About The Small Business Advisor
Located in Metro Atlanta, The Small Business Advisor has been a cornerstone of the local business community for over 30 years. With our deep ties to key professionals and a comprehensive understanding of Atlanta’s unique business opportunities, we’ve built a reputation for delivering exceptional financial advisory services. While we are primarily based in the Atlanta area, our virtual model allows us to work with clients across the United States, providing personalized services no matter where you are.
What Sets The Small Business Advisor Apart
Advisory-First, Bookkeeping-Second
Advisory-First, Bookkeeping-Second
We don’t just record numbers – we help business owners understand them. Bookkeeping is a tool, not the end goal. Our focus is on financial clarity, strategic growth, and long-term sustainability.
Tailored Financial Ecosystems
Tailored Financial Ecosystems
No cookie-cutter packages here. Every client receives a custom-built system based on their specific goals, cash flow patterns, and pain points – not just their industry code.
Profit First Expertise Backed by Experience
Profit First Expertise Backed by Experience
As Certified Profit First Professionals and Certified Cash Flow Strategists, we don’t dabble in theory. We implement proven cash-flow strategies that turn revenue into reliable, retained profit.
A Fractional CFO Perspective Without the Corporate Price Tag
A Fractional CFO Perspective Without the Corporate Price Tag
We act as a financial ally – not just a vendor. Our clients gain access to high-level financial strategy and analysis typically reserved for much larger companies, scaled to match their current needs.
On-Demand Expert Network
On-Demand Expert Network
Need legal structure guidance, tax strategy input, or help setting up project-based payroll? We assemble the right team, including attorneys, CPAs, and specialists – without making you manage it all.
Built for Businesses In Transition
Built for Businesses In Transition
We specialize in helping businesses at key inflection points: scaling past $1M, buying a company, hiring the first team, or redefining financial systems after years of DIY or poor advisory.
Empowerment-Driven Financial Clarity
Empowerment-Driven Financial Clarity
We educate and empower our clients to understand their numbers without requiring them to become accountants. We believe clarity builds confidence, and confidence fuels growth.
A Trusted Confidante - Not Just a Contractor
A Trusted Confidante - Not Just a Contractor
Clients tell us everything – even things they wouldn’t share with their spouse or CPA. That’s because we create a judgment-free zone where transparency is safe and growth is the goal.
Women-Led, Women-Focused
Women-Led, Women-Focused
We bring a uniquely empathetic and empowering approach to advising women-owned businesses and solo attorneys – especially those balancing professional growth with personal responsibilities.
Strategic Simplicity, Not Complexity
Strategic Simplicity, Not Complexity
We’re not here to complicate your business with fancy spreadsheets and endless reports. We streamline systems, simplify processes, and deliver actionable insights you can implement today.
Implementation Is Our Superpower
Implementation Is Our Superpower
We don’t just give advice – we roll up our sleeves and make things happen. Whether that means updating your chart of accounts, helping you hire a new bookkeeper, or reworking your banking structure, we’re doers.
We Redefine Success on Your Terms
We Redefine Success on Your Terms
We ask better questions: What does success look like for you? We help clients realign their financial systems to match their values, goals, and desired lifestyle.
At The Small Business Advisor, we believe every business owner deserves more than just numbers on a page -you deserve clarity, confidence, and a financial partner who helps you turn those numbers into lasting success.
Our story begins with Karen Bershad, a Certified Cash Flow Strategist and seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of hands-on experience running and growing businesses. Karen knows what it feels like to juggle the endless demands of ownership -the late nights, the tough decisions, and the constant desire to build something meaningful. That experience shapes everything we do.
Under Karen’s leadership, our team doesn’t just deliver bookkeeping and reports. We provide insight, strategy, and peace of mind. As your Fractional CFO, we help you see the complete picture of your finances, enabling you to make informed decisions that fuel growth, not guesswork.
However, we know that true success requires more than one perspective. That’s why we’ve built a robust network of trusted professionals. From CPAs who understand your business and industry, Certified Exit Planning Advisors who help you prepare for your next chapter, Fractional Human Resource Advisors who align your people with your purpose, to Sales Team Advisors who turn vision into revenue. Together, we walk beside you, helping you design a business that not only runs smoothly but thrives with purpose and profitability.
We also share this mission through industry-specific workshops and educational programs, partnering with organizations like North Metro REIA to empower business owners with the financial knowledge and confidence to grow. Whether through personalized coaching or group learning, we guide you in mastering your cash flow, understanding your numbers, and reclaiming control of your business future.
