Outsourced FD ROI: Real SME Case Studies 2026

kimberleylock
Feb 7
2 min read

For many small and medium-sized businesses, hiring an outsourced Finance Director (FD) isn’t just a cost, it’s an investment.

But what’s the tangible return? How does it translate to cash savings, faster growth, or smoother operations?

In this article, we share three real-world SME case studies demonstrating how outsourced FDs unlock measurable ROI, so you can decide if it’s the right move for your business

Why ROI Matters for Finance Leadership

A Finance Director’s job is to drive better decisions, reduce waste, improve cash flow, and set your business up for profitable growth. Measuring ROI on finance leadership isn’t just about what you spend, but what you save, earn, or avoid losing.

Case Study 1: Unlocking £450k Cash by Reducing Aged Stock

Business: (Manufacturer, £7.4m turnover)

Challenge: £2.5m stock holding with £1m+ tied up in slow-moving items.
Action: FD reviewed BOMs and engineering processes; updated them to prioritise using older stock instead of purchasing new parts unnecessarily.
Result: Reduced stock holding by over £450k within 8 months.
ROI: Freed cash to fund operations and growth without needing external finance, avoiding £50k/year in additional overdraft costs.

Case Study 2: 4x Faster Budgeting & Forecasting

Business: (Retail, £1.8m turnover)

Challenge: Budgeting cycle took over 3 months each year, stalling decisions.
Action: FD introduced cloud-based forecasting tools; trained team on real-time data use.
Result: Reduced budgeting cycle from 3 months to 3 weeks, accelerating investment decisions and improving board confidence.
ROI: Time savings worth ~£25k/year in management hours plus faster execution of revenue-generating projects.

Case Study 3: Securing £400k Growth Funding

Business: (Construction, £5m turnover)

Challenge: Struggled to present robust financials to lenders/investors; had no clear forecasting model.
Action: FD prepared professional management accounts, cash-flow forecasts, and business plans.
Result: Secured £400k in funding at competitive interest rates.
ROI: Enabled 40% revenue growth over 18 months - far exceeding the cost of outsourced FD support.

Key Metrics to Track ROI on an outsourced FD

Cash unlocked from working capital improvements
Time saved on finance processes (budgeting, reporting, audits)
Funding raised or financing costs reduced
profitability gains from strategic changes
Revenue growth supported by better decision making

FAQs

How do you measure ROI on an outsourced FD?

Look at cash saved or freed, time efficiencies, avoided costs, and improvements in growth or margins compared to the cost of the service.

What is a typical ROI multiple for an outsourced FD?

Most SMEs see returns of 3–10x their investment in outsourced FD fees, depending on the scope of work.

Conclusion

Outsourced Finance Directors can unlock powerful ROI by freeing cash, reducing time waste, and positioning your business for faster, more profitable growth, often at a fraction of the cost of hiring in-house.

Ready to see why ROI an outsourced FD could delver for you?