B2B CFO^®    (877) 4-B2B CFO

B2B CFO NAMED IN PRESTIGIOUS INC. 500|5000 LIST

184% Growth Earns B2B CFO Spot in the 2010 List of Fastest Growing Companies in America

Phoenix, Ariz. August 24, 2010 —  B2B CFO, nation’s largest provider of CFO services to small businesses, has been named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America.

Now in its 29^th year, Inc. Magazine’s annual ranking judges US-based and privately held companies by their revenue growth.  This year’s list was ranked on the percentage in revenue increase from 2006-2009. B2B CFO’s growth earned 84^th place in its industry.

 "There are approximately 27 million small businesses in the U.S. today,” said Jerry L. Mills, founder and chief executive officer of B2B CFO, “It is a huge honor to be among the fastest growing and the most successful businesses in the country.  Our firm has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years and we are on track to continue expanding.  I am especially grateful to all of the firm’s dedicated Partners who continue to advocate our services around the nation.”

In a personalized letter congratulating B2B CFO on this accomplishment, Jane Berenston, editor-in-chief of Inc. Magazine’s wrote “Congratulations: your company, B2B CFO, has made the 2010 list of the fastest growing private companies in America. This achievement puts you in rarefied company, especially if you consider that over 27 million businesses are registered in the USA.  The elite group you’ve now joined has, over the years, included companies such as Microsoft, Timberland, Visa, Intuit, Jamba Juice, Oracle, and Zappos.com. I look forward to congratulating you in person in Washington, D.C.”  

B2B CFO’s growth is reflected in numerous awards this year.  The company was also recently named in ACE Corporate Growth Awards, which recognized the most successful and fastest growing companies in Arizona.  

In August 2010, B2B CFO has grown to 171 Partners across 39 states, representing 5,000 years of cumulative experience.  Each Partner is a seasoned financial executive who serves as CFO to growing businesses on as-needed basis.   Approximately 80% of the Partners have a background that includes senior executive positions at the Big Four, and all of the Partners have held high level executive finance positions in various industries in corporate America. Together, B2B CFO Partners work with more than 500 businesses in the nation with combined annual sales of more than $3 Billion.

Jerry L. Mills and many of the B2B CFO Partners regularly dedicate time to educate business owners on financial matters.   Mills is a frequent speaker and contributor and has been featured on many national media networks including FOX Business, Fortune Small Business, Smart Money and many others.  Mills is also the author of The Danger Zone - Lost in the Growth Transition, and Avoiding The Danger Zone – Business Illusions, both business non-fiction books that help entrepreneurs understand and build a strong financial strategy.

“We look forward to participating in the Inc. 500|5000 conference in Washington, DC this fall,” added Mills. “Along with my colleagues, I look forward to the October 2^nd awards ceremony and to meeting the entrepreneurs that created the other 5000 fastest growing companies in America.”

About Inc. Magazine

Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures LLC, Inc. is the only major business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies that delivers real solutions for todays innovative company builders.  Inc. provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing, and technology.

Inc. Magazine’s 29th annual Inc. 5000 ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the country is available online at www.inc.com/inc5000/list

ABOUT B2B CFO

Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., the firm was founded in 1987 by Jerry L. Mills. B2B CFO is the nation’s largest CFO firm serving entrepreneurial, growth and mid-market companies with revenue under $75 million.  The firm’s partners have an average of 25 years of experience and each individual partner is a senior level executive with a broad range of expertise.   Please visit online at www.b2bcfo.com

Fortune Magazine published an article years ago named, Permanent Vacation? 50 and Fired.  I would like to expand on a few things regarding this topic. First, let’s visit some of the quotes from the article, which was years ahead of its time:

“You’ve got hundreds of thousands of obsolete professionals who can’t find employment in positions where they’ve been successful. These are people living off retirement savings 15 years before they were supposed to retire. They don’t know what they’re going to do.”

