Bookkeeper, accountant, CFO, financial strategist. The labels overlap, the industry is confusing, and every one of them has someone online claiming to be the most important hire you'll ever make. Here's the clearest possible breakdown of who does what, and which one your business actually needs right now.

I’ll be honest, most founders wait too long. They keep telling themselves they'll sort the numbers properly when things calm down. They never do. If you've been quietly wondering whether it's time to bring in strategic financial support, here are the seven signs that almost always mean yes.