Hi, I’m your on-demand finance person.
You didn’t start a business to stare at spreadsheets.
I help founders and small business owners get more from their finances: clear numbers, a real plan, and systems that keep up with growth. No full-time hire needed.
Who I work with
Sound familiar?
“I’ll look at the financials this weekend.”
You said that last month too. Then next month’s statements landed. It’s an endless cycle, and finance is right in the middle of it.
“Finance is slowing us down.”
It matters, but your time is better spent on sales or product or customers. Anything, really.
“Our systems weren’t built for this.”
Growth is great. Tools creaking under customer volume, less so.
“The board wants a report. Again.”
You’ve raised money or taken on debt, and reporting takes more of your time every quarter.
What I do
Strategic finance & operations, in plain English.
I don’t just crunch your numbers. I learn your business, follow a dollar from your customer all the way back to cash, and build what’s needed around it.
Strategy
Matching your goals to your real resources, constraints, and context. Money isn’t unlimited and no business runs in a vacuum.
Finance
What happened, what’s likely next, and what happens if things change?
Operations
The data, systems and workflows that turn theory into practice. This is where the rubber meets the road.
No one-size-fits-all playbook
How I serve
Revenue
Sales growth, capacity planning, scenario modeling, revenue operations
Cost
Budgeting, margin improvement, savings, resource allocation
Capital
Cash flow, debt and bank relationships, fundraising prep
Infrastructure
Systems and workflows designed for more leverage, build-vs-buy decisions, and implementation, using modern tools (including AI) where they help
How I work
Built on your foundation.
On top of your accounting.
Your bookkeeper and accountant are the foundation. I work with them and add business context to the numbers.
Works with your systems.
Accounting, ERP, CRM, expense tools. I’ve seen a lot, and they share a lot. I’ll work with what you have.
No accountant? No problem.
I’ve worked with plenty of great ones and I’m glad to make an introduction. My Rolodex is your Rolodex.
Why fractional
Lower risk. Cost-effective. Honest about when to hire.
Most early-stage companies and small businesses don’t need a full-time finance team. The workload, volume, and complexity just aren’t there yet.
When that changes, I’ll be the first to tell you, and I’ll help you find the right hire.
How it starts
A typical engagement
It starts with a conversation. I want to hear your hopes, dreams, and nightmares so we can find the most useful place to start. That might be:
Board meeting prep
Budget vs. actuals
Cash cycle management
Revenue & scenario models
System implementation
Vendor search & due diligence
Some engagements have clear deliverables. Others are open-ended. Some are hourly, some flat-fee. All of them are clearly scoped, and we agree on terms that work for both of us.
About
Hi, I’m Nick Sims.
For more than 15 years, I’ve run finance and operations everywhere from large enterprises to small, founder-led companies. I’ve been the diligent analyst, the first finance hire and the trusted advisor, at venture-backed (seed to Series B) and bootstrapped businesses across a range of industries.
Along the way I’ve:
→ Stood up the finance function at venture-backed tech companies
→ Turned owner-run businesses into documented, handoff-ready operations
→ Designed systems that bring clarity to the numbers
→ Delivered forecasts that let founders walk into board meetings with confidence
I started Benson Street Advisors because I believe finance should be a competitive advantage for every business, regardless of size.
CFA charterholder
MBA, Kellogg School of Management
Let’s talk.
Tell me a little about your business and what’s keeping you up at night.