“Peter Capelli, a professor at the Wharton School, says the executive recruiters he talks to don’t want older people who have tenured compensation – not when they can hire younger, cheaper people. ‘It makes economic sense,’ he says ‘It’s just hard on employees. They were hugely valuable yesterday, because they performed valuable skills. And now they’re tossed on the general labor market where they’re suddenly not worth much.’”

“…there’s a good chance they’ll end up in a category you might call involuntary consultants.”

“’My heart really goes out to the 55-year-olds who can’t come to terms with  what’s happened to them,’ says Lynn Guillory. ‘They are still looking for the old implied employment agreement: The company would take care of you; all you had to do was work hard.” Forget the paycheck, he tells them. Your W-2 days are over. It’s a 1099 world now.’” (Fortune Magazine, Permanent Vacation? 50 and Fired, May 2, 2005)

IT’S A 1099 WORLD NOW!

The thought that the “W-2 days are over” can be a very frightening thought for many professionals.  I have talked to hundreds of CFOs over the decades and understand the thought process and the fear that overcomes one regarding this topic.

In fact, I remember the conversation I had with my wife when I told her I was going to start B2B CFO back in 1987. We had four small children under the age of eight and my wife was a stay-at-home mother. After explaining what I was going to do she looked off into the distance for a few seconds and then turned back to face me.  I saw the fear in her eyes. She asked me only one question, “Jerry, what about a steady paycheck?”

Christine and I have not had a W-2 check since 1987 and we would not want the pay-cut by accepting a W-2 job today.

This 1099 concept may be foreign to some, so let’s visit The Millionaire Next Door:

“Being self-employed gives one much more control over one’s economic future than does working for others. Conversely, employees today, even high-income-producing executives, have less control over their livelihoods than ever before.  Downsizing, for example, is taking its toll, even among the most productive employees. More often than not, even high-income-producing employees are not likely to be millionaires.” (page 93).

INVOLUNTARY CONSULTANTS:

There are several problems with being forced into being an “involuntary consultant,” such as:

(1)   The lack of time to plan before starting the business.

(2)   One’s heart may not be fully into the business. There is no transparency with this topic. Astute business people will see the lack of “fire in the belly” and will be cautious to hire such a consultant.

(3)   The lack of training on the proper way to sell.

(4)   Lack of knowledge about the industry, which is very specialized and very competitive.

(5)   Inadequate funding to do the branding and marketing correctly.

(6)   Unknowingly creating exposure for future litigation against the involuntary consultant.

(7)   Inability to distinguish oneself from the competition, hence, falling into the trap of charging lower fees than one is worth.

(8)   Etc.

 So, it REALLY is a 1099 world now, but that gives opportunity and freedom to many of us.

B2B CFO, the only CFO services firm featured in the book, quoted in Chapter 9 “Handling Your Company’s Finances”

Phoenix, Ariz. (BUSINESS WIRE) DATE—The Wall Street Journal’s Complete Small Business Guidebook, published on Dec. 29^th 2009 by Random House is quickly climbing the charts of most popular reads.  B2B CFO, the nation’s largest CFO firm that exclusively services the needs of small and mid-size businesses, was featured along with other leading national resources in the 258-page book.  

Author Colleen DeBaise, who currently serves as small business editor at The Wall Street Journal, turned to B2B CFO for insight on cash flow strategy for her chapter on “Handling Your Company’s Finances.”  In this chapter, DeBaise discussed cash flow projections and operational finances and included a sample chart frequently used by B2B CFO Partners that outlines how to prepare and what to do to survive budget deficits.  

DeBaise pulled from key experts in the nation to bring together best practices when starting a small business.  “From writing business plans to creating exit strategies, we pulled advice from key experts to bring our readers a comprehensive resource,” said DeBaise. 

