any CEO should take the responsibility to assist the business in identifying his/her successors.
In our company, successionplanning is a regularly scheduled agenda item and all key positions are reviewed, including the position of ... more

Human Resources

CEO Succession Planning

Succession Plan

Talent Management

July 25, 2011

Mark Gandy and 2 other people answered this question

What are best practices for hiring a wordpress/blog developer?

The last two developers I've hired for my clients want to host the site and have us drop our current arrangement with the web hosting service. The developers do not get rich off this, but this allows them a small and continuous income stream.
I never ... more

Information Technology

July 20, 2011

Mark Gandy recommends this answer by Janet Fouts

How do you develop your personal brand?

You know, the platform you develop your brand on doesn't matter in the least. What DOES matter is that the people you want to get to know you, who would most benefit from knowing your brand are using that network.
I suggest you go through ... more

Human Resources

July 19, 2011

Mark Gandy is now following Josh Nowack and 8 other people

July 12, 2011

Mark Gandy and 5 other people answered this question

When is a website considered an asset on a company's balance sheet?

Short answer -- almost never, maybe never for sure.
GAAP does allow for certain software to be capitalized if it's for internal use or a packaged system to be commercialized. Specific rules apply for when and how to capitalize and the period to amortized capitalized costs.
But ... more

July 12, 2011

Mark Gandy and 5 other people answered this question

Is it better to hire a collections agency or an attorney to collect on business debt?

Great feedback from Dan.
I too will say it depends. I like collections agencies. Most have a rigid process that works. If you would ever walk into a collection agency, you would know what I mean as the bigger ones have great technology. They are very ... more

Accounts Receivable

Collection Agency

July 6, 2011

Mark Gandy and 3 other people answered this question

What are the advantages to an LLC compared to a Corporation?

Like Todd, too much to type here, but here are the two top benefits that quickly come to mind:
1. If an LLC member's personal effective tax rate is lower than the corporate tax rate, an LLC will be advantagous as it's a pass-through entity (since ... more

Business Finance

Company Formation

July 1, 2011

Mark Gandy and 2 other people answered this question

Which ERP features/ modules can help with financial compliance & preparing for audits?

Anytime you can use existing modules or third-party tools, that's obviously the ideal. But let me throw out another idea.
I see no reason why corporate finance/accounting departments cannot use tools such as CaseWare, a tool auditors typically use for full-scope audits. CaseWare (Thomson Reuters and ... more

Information Technology

July 1, 2011

Mark Gandy answered this question

SMB Owners: How do you ensure you receive accurate financial information in a timely manner?

I'm a service provider to SMB owners, so I'll answer accordingly.
-1- First, there is no reason in the world not to get timely and accurate financials by day 2 or 3 after month-end. You get those numbers through a very effective month-end closing checklist. For ... more

Accounting System

June 21, 2011

Mark Gandy and 2 other people answered this question at this roundtable

Avoiding Business Performance Management Software Failure: 4 Tips You Need to Know [6/21 @ 11 am]

How can a business protect itself in the event a consultant leaves mid-project?

Sid Ghatak addressed this in today's roundtable discussion regarding BPM failures, and I thought his idea was brilliant. His comment was to have a clause in the contract that states if the lead consultant or any consultant leaves while a project is in place, the ... more

Information Technology

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