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Who is Valkrest?

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:07:24 GMT

A lot of business owners think a CFO is something you “get later”, like an HR department, a fancy coffee machine, or shirts without stains on them.

The Real Value of a Fractional CFO (And Why Modern Businesses Swear by Them)

But most growing businesses need CFO-level thinking long before they can justify the full-time price tag.

That’s where a fractional CFO comes in, senior expertise without the painful salary. You get someone who’s handled investors, scaling, funding rounds, forecasting nightmares and “we might be out of cash next month” moments.

But the real magic? Perspective.

A good fractional CFO brings calm to chaos. We spot the things that keep you awake at 3 am, turn messy numbers into decisions, and translate financial jargon into real English (the British kind, with sarcasm included).

At Valkrest, we don’t swoop in, drop a spreadsheet, and vanish. We become part of your leadership conversations, helping you shape the business you actually want, not the one you’re constantly scrambling to keep up with.

The result? You grow faster, smarter, and with fewer “oh no” moments.

Planning for Exit?

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 13:32:51 GMT

It’s Not Just for the Big Players

One of the things most people don’t tell you when you’re building a business is: planning your exit should probably start far earlier than you think. Succession, sale, whatever “what’s next” means for you, it’s a journey that’s best plotted long before you reach the end.

Why? Because in my years as a CFO working with founders, I’ve seen the real cost of poor exit planning, and it’s not just financial. Messy reporting, weak governance, and late-stage forecasting all erode value. Buyers and successors often pay a premium not just for revenue, but for clarity, sustainability, and a business that’s ready to run without its founder glued to the hot seat.

Here’s what the UK data says: SMEs (which make up 99.8% of UK businesses) are absolutely the backbone of our economy, British Business Bank . Yet, many don’t think about exit as a purposeful phase; they treat it as an afterthought. That’s a shame, because when done right, exit or succession gives you more than a clean break; it gives you legacy, and sometimes, money.

What Smart Exit Planning Looks Like

Clean financials: We prepare your books as though a buyer is coming through tomorrow.

Governance and process: Strong reporting and decision-making structures make your business more transition-friendly.

People focus: Succession isn’t just about money; who takes over, and how they feel about it, matters as much as the numbers.
Legacy strategy: What do you want people to remember? And how does that legacy align with the business value?

By planning early, you don’t just plan for an exit; you plan for a future. And importantly, a future that doesn’t feel rushed, regretful, or undervalued.

Why Most Start Ups Fail

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:36:30 GMT

How Smart Finance Can Change That

When I first started working with early-stage businesses, I was struck by something sobering: despite passion, innovation, and long hours, a huge number of start-ups still don’t make it. The stats don’t lie, according to PwC, the failure rate among start-ups is at its “lowest level for more than a decade,” but it’s still worryingly high for many.

So, why is financial clarity such a rare superpower? Well, data from a recent report shows that of the 325,811 UK start-ups registered in 2020, only 47% survived to 2023. Enterprise Research Centre, even more stark: only 2% of those surviving firms reached £1 million turnover in that time. Ouch.

Here’s my take: too many founders treat financial planning like overhead, something to be tucked away in Excel and revisited only when the bank account starts screaming. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

How Smart, Early Financial Leadership Helps

Cash runway clarity: Knowing exactly how long your cash lasts isn’t sexy, but it’s the single most important question you need to answer as a founder.

Scenario planning: Rather than crossing your fingers, we run “what ifs”, what if sales are slower? What if costs go up? How do we manage?

Investor trust: When your investors see that you have detailed, realistic models and a CFO-level partner, they take you more seriously.

I’ve been there, working with founders staring at the ceiling at 2 am, wondering if they’ll make payroll. And I’ve also been there when, together, we built a forecast that showed not just “can we survive?” but “how do we thrive?”

If you’re building something and you’ve not yet brought in a financial strategy, you might be unintentionally betting on blind luck. And while luck is a valid strategy in Vegas, it’s not a strategy for business sustainability.

Early-Stage Finance

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 03:29:12 GMT

Let’s be honest, when you’re building a business, “finance” often sits somewhere between sorting out receipts and finally fixing that dodgy office printer. Understandable. Early days are chaotic, exciting, and powered by caffeine and blind optimism.

Why Your Business Needs Strategic Finance Earlier Than You Think

But here’s the twist: strategic finance is most powerful before things get complicated.

Bringing financial thinking in early isn’t about becoming corporate or killing the vibe. It’s about giving you a clear view of your runway, your margins, and what’s truly driving your business — rather than relying on crossed fingers and goodwill.

Think of it as switching from “guessing” to “actually knowing.”

At Valkrest, we help founders turn financial fog into something you can actually see through. We help you make confident decisions, avoid unnecessary fires, and build a structure investors don’t raise an eyebrow at.

Because getting the numbers right early isn’t being cautious, it’s being brilliantly prepared. And frankly, it makes the rest of the journey far less stressful.

Exit & Succession

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 17:08:37 GMT

Selling or passing on your business is a bit like moving house: emotional, stressful, and full of paperwork you forgot existed. And, as with moving house, the people who prepare early tend to have a far smoother time than those who are still boxing up their loft the night before completion.

Preparing for Exit or Succession: Why Starting Early Protects Value

The businesses that secure the best valuations aren’t the flashiest; they’re the ones that are well organised. Clean financials. Clear reporting. Forecasts that aren’t just hopeful doodles.

At Valkrest, we work with founders to build this clarity long before an exit is on the table. Because the last thing you want is for a buyer to spend half their due diligence scratching their heads thinking, “What on earth is going on here?”

We help you tidy up the numbers, strengthen the narrative, and prepare the business to run without you glued to it. But we also handle the human bits, the legacy, the worries, the “what next?” questions that don’t fit neatly into a spreadsheet.

A well-planned exit isn’t about stepping away. It’s about stepping forward with confidence and a clear head.

Personal Wealth

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 13:38:01 GMT

Managing personal wealth can feel suspiciously like sorting out the kitchen junk drawer; you know it’s important, but every time you open it, you immediately close it again.

Making Sense of Your Personal Wealth (Without the Overwhelm)

Savings here, investments there, pensions you vaguely remember agreeing to in 2008… It’s no wonder it feels overwhelming.

But here’s the thing: personal wealth doesn’t need to be complicated or intimidating. What most people need isn’t a lecture; it’s clarity, confidence, and someone who can explain your finances without sounding like a walking textbook.

At Valkrest, we help you understand what you’ve got, what you need, and what’s possible. We break things down into simple steps, build a plan that actually fits your life, and help you make decisions you feel good about.

Because managing your money shouldn’t feel like a chore. It should feel empowering, and ideally involve fewer spreadsheets than you fear.

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Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:10:28 GMT

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Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:14:32 GMT