“Being included in this high-profile resource for entrepreneurs was a great way to round up 2009 for our firm,” said Jerry L. Mills.   In January 2010, B2B CFO has grown to 146 Partners across 39 states.  Each Partner is a seasoned financial executive who serves as CFO to growing businesses on as-needed basis.  Together, B2B CFO Partners work with more than 500 businesses in the nation with combined annual sales of more than $5 billion.   Now in its 22^nd year, B2B CFO has experienced steady growth and emerged as the leading resource providing CFO solutions to small and mid-market companies.

Serving as CFOs to hundreds of clients, the B2B CFO Partners know first-hand the challenges that business owners face when it comes to operational finances.

“Small and mid-size business owners regularly turn to B2B CFO’s Partners for advice on finance and cash flow,” Mills said. “Cash is the bloodline of a business, and having a firm grip on your company’s finances is the key to growth.”    

Mills and many of the B2B CFO Partners regularly dedicate time to educate business owners on financial matters.   Mills is a frequent speaker and contributor and has been featured on many national media networks including FOX Business, Fortune Small Business, Smart Money and many others.  Mills is also the author of The Danger Zone - Lost in the Growth Transition, and Avoiding The Danger Zone – Business Illusions, both business non-fiction books that help entrepreneurs understand and build a strong financial strategy.

 “We’re excited to be featured in the Wall Street Journal’s Complete Small Business Handbook and to continue helping entrepreneurs turn their dreams into sustainable, growth-oriented companies,” added Mills.  

The Wall Street Journal’s Complete Small Business Guidebook is listed at $15 and is available online at www.amazon.com. It is also available as an eBook, formatted for mobile devices.

PHOENIX (Nov. 12, 2009) –    Some believe that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Phoenix based entrepreneur and business expert Jerry L. Mills is not flattered and not amused by  others replicating his firm’s propriety materials.  In fact, this CEO of the nation’s fastest growing CFO services firm has a strong message to other business owners:  protect your intellectual property, or prepare to have it stolen.  

He does not say this with a light heart; his firm has dedicated tremendous resources this year to fight off blatant plagiarism of copyrighted content as well as cases of intellectual property rights infringement and theft.  

In June of 2009, searches for key phrases unique to B2B CFO’s Web site content resulted in a stunning discovery of dozens other businesses plagiarizing the company’s content word-for-word on their Web sites.  The problem was so widespread that this year alone B2B CFO has encountered more than 40 separate cases of plagiarism, including several competitors using B2B CFO’s registered trademark. 

As the nation’s largest CFO firm dedicated exclusively to serving small and mid-size businesses, B2B CFO works diligently on its online branding – constantly building fresh blog content, improving its Web site and investing in strategic Search Engine Optimization.  Now,  Mills and his company have set up procedures to handle most of the issues related to the plagiarism of the company’s Web site.  Mills  designated Rick Daigle, an Atlanta partner with an extensive I.T. background, as the company’s Website Plagiarism Specialist.  Daigle recommends using the website Copyscape and Google searches to help find offenders.

According to Daigle, when an offender is first identified, all relative evidence of the infringement is collected and saved.  Next, Mills and Daigle send a “cease and desist” letter notifying the offender of the laws against copyright infringement as a direct violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and International Law. They give the offender 72 hours to correct the issue before turning the violators over to the firm’s law firm.  

  
In an economy where online commerce is crucial, protecting oneself against Web site plagiarism is absolutely essential to the small and mid-sized business owner.

  
But B2B CFO’s challenges with eager copycats did not end online.   The company has recently uncovered a case of another business using B2B CFO copyrighted materials offline as well.   To properly handle this case and to ensure that a proper precedent is set for any future theft of intellectual property, B2B CFO has filed a lawsuit against Kenneth Kaufman and CFO Wise citing infringement of copyrighted materials.

Mills advises copyright owners to consult with an attorney to see if the laws related to RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) might help them in protecting their copyrighted assets by filing criminal copyright infringement, as well as asking for treble damages in a lawsuit.   