At The Small Business Advisor, we don’t just help you manage your money-we help you build a business that supports the life you’ve always envisioned.
eBook: How Can You Redefine Success and Sustainability in Your Business?
At The Small Business Advisor, we understand that women business owners face unique challenges when it comes to managing finances, scaling operations, and preparing for growth. To empower you, we’ve put together an eBook full of actionable, smart finance strategies that will help you:
- Redefine success on your terms
- Build financial systems that grow with you
- Strategize for long-term sustainability
- Navigate obstacles specific to women-owned businesses
This eBook is packed with insights specifically tailored for women who are balancing business growth with personal responsibilities. Whether you’re looking to scale your business, refine your financial strategy, or gain more clarity and control over your cash flow, this resource is for you.
Our Expertise Includes
Pure Bookkeeping Approach
Our bookkeepers follow a systematic, collaborative process to meet your unique needs while ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
QuickBooks® Desktop & Online
As an Authorized Affiliate for QuickBooks®, we provide top-tier support for all QuickBooks® products.
Profit First Approach
FAQs
About Our Services
What exactly does The Small Business Advisor do?
Please think of us as your financial ally. We help you make sense of your numbers, stop the cash leaks, and build a business that’s profitable on purpose. Whether you have no books, do your own, or already have a bookkeeper, we give you the clarity, systems, and strategies to run a stronger, more profitable business.
Do you do bookkeeping or just advising?
Both! Some clients hire us to handle their books from start to finish. Others keep their current bookkeeper and bring us in for high-level financial strategy, oversight, and Cash Flow Strategy implementation.
How are you different from a regular bookkeeper or CPA?
We don’t just hand you reports and hope you figure them out. We roll up our sleeves with you, explain the numbers in plain English, and help you use them to make better decisions for your business. We work with your CPA to provide them with everything they need to complete your business taxes.
Do you work with clients outside of Georgia?
Absolutely! We work virtually so that we can help clients anywhere in the U.S.
About Our Clients
What types of businesses do you work with?
We work best with women-owned small businesses, solo law firms, service-based businesses, real estate investors, and other entrepreneurs who are ready to grow but need a more straightforward financial path.
Do I need a certain revenue level to work with you?
Our sweet spot is businesses making $1M or more annually. That’s when cash flow, profitability, and planning become even more critical for growth.
What if I already have a CPA or bookkeeper?
Perfect! Many of our clients do. We’ll work alongside them to ensure you receive the strategy and insights needed to achieve your goals.
Cash Flow & Profit Strategies
What are the Profit Strategies?
It’s a cash management system that makes profit a habit, not an afterthought. The formula is simple: Sales – Profit = Expenses. We help you set it up, stick to it, and see the results.
Can you help if I’m always short on cash?
Yes! We’ll pinpoint where the money’s going, fix the leaks, and give you a plan so you can finally breathe easier—no more robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Can you help me pay off debt and still grow my business?
Absolutely. We’ll create a plan that pays down debt while still funding profit, taxes, and growth.
Getting Started
What’s the first step?
Book a free consultation. We’ll talk about what’s working, what’s not, and how we can help.
What should I bring to our first meeting?
If you have them—recent financial statements, bank statements, and your list of “I’ve always wondered about this” questions.
How soon will I see results?
You’ll feel more clarity after our very first meeting, and many clients see measurable improvements in just a few months.
Pricing & Engagement
How much will it cost?
It depends on your needs. After we chat, we’ll create a custom proposal that fits your business size, complexity, and goals.
Do you require a long-term commitment?
We usually start with a six to twelve-month commitment, so we have time to make a real difference. After that, most clients stay with us long-term because they see the results.
Technology & Process
What software do you use?
QuickBooks Online® is our go-to, but we’re comfortable reviewing other systems you might already have in place. We do have some clients still on QuickBooks® desktop.
Is my information secure?
Yes. We use encrypted platforms for sharing documents and follow strict confidentiality standards.
General
Do you prepare taxes?
No. We focus on strategy and management. But we partner with trusted CPAs who can handle your tax prep.
Can you help if my books are a mess?
Yes. Messy books are our specialty. We’ll clean them up and set you on the right track. This is a separate engagement from the ongoing work moving forward.
I’m embarrassed about my finances… should I still reach out?
Yes! Many clients feel this way at first. We’re here to help, not judge. You’ll leave feeling more confident and in control.
Join Our Network of Satisfied Clients
Most of our new clients come from referrals, a true testament to the trust we’ve built over the years. Let us empower you with financial clarity and the expertise you need to make better decisions and build the business you’ve always envisioned.
Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about how we can help streamline your financial operations and set your business on the path to sustainable growth.