Jonathon Blair

Free to Grow CFO

www.freetogrowcfo.com

Increase Profit and Cash Flow As You Scale. 

Outsourced CFO and Bookkeeping services for profit-focused DTC brands. 

Scaling a DTC brand is stressful. 

With messy books and no CFO on your team you run the risk of…

-Hiring too quickly 
-Buying too much inventory
-Scaling ad spend unprofitably
-Running out of cash

And that leads to stressful, sleepless nights. We don’t want that for you.

Free to Grow CFO has given dozens of DTC brands a plan for scaling alongside
healthy profit and cash flow. Our plan will work for you too


Fast, Insightful Reporting.  Proactive Strategic Advice.  From DTC Finance Experts.

-M&A
-Debt & Equity Funding
-Accurate Financials by the 15th
-Planning, Forecasting, Budgeting
-Financial Dashboards and KPI Tracking


All delivered through our proven, ready-to-implement “Free to Grow CFO Process”.

Founder | Fractional CFO

Luminous

Strategic Advisor

StoreHero

SureStop

SURESTOP (A Mark Cuban Company) is a patented brake technology which solves the problem of incorrect braking on bicycles and revolutionizes the experience of stopping on a bike. On a traditional bike, if a rider brakes too hard, or grabs the wrong brake lever at the wrong time, the front wheel can stop too soon, causing the bike to flip over. Not with SURESTOP. In addition to the safety advantage, SURESTOP also makes the experience of braking simple, requiring only one brake lever to control both brakes.

Learn more at:
www.surestop.bike

COO & CFO

Guardian Bikes

Guardian Bikes (A Mark Cuban Company) is a digitally native vertical brand focused on creating the world's safest kid's bikes, featuring our patented and award winning SureStop brake technology.

In addition to innovating the bicycle itself, Guardian has created the first truly seamless online bike buying experience. Our first of its kind online 3D sizing software (RideSizer), along with our 99% assembly and packaging methods, allow customers to receive the perfect sized bike to their door that's ready to ride in less than 10 minutes. www.guardianbikes.com

SureStop/Guardian Bike Company

SURESTOP (A Mark Cuban Company) is a patented brake technology which solves the problem of incorrect braking on bicycles and revolutionizes the experience of stopping on a bike. On a traditional bike, if a rider brakes too hard, or grabs the wrong brake lever at the wrong time, the front wheel can stop too soon, causing the bike to flip over. Not with SURESTOP. In addition to the safety advantage, SURESTOP also makes the experience of braking simple, requiring only one brake lever to control both brakes.

Learn more at:
www.surestop.bike

Guardian Bikes is a digitally native vertical brand focused on creating the world's safest kid's bikes, featuring our patented and award winning SureStop brake technology.

In addition to innovating the bicycle itself, Guardian has created the first truly seamless online bike buying experience. Our first of its kind online 3D sizing software (RideSizer), along with our 99% assembly and packaging methods, allow customers to receive the perfect sized bike to their door that's ready to ride in less than 10 minutes. www.guardianbikes.com

A Mark Cuban Company

Controller & Operations Director

RSS Manufacturing

Controller

Civil Solutions Incorporated

RSS Manufacturing/Phylrich

Accounting Manager

The Joseph Company International

DTC Brand Fractional CFO | Follower of Jesus | Husband | Father of 3 | Fractional CFO | Leadership, Strategy & Productivity Nerd

Formerly a founding team member, CFO, and COO for Guardian Bikes:
       -Shark Tank/Mark Cuban Company
       -High-growth DTC brand
       -Led business growth from $0 to 8-figure revenue in 4 years.  
       -Raised 8-figures in debt and equity capital 

Over a decade of experience working as a Controller, CFO, or COO at fast-growing companies with:
              -$5MM to $50MM in annual revenue
              -50% to 200% annual revenue growth

Founded Free to Grow CFO to:
       -Package hands-on experience leading growing brands
       -Help DTC brand founders increase profit and cash flow as they scale.

www.freetogrowcfo.com

www.freetogrowcfo.com

Fractional CFOs for High Growth Direct-to-Consumer Brands

Outsourced, part-time CFO services for high growth D2C brands, designed to help you scale your business with confidence.