The ongoing theft and plagiarism have left Mills and his Partners in B2B CFO committed to continuous monitoring and protecting the company’s intellectual property.   

“We all have a vested interest in our company’s future,” said Mills. “And it is great to see the entire company united in our goal to eliminate cases of theft and plagiarism.”

Mills advises fellow business owners to take proper measures to protect the intellectual property of their Companies.   “Protect your rights by filing for trademarks, copyrights, and patents, and by having strict confidentiality agreements,” said Mills. “But know that regardless of your efforts, some will disregard these rights and steal your intellectual property.   Having proper documentation and protection upfront might help your employees and legal team with the tools to protect your intellectual property.”

ABOUT B2B CFO^®

B2B CFO^® is the nation’s largest CFO firm serving entrepreneurial, growth and mid-market companies with sales up to $75 million.  Headquartered in Phoenix, AZ and operating in 39 States, the firm was founded in 1987 by Jerry L. Mills.  The firm’s partners have an average of 25 years of experience and each partner is a senior level executive with a broad range of expertise.   For more information on the company, please visit www.b2bcfo.com

Jerry L. Mills, founder and CEO of the company, is a small business expert and a national speaker.  Mills is the author of “The Danger Zone – Lost in the Growth Transition” and “Avoiding The Danger Zone – Business Illusions” – non-fiction business books aimed at entrepreneurs.   To purchase a copy, please visit online at www.dangerzonebook.com.

The Wall Street Journal has recently featured B2B CFO in their printed edition. Follow this link to read the entire article online, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125358186243529783.html

The following was an article that I wrote that was published in the FENG newsletter on August 12, 2009.

I do not know if you realize this or not, but Matt Bud, in his August 6, 2009 editorial, gave some of the wisest counsel to professionals that I have ever witnessed. He said,

“Friends, it really isn't all that hard to know you didn't start in your first job out of college as a Controller or Chief Financial Officer. The other technique is saying "prior to 1985 I worked at the following 4 companies," but not give the years you worked there. All foolishness if you think about it. It begs the question of how old you are, and the reader is always going to guess higher.”
 

Let me give you some background that might help with this issue. I was an experienced manager with Arthur Andersen & Co. back in the 1980’s. Naturally, my goal was to push hard to become partner. I witnessed two partners that were asked to “retire” in their early 50s. I spoke privately to them about the situation and witnessed, first hand, the devastating impact to their lives about this forced retirement. I went home to my wife and told her that I would never allow any person or any company to ever do that to me. I decided at that moment to start my own consulting firm. My goal was to be at my highest earnings and greatest productivity in my 50’s and going into my 60’s. I have now exceeded that goal.

My consulting firm has grown from three people to 126 in the past four years. We are receiving 120+ resumes a month from CFOs.

I personally read each resume to see if the person is a potential candidate for our firm. One of the most disturbing trends that I see in the resumes is incomplete information, similar to the issue that Matt Bud addressed above. It is very common for CFOs to send us a resume with experience starting in 1990 and no more information. They sometimes say, “prior experience provided upon request,” or something similar. Even more frustrating, about 90% of the resumes that I read have no dates of graduation from universities or colleges.

I used to contact people with incomplete resumes to ask for more information. Often, they would get angry with me. One told me, “I can’t believe I am wasting so much time with you.”

I used to ask CFOs why they left such critical information off their resumes. The answers usually were something like, “I hired a professional that advised me to not disclose the early part of my career.” I have never understood why someone would want to hide, perhaps, the most important part of their career. I have finally given up on people with incomplete resumes and toss them so I can spend time on the complete ones.

