Bob Wells, CFO

Consulting CFO & Financial Advisor

Your financials are telling you something.
Most owners never find out what—until it’s too late.

You still have time to find out.

Most business owners are handed reports that show what happened. I look at what’s underneath—the structure that explains it—and tell you what’s coming before it becomes a problem.

Revenue is up. Cash is still tight. You can’t figure it out.

You’ve built something real—but your business runs because you show up. That’s not an asset. That’s a job.

The owners who sell well started preparing years before they were ready to leave. Every year you wait, that exit gets harder to pull off.

Only if you want to talk. Ask me a question

A conversation costs nothing. Clarity might be worth everything.

40+ Years in Finance
MBA University of Chicago
$5M–$75M Client Revenue Range
“Every business has a structure underneath the numbers that explains why things are the way they are. Most owners never see it—they just see reports. I dig beneath the surface so I can show you your hidden structure, and once you see it, everything changes.”

— Bob Wells

Got a question you haven’t asked anyone yet?

Most owners have one. Ask it here—every question is read personally, and the best ones become new articles.

What owners carry

The questions that don’t go away

You’re running a real business—but the numbers feel like a foreign language. You’re not sure if you’re actually profitable, whether you can afford that hire, or what your business is worth if you ever want to sell. These aren’t small questions. They’re the ones that keep you up at night.

Cash confusion

Profitable on paper, but watching the bank account with anxiety. You need a 13-week cash picture, not a monthly report.

Invisible revenue erosion

Something is eating your margins—but the reports don’t show you where. The structure underneath is hiding it.

The business that won’t sell

80% of businesses never sell. The structural problems that kill deals are all preventable—if you start early enough.

You built something real. The numbers should tell you where it’s going next—not keep you guessing.

The guide

40 years asking one question

Bob Wells, CFO and financial advisor

What’s the structure underneath?

That question has guided 40 years of work—international banking at UBS, a full-time CFO role (growing one company from $7M to $67M), and consulting engagements across industries ever since.

The question matters more than the credential. If something in your numbers doesn’t make sense, that’s exactly what’s worth working through together.

This site exists to share those lessons freely. If it raises a question about your own situation, the conversation is always open.

What working together looks like

It usually starts with a single conversation—no prep, no commitment, just your questions and my honest read on what your numbers are telling you. If there’s a fit, we typically meet several times a month. You bring the decisions you’re wrestling with; I bring the financial structure behind them. No long-term commitment. Most clients say the first thing that changes isn’t the numbers—it’s the confidence. My clients don’t pay me to get my attention—they pay me to stick around. You stop guessing and start knowing.

How it works

Three steps. No complexity.

Working with a CFO shouldn’t feel like a procurement process. Here’s exactly what it looks like.

1

A conversation

We talk about your business—where you are, what you’re trying to do, what’s getting in the way. No prep needed. No agenda except your questions.

2

Clarity on the structure

I show you what the numbers are actually telling you—the patterns underneath the reports, and where the real opportunities or risks are hiding.

3

Move forward with confidence

You make the big decisions—hiring, pricing, capital, exit—with a clear financial picture instead of a gut feeling.

Once you see the structure underneath your numbers, you stop reacting and start deciding.

What’s at stake

Two paths from here

Without clarity

— Flying blind on cash flow

— Margins eroding unnoticed

— Decisions made on instinct, not data

— A business that can’t be sold

With a clear picture

+ 13-week cash visibility

+ Revenue structure understood

+ Confidence in every major decision

+ Exit-ready from day one

Start here

What the numbers are actually telling you

40 years of financial patterns, shared freely. The best ones become the foundation for everything else.

All articles

Cash Basis vs. Accrual Accounting

Two ways of looking at the same money. One shows you reality. The other can hide it.

Read →

Choosing Your Business Structure

LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp—the real differences, the tax implications, and the one question most owners skip.

Read →

S-Corp Owner Salaries

The IRS has a specific idea of what “reasonable” means. Getting this wrong can cost six figures.

Read →

Understanding Your Tax Obligations

Payroll, sales, income, franchise—what you owe, when you owe it, and the traps that catch people.

Read →

The One Thing That Doubles Your Valuation

It’s not revenue growth. It’s making yourself replaceable. The paradox that unlocks real enterprise value.

Read →

The Capital Stack

Six layers of acquisition financing. What each one costs you—in money, control, and flexibility.

Read →

Capital Stack for Buyers

How you pay for an acquisition determines whether you thrive or become a zombie. A buyer’s guide to structuring the deal.

Read →

Understanding SBA 7(a) Lending

The primary tool for acquisition financing—eligibility, viability criteria, and structural advantages.

Read →

AI for Business Owners

Skip the hype. A practical framework for where AI actually moves the needle—and the governance problem you already have.

Read →

What I Learned at ACQUICON 2026

Two days, 17 sessions, and a few ideas that stuck. Exit readiness, capital structure, AI governance, and the value of being in the right room.

Read →

Why High-Growth Startups Choose the C Corp

The Section 1202 QSBS exclusion can save founders millions at exit. When the C corporation is the right choice—and when the LLC is still better.

Read →

What Clients & Colleagues Say

Real stories from business owners and professionals who know the work firsthand.

