Best CFO for Security System Contractors
The best CFO for a commercial security system contractor already knows that equipment deposits need to be front-loaded in the SOV, that installation and service revenue need separate P&L tracking, and that retainage on commercial security work can hold 10% of a $1M job for 12–18 months. A generic CFO sees a blended P&L and calls it fine. The right CFO builds the structure that shows what is actually happening in each revenue stream.
Commercial security system contractors doing access control, integrated camera systems, intrusion detection, and building security for commercial and institutional clients have two parallel businesses running simultaneously: project-based installation work that bills on SOV milestones, and service contract revenue that bills monthly. Most financial systems treat these as one business. They are not. Installation work has job costing, equipment procurement timing, and GC billing cycle dynamics. Service contracts have recurring revenue, labor scheduling, and renewal economics. The right CFO builds separate tracking for each.
Security-Specific Financial Control
Recover Hardware Deposit Costs Before Installation Starts
Commercial security hardware — access control readers, cameras, panels, intercom systems — requires procurement deposits 4–8 weeks before installation. On a $400K commercial security job, equipment deposits run $60K–$120K before any installation milestone. A well-structured SOV includes equipment procurement as a separate front-loaded line item billed at contract signing. Most GCs will approve it. The right CFO structures every SOV this way by default.
Two Business Models. Two P&Ls. One Owner.
Installation work and service contracts have completely different margin profiles, billing cycles, and cost structures. When they run through one blended P&L, the profitable one masks the losing one indefinitely. The right CFO builds separate cost centers for installation and service, tracks gross margin for each independently, and identifies which GC relationships and which service contract types are driving profitability.
Net 45–60 Plus Retainage Is Real Capital Commitment
Commercial security subcontract work carries standard GC payment terms — net 45–60 from pay app submission, 10% retainage held through project closeout. On a $1M security installation with 60-day pay cycles and 10% retainage, $250K–$300K of earned revenue is permanently in the pipeline. The right CFO builds the 13-week forecast around these cycles and tracks retainage receivables as a separate item so the timing of closeout releases is visible months out.
FLAT MONTHLY FEE. NO SURPRISES.
- ControlQore setup and job costing
- Full-service bookkeeping
- Monthly job cost reports
- Everything in Core
- Monthly CFO advisory meeting
- Cash forecasting and AR follow-up
- Strategic accountability
FREQUENTLY ASKED.