I understand why CFOs leave this information off their resumes: They are afraid of age discrimination. I wrote the following on a CD in 2006 that addresses this issue:

“There is one reason for the job insecurity of CFOs that really bothers me  - age discrimination.  We see it all the time.  This is an unspoken discrimination that hurts the job security of CFOs as they approach their 50’s and 60’s.   Age discrimination is against the law and employers are very careful to use phrases such as “not compatible,” “not dynamic,” “may not fit into the organization,” “has different goals than our company,” and so forth.  What they really mean to say is that they want to find a younger person that will work longer hours for less pay.  You can’t fight age discrimination, but you can beat it, if you choose the right course of action.  A person in their 50ss or 60s should be at the highest value to a company.  They have, after all, worked about a quarter of a century and have a wealth of knowledge, experience and wisdom.  Unfortunately, and naturally, most employers look at cost and decide to get rid of the older professionals in order to make room for someone that costs less money.”

My attitude is that I can’t solve a problem unless I first recognize it. We must recognize that age discrimination exists. The question then becomes, “How do I beat age discrimination?”

The best way to beat age discrimination is to start your own consulting firm. I tell our new partners that we are going to turn “gray hair,” into “green dollars.” You might consider turning the tables on people that use age discrimination by having them hire you as a consultant instead of an employee.

I proudly tell people that I have “more than a quarter century” of experience, and then have them pay me accordingly.

B2B CFO Challenges Negative Perception on Small Business Lending  

PHOENIX (June 11, 2009) - The troubled economy and strict regulations surrounding small business lending have not been a roadblock for B2B CFO Partners working to secure loans for their clients.  To date, B2B CFO Partners have helped their clients secure more than $111 million in business loans, and the company is projecting that secured loans will total $250 million by end of 2009. 

Jerry L. Mills, founder and CEO of the Company, attributes this success directly to B2B CFO's expertise in small business finance and the emphasis that the Company puts on banking relationships.  Mills challenges the negative perception on small business lending.   According to Mills, business owners need to understand the recent changes in the banking industry.

A dynamic shift took place in business banking in the beginning of 2008.  This drastic change in the approval process means that business owners cannot approach banks in the same way they did in the past.  Not knowing what information to present when approaching banks, and most importantly not knowing how to present the information, often results in rejections of loan applications.  

"The old ways of obtaining bank loans are dead," said Mills.  "And we must adjust to the new ways."

Mills strongly believes that today's business owners are better served having professional advice before approaching the bank for a loan. B2B CFO is the nation's largest CFO firm servicing exclusively the needs of businesses with revenue under $75 million.  The Company's 121 Partners across 43 states help approximately 500 business owners around the country with finance, cash flow and growth-related issues.   Each B2B CFO Partner works as a chief financial officer for several clients at any given time. 

Mills is currently serving as a CFO for 10 growth-oriented businesses in the Phoenix area.  When it comes to securing loans, Mills works diligently not only to match his clients with the appropriate banks, but also to prepare documentation that meets the needs of the bank, increasing probability of closing on the loan. 

Mills recently turned to Alliance Bank of Arizona, a local business bank for a significant loan for one of his clients, Integrated Landscape Management, one of the largest commercial landscape management companies in the state. Co-founders Robert Clinkenbeard and John Garigen had used their personal loans to pay for a fleet of vehicles, a not uncommon situation in small business. As a result, their personal FICO scores and personal borrowing capabilities were compromised.

Mills and ILM approached Alliance for a business loan that would be used to pay off the multiple individual loans on ILM's fleet of vehicles. By securing the business loan, ILM's founders not only relieved their personal finances, they also improved the cash flow for the company by $75,000 per year. 

"Unlike other banks, Alliance Bank took the time to get to know our business and to understand our needs," said John Garigen. "But it was the sound advice from B2B CFO that got us on the right path.   Jerry shared a lot of information with us about how banks work and what they need, and we were much better prepared to present our case when asking for a loan." 

Robert Gramhill, Alliance Bank's Vice President, oversaw the transaction. According to Gramhill, Alliance Bank is actively lending to qualified small business owners.  Alliance Bank, based in Phoenix, Ariz. is a subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation, which funded approximately $400 million in new loans in 2008.