You don't have to suffer through another sleepless night worrying about making difficult business decisions alone.  Hire a Free to Grow CFO and get the financial insights you need to make fast, effective business decisions with confidence.

Get access to the CFO you need to scale your business without the full-time salary:
-Strategic Planning
-Forecasting & Projections
-Cash Strategy & Fundraising
-Financial Statement Analysis

Jon Blair

NC SBTDC

In this role I lead the Business Launch Program, a team of counselors spread across the state who help entrepreneurs launch their dreams. We deliver the successful Taking the Leap cohort-based training program. In addition to leading Business Launch, I assist statewide leadership with any initiatives that will improve the already great program that is the NC SBTDC -- a business advisory resource, funded in part by the U.S. SBA, for small and mid-sized businesses across North Carolina.

Interim Director, Business Launch Program

The John Arthur Company

We're a high-touch strategic growth consultancy for food brands based in Italy that seek to launch or grow presence in natural or conventional grocery retailers in the United States.

Principal

The Ponzi Playbook

The Ponzi Playbook is a podcast that exposes the dark underbelly of the financial world. (Opinions are my own, not that of my employer nor of any affiliation of mine.)

Podcast Host

The Calmery Co.

The Calmery is a forthcoming online boutique that sells luxe calming products.

Owner

RodeoCPG

Director, Client Management

SBTDC

In this role I led a team of talented business counselors, ensured client success, built synergy and partnerships with our regional and state partners to help businesses reach their full potential, and advised businesses myself. We helped over 2,000 business in our office during my tenure, helping raise over $150M in capital and grew sales by over $60M. The SBTDC is a business advisory resource, funded in part by the U.S. SBA, for small and mid-sized businesses across North Carolina.

Regional Director

Nellino’s Sauce Co.

Built Nellino's into a top 5 premium pasta sauce brand in the southeast U.S. per Nielsen data, with even broader distribution, including four regions of Whole Foods, Harris Teeter, Kroger, Costco, Ingles, Lowes Foods, Earth Fare, Fresh Thyme, Plated, and more. Secured key distributor partnerships (KeHE, DPI, UNFI). Featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and Southern Living. Recognized "Entrepreneur to Watch" by Food Navigator Magazine and "40 under 40" by Triangle Business Journal. Guided company to monthly recurring revenue exceeding $100k and strategic due diligence phase for acquisition.

Founder & CEO

The Kitchen Raleigh

Contributed to the growth and enhancement of The Kitchen Raleigh, a dynamic collaborative agency serving the food, beverage, and hospitality sectors. Supported managing partners in securing new business opportunities and optimizing existing operations. Leveraged expertise to drive sales, elevate brand presence, and facilitate operational improvements.

Strategy & Sales Consultant

GROW - GrowMyFoodBusiness.com

GROW was a Management Consultancy that assisted other CPG (food) businesses do just that: GROW. As one who had built two brands from scratch landing space in mainstream grocery (Harris Teeter, Costco, Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Food Lion, Ingles, Kroger, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, Central Market, Market Street, etc), I am in a unique position of being able to provide real world, practical advice and solutions for my clients.

Principal & Founder

Meredith College

Primarily specialized in delivering introductory Italian language instruction while occasionally guiding students through the exploration of Italian food and its cultural significance. Played a vital role at Meredith College in facilitating language acquisition and cultural understanding, aligning with the institution's commitment to integrity, leadership, and addressing societal challenges.

Adjunct Professor, Italian

I'm a passionate business advisor, entrepreneur, educator, and connector who loves creating and building great things with great people. I have a diverse professional background -- I earned a PhD from UNC-CH in Italian Language, teaching over 20 college courses. Transitioning to entrepreneurship, I built a food brand from scratch, expanding to 1,500+ retail locations in major US retailers. Since 2020 I’ve committed my energy to helping businesses thrive. I let my creative juices flow as the co-host of "The Ponzi Playbook," a business podcast on financial fraud. I help Italian food brands land success in the U.S. market through strategic advising. And I'm the owner of a startup, The Calmery. I'm always eager to collaborate and connect—don't hesitate to drop me a line.

taplio

The Battle

Jon Blair

Neal McTighe, PhD

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