“Bob doesn’t just handle the financial side—he teaches us how to understand it. Instead of fishing for us, he showed us how to fish, and that changed everything. We’ve built stronger internal systems, gained real visibility into our project margins, and developed the confidence to make better, data-driven decisions. The biggest change is that we’re no longer guessing.”

David Hubbard — CEO, DM Electrical and Construction

“Bob is more than a fractional CFO—he takes genuine interest in learning all aspects of your business and is an active contributor to your leadership team. His decades of experience combined with his ongoing hunger for new knowledge has created a finance team for our business that is amazing. Audit-ready financials within 10 days of each month’s close, and incredibly focused and accurate projections.”

Tom Haynes — President, Acuity Marketing / CarPro

“Everything has changed for the better thanks to Bob and the people he knows. We built a marketing machine and are working it in a very focused, diligent way—revenues are blowing up. We’ve just agreed on a property acquisition to expand. Retaining Bob was one of the best decisions I’ve made in the past 40 years.”

Ron Rumpza — President, Superior Grouting

“Bob quickly develops trust with his clients through his integrity and transparency. He brings a large level of business acumen to his engagements. The one thing that has impressed me the most is his ability to effectively communicate with both his clients and their financial partners.”

Jack Doherty — EVP, Commercial Banking, Frost Bank

“Bob doesn’t position himself as the smartest person in the room. He positions the business owner’s future as the thing worth protecting. Most financial advisors sell their credentials. Bob sells clarity. Those are two different things.”

Bryndon Preston — StoryBrand Certified Guide

“Bob’s analytical skills allow him to see things as they are, setting a solid foundation for growth. His ability to communicate complex concepts plainly and frankly make him not just a financial guide but a valued ally in any business venture.”

Abul Hassan — CEO, Ciranta IT

“I have personally witnessed Bob spend time imparting wisdom with no guarantee it would pay a dime. Bob is the reason why businesses are successful, because people matter.”

Christopher Nichley — CEO, Bison Commercial Construction

“A top-notch CFO who brings together a rare combination of integrity, financial acumen, hard work, and professionalism. Bob played a vital role in the launch and successful growth of QRI for nearly a decade.”

Nansen G. Saleri, PhD — Chairman & CEO, QRI International

“Bob has an exceptional ability to distill financial complexity into clear, actionable intelligence and turn it into decisions you can actually act on. I watched him help take a company on a remarkable growth journey that most would consider extraordinary by any measure. He’s not just a numbers guy—he’s a trusted partner who makes the whole business smarter.”

Sy Salerian — VP, Global Business Services, QRI International

“Bob was a good sounding board for me and our team. He helped align the key stakeholders within the company by providing a fair and constructive third party perspective.”

Kathy Bintz — CEO/Principal, Creative Retail Packaging

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Bob Wells as a temporary CFO for the past 10 years, and he is the consummate professional. With deep expertise in corporate finance and business management, Bob delivers strategic insights and results that drive success. A great value to any organization seeking a trusted financial leader.”

Gabe Castaneda III — Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking

Know Bob’s work? Share your experience →

Organizations Bob Works With

Partnerships that extend what I can offer and where I show up.

Redstone Business Consulting Group

Business consulting across capital resources, growth strategy, M&A, change management, operational design, and HR compliance. When a client’s needs go beyond the financial layer, Redstone is the broader team I work alongside.

Visit Redstone BCG →
Landing Big Whales

A Houston-based B2B network built around strategic relationship-building for business owners and professionals. If you’re looking for your next referral partner, this is the room to be in. Learn about the Spiderweb Effect®.

Visit Landing Big Whales →

About Bob

My career started in international banking with UBS, managing Fortune 500 lending relationships from Chicago and New York. I’ve since worked as a full-time CFO—growing one company from $7 million to $67 million in revenue—and as a consulting CFO advising businesses across a range of industries.

I was born and raised in South America and am fluent in English and Spanish. I hold an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago and a BS in Finance from Brigham Young University.

As the Principal at Bob Wells CFO, I advise entrepreneurs on cash flow, growth, financing, and exit planning. My sweet spot is working with businesses in the $5M to $75M revenue range.

When I’m not reading financial statements, I’m running the streets of Houston. Here’s what 700+ miles has taught a 70-year-old CFO about patience, structure, and showing up.

Career Arc

  • International Banking — UBS Fortune 500 lending in Chicago & New York, built from analyst to Director
  • CFO — QRI Group, Houston Oil & gas reservoir management. Grew revenue from $7M to $67M.
  • Consulting CFO & Advisor Advising businesses across multiple industries on growth, cash flow, and strategy
  • Partner — Redstone Business Consulting Group Business consulting spanning capital, growth strategy, M&A, and operational design

Education

MBA in Finance — University of Chicago
BS in Finance — Brigham Young University

Professional Affiliations

Redstone Business Consulting Group — Partner
CFO Leadership Council — Houston Chapter
The FENG — Financial Executives Networking Group
Vistage — Peer Advisory Group

Ready to see what your numbers are actually telling you?

A conversation costs nothing.

Clarity might be worth everything.

Only if you want to talk.