 "The case of Integrated Landscape Management is one of the many examples of small business loans that we provide," said Gramhill. "At Alliance we are continually lending money to qualified businesses."

"Small and mid-size businesses today have more potential than ever. They are the ones creating jobs, purchasing equipment and real estate.  They are the heart of our economy, and it is in everyone's best interest to help them succeed," added Mills.

In a recent survey of 374 clients, B2B CFO discovered that finding cash for growth is the key concern for business owners around the country. With loans averaging $1.8 million, B2B CFO is helping its clients find cash to fund growth and create jobs. 

Jim Lundy, Alliance Bank of Arizona President and CEO, summarizes the value of having professional support when securing loans. "In these challenging economic times it's critical that local businesses work closely with their bank to work out a loan structure that makes sense for both parties," said Lundy.  "Seeking outside expertise in understanding how banks work may be a great way for the busy business owner to obtain a financing package that works well for the business and the bank."

About Alliance Bank of Arizona:

Founded in 2003, Alliance Bank has quickly become one of the fastest-growing banks in the U.S. with total assets of $886 million, total deposits of $733 million and total loans of $682 million (as of 3/31/09).  Alliance Bank is a "super community" commercial bank with local decision-making, focused on Arizona's business and professional community, along with individuals seeking personalized banking service.  Alliance Bank has 11 offices statewide including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tucson, Flagstaff and Sedona.  . For more information, visit the Alliance Bank of Arizona Web site at http://www.alliancebankofarizona.com/.

Alliance Bank of Arizona is a subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation. Western Alliance Bancorporation is one of the largest regional bank holding companies in the country with more than $5 billion in assets.

ABOUT B2B CFO^®

B2B CFO^® is the nation's largest CFO firm serving entrepreneurial, growth and mid-market companies with sales up to $75 million.  Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., the firm was founded in 1987 by Jerry L. Mills.  The firm's partners have an average of 25 years of experience and each partner is a senior level executive with a broad range of expertise.   For more information on the company, please visit http://www.b2bcfo.com/

Jerry L. Mills, founder and CEO of the company, is a small business expert and a national speaker.  Mills is the author of "The Danger Zone - Lost in the Growth Transition" and "Avoiding The Danger Zone - Business Illusions" - non-fiction business books aimed at entrepreneurs.   To purchase a copy, please visit online at http://www.dangerzonebook.com/.  

"Jerry Mills has been associated with my business for nearly fifteen years. He has helped train and over see my accounting staff. This has given me peace of mind as this is not my area of expertise. His network of professionals has helped me establish no hassle relationships with quality lawyers and bankers. In my small company environment, Jerry's broad range of business acumen has been a great substitute for a larger company's board of directors. It has been very cost effective as I am only paying for services rendered as I need them, thus eliminating the need for excessive staff."

Tom Stanley, President, Pinnacle Mfg. Co., Inc.
http://pinnacle-az.com/

"I have been in contracting for over 22 years. It wasn't until Jerry Mills came on board that I was able to see a much clearer picture regarding everything from cash flow, sales, margins, trends, etc. It also helped me manage my staff because Jerry was very hands on with training as it relates to construction accounting. I am very pleased with the work ethics, integrity and the personal attention to detail. I have recommended Jerry to several clients and will continue to do so in the future."

Scott A. Bjerk, President, Bjerk Builders, Inc.
http://bjerkbuilders.com/

"B2B CFO^® is one of the best business decisions we have ever made.  It's great to have someone with their expertise on our team.  As a business owner there are so many things to do and areas where great knowledge is required.  Jerry Mills has helped to teach me the things I need to know to be wise in running the financial end, areas I didn't know much about before.  We are now more profitable and able to make decisions based on great information, from a position of strength instead of the unknown."

Kathy Sweet, Co-Owner, Vice President
http://www.automatik.us