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 Aristotle Polites, fractional FP&A and financial strategy lead at Black Slate Studio
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Get strategic financial leadership without

the cost of a full-time finance team.

Black Slate Studio helps businesses improve finacial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, cash flow planning, executive reporting, KPI dashboards, profitability analysis, pricing strategy, and scenario planing 

Fractional FP&A
for Growing Businesses.

Black Slate Studio provides fractional FP&A for growing businesses that need strategic financial leadership without hiring a full-time finance team.

We help businesses improve financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, cash flow planning, executive reporting, KPI dashboards, profitability

analysis, pricing strategy, and scenario planning 

through our disciplined Strategy → Operations → Performance framework.

Fractional FP&A for Growing Businesses
An Ongoing Partnership

Budget vs. actual forecast chart showing FP&A financial planning services

PLANNING

Planning & Forecasting

Building the roadmap before you need one.

  • Realistic budgets and forecasts built around what your business can actually afford, not just what you want to happen.
  • Modeling what-if scenarios so you're ready before conditions change, not after.
Cash flow chart and gross profit breakdown by segment for cash flow management and profitability analysis

LIQUIDITY

Cash Flow & Profitability

Knowing where the money is, and where it's going.

  • Clear visibility into your runway and burn rate, so growth doesn't outpace your cash.
  • Breaking down your margins to show where the real profit is, and where it's leaking.

OUR SERVICES

Fractional FP&A services for founder-led businesses — budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, and cash flow planning delivered as an ongoing partnership, not a one-off consultation.

Scenario comparison bar chart showing base, upside, and downside case financial modeling for FP&A analysis

ANALYSIS

Financial Modeling & Analysis

Understanding what's actually driving your numbers.

  • Models that show you what a decision actually costs before you make it.
  • Comparing actual results to plan, and telling you exactly what changed and why.
Price versus gross margin chart with executive financial summary for pricing strategy and reporting

STRATEGY

Pricing & Reporting

Turning numbers into decisions.

  • Pricing built on real margin math, not guesswork.
  • Turning your numbers into a clear story leadership can actually act on.

What Working Together Looks Like

OUR PROCESS

Our fractional FP&A process for founder-led businesses — a straightforward path from intro call to ongoing financial partnership, built around understanding your business before making financial recommendations.

Revenue KPI card showing $2.48 million and 15.6% year-over-year growth
Cash runway KPI card showing 14 months and on-track status
Monthly check-in card showing an FP&A meeting scheduled every fourth Tuesday
Gross margin KPI card showing 42% and a 3.2% increase
Forecast confidence KPI card showing 78% with medium risk
Notebook and pen on desk representing the initial consultation for fractional FP&A services

01

Discovery Call

We start with a conversation about your business, your goals, and the financial challenges holding you back. No pitch, no pressure — if it’s not the right fit, I’ll tell you honestly before either of us commits.

Calculator, financial reports, and charts representing a financial assessment for founder-led businesses

02

Financial Health Assessment

I’ll review your current financials, reporting, and planning process to find out what’s working, what’s missing, and where you’re flying blind. You’ll walk away with a clear picture.

Laptop displaying forecast overview dashboard for FP&A financial modeling and reporting

03

Build Your Financial Foundation

Once we agree on priorities, I’ll build the financial models, forecasts, and FP&A reporting tools that support your business. Everything is designed around how you actually make decisions — not generic templates.

Quarterly roadmap notebook representing ongoing fractional FP&A partnership and strategic planning

04

Ongoing Fractional FP&A Partnership

As your business evolves, your fractional FP&A support evolves with it. You’ll receive regular financial reporting, updated forecasts, and practical insight that helps you make informed decisions with greater confidence.

Ready to get clarity on your numbers?

Book a free intro call to see if we’re the right fit for your business.

You’ve outgrown basic bookkeeping and need ongoing FP&A support to make confident financial decisions. You want a partner who understands your business and helps you plan for what’s next — not just a once-a-year report

Is This Right for Your Business?

We’re probably a good fit if…

Sometimes the best recommendation
is saying we’re not the right fit.

Fractional FP&A works best for founder-led businesses that value financial clarity, strategic planning, and a long-term partner — not every business needs the same level of support.

We’ll always recommend what’s best for your business—even if that isn’t us.

We’re probably not the right fit if…

You need day-to-day bookkeeping or tax preparation.

You’re looking for a one-time deliverable rather

than an ongoing advisory relationship.

You already have an experienced

in-house finance team meeting your needs.

We’re probably not the right fit if…

  • You need day-to-day bookkeeping or tax preparation.

  • You're looking for a one-time deliverable rather than an ongoing advisory relationship.

  • You already have an experienced in-house finance team meeting your needs

MB Flowers

Retail Florist

BUSINESS CHALLENGE

Preparing a growing florist for Valentine’s Day while improving operations, customer flow, and the overall buying experience.

FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL SOLUTIONS

  • Contribution Margin Modeling

  • Product Profitability Analysis

  • Labor Cost Allocation

  • Product Mix Optimization

  • Break-Even Analysis

  • Pricing Strategy Support

  • Seasonal Financial Planning

  • Inventory & Retail Operations Strategy

  • Customer Flow Optimization

  • SOP Development

BUSINESS OUTCOME

Developed a contribution margin model that identified product-level profitability, allocated labor costs across offerings, evaluated break-even points, and optimized product mix to support pricing, seasonal planning, inventory decisions, and more profitable operations.

Black Slate Studio engagement principles: custom financial support, decision systems instead of reports, long-term partnership, and Strategy → Operations → Performance

Strategy in Action 

Every engagement is different. Here’s a look at the businesses we’ve partnered with and the work we’ve delivered.

SELECTED ENGAGEMENTS

Custom Holster Solutions 

Manufacturing / E-Commerce

BUSINESS CHALLENGE

Improving financial visibility so leadership could better understand performance, plan ahead, and make more informed operating decisions.

FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL SOLUTIONS

  • SKU-Level Profitability Analysis

  • Product Performance & Revenue Analysis

  • Customer Segmentation Analysis

  • Sales Trend Analysis

  • KPI Dashboard Development

  • Executive Reporting

  • Budgeting & Forecasting

  • Business Intelligence (Power BI)

  • Financial Reporting & Data Visualization

  • Decision Support Analytics

BUSINESS OUTCOME

Built a financial reporting and performance management system that improved visibility into business performance, supported data-driven planning, strengthened executive decision-making, and provided leadership with actionable financial insights.

Polites Florist

117-Year Family Business

Supported strategy and operations within a multi-location, fourth-generation retail florist operating in a complex seasonal environment.

Prior Leadership Experience

FINANCIAL & OPERATIONAL SOLUTIONS

  • Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

  • Financial Modeling & Budgeting

  • Forecasting & Scenario Planning

  • Retail Operations & Workflow Design

  • KPI Dashboards & Performance Reporting

  • Business Process Improvement

  • Strategic Planning

  • Cross-Functional Leadership

BUSINESS OUTCOME

Contributed to operational improvements across a multi-location retail business through financial analysis, process optimization, strategic planning, seasonal operations, KPI visibility, and cross-functional leadership. Supported initiatives that strengthened operational efficiency, improved decision-making, and enhanced the customer experience.

Still deciding if we're the right fit?

A short conversation will tell you.

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