Originally published in Ditap Negocios. The original content and date are preserved. The prices and conditions of DITAP are references from that edition, in Chilean pesos, subject to confirmation of availability, taxes, and validity.
Editorial review: September 20, 2026An external finance manager works for one day a week, creating budgets, monitoring cash flow, and providing management indicators – all without the company hiring a full-time employee. The service at Ditap Negocios costs $700,000 per month. It’s beneficial when a company is performing well financially, but doesn’t know exactly how much it’s earning; if additional time is needed, the initial assessment is adjusted accordingly.
There’s a difference between billing effectively and knowing how much you’re actually earning. Many Chilean small and medium-sized businesses often find themselves at the end of the month with their cash flow either full or empty, without a clear understanding of why: they don’t have a budget, they don’t project cash flow, and if they do have any indicators, they’re created manually once a year. An external finance manager can resolve this without the company having to hire a full-time employee.
What does someone do exactly during one week?
“A dedicated time once a week isn’t just a ‘general consultation’; it’s time specifically devoted to particular, recurring tasks, with a set rhythm.”
| Frequency | What should be done. / What to do. |
|---|---|
| Weekly | Cash reconciliation: what came in, what went out, and what’s projected for the following week. |
| Monthly | Budget versus reality, and a meeting with the owner to review discrepancies. |
| Quarterly | Review of key performance indicators, including margin, turnover, and working capital, with historical data for comparison. |
That rhythm is what distinguishes a genuine management review from a sporadic check-up. A budget that’s only reviewed once a year isn’t useful for making decisions in March; a budget that’s reviewed monthly, on the other hand, is.
When does it become sufficient with just one day a week?
One day per week is sufficient for businesses of a size where financial information can be reviewed in a weekly cash review and a monthly meeting – the level of effort depends on the volume and quality of information, the number of locations, and the complexity of the work; billing revenue alone does not determine the necessary dedication.
The signal you’re observing: the issue lies in organization and visibility – there’s no budget, and the cash register is managed manually. It’s not a problem of high transaction volume requiring daily dedication. In practice, a single, well-utilized day is sufficient to review the entire week’s cash register, update the monthly budget, and prepare the monthly meeting with the owner. However, this isn’t enough to cover the daily operations of payments and collections, which continues to be handled by the company’s team.
When it’s not enough.
When a company has multiple locations or legal entities that need to be consolidated, when there’s a critical daily cash flow (for example, payments to suppliers in US dollars with exchange rates that fluctuate daily), or when a formal financing process is being prepared, a single week may not be sufficient. The scope is adjusted on a case-by-case basis; for businesses specifically building a case to request banking financing or seek capital, the group also… Ditap CapitalA distinct vertical focused on structuring debt and preparing the company for that specific process.
What does the business need to have in order before setting off/leaving?
The first day is more productive if the company arrives with basic information gathered, even if it’s disorganized – recent financial statements or VAT returns, access to the accounting system or the Excel sheet where the cash is tracked today, and an idea of the three or four largest expenses for the month. It doesn’t need to be neatly organized, as long as it’s available and accessible.
It’s not necessary to have a pre-prepared budget or calculated indicators – that’s actually the part of the work that the external finance manager handles during the first few weeks, and it’s not a prerequisite for starting.
How much does it cost on Ditap Negocios?
The service of Finance and control A portion of $700,000 per month for one day of work, net, excluding VAT. The precise scope (how many hours, whether it includes future cash flow projections, and how many locations need to be considered) will be defined in the initial assessment before the final price is agreed upon.
How can you tell if it’s working?
It’s not necessary to wait months to see the change. You should be able to notice it within the first few weeks.
- The box has stopped surprising. It’s known in advance if a month is going to be busy.
- The budget exists and is reviewed. I don’t eat a document at once – I refer to it monthly.
- Big decisions are based on numbers, not feelings. Hiring someone, buying a vehicle, opening a second location – all of that looks much better with a real budget behind it.
If, after two or three months, none of those three things had changed, it’s time to review the scope during the monthly meeting, not to wait for another quarter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Would you like me to replace my accountant?
No. We coordinate with the accountant who is currently handling your finances. The external finance manager oversees the budget and cash flow based on what the accountant provides, and then returns more organized information.
Can I commit to less than one day per week?
The minimum is one day: that’s how long it takes to maintain a budget and cash flow seriously, week after week. The initial diagnosis confirms whether your company needs more time.
When is it more beneficial to use this, rather than just relying on my usual accountant?
When you need a budget, cash flow projection, and management indicators, it’s not just about filing taxes and closing accounts. These are two distinct tasks, although the same person may sometimes handle them.
What if, over time, I need more than one day a week?
We discuss the scope during the monthly meeting and make adjustments. The service is designed to grow alongside the company, rather than remaining static as the business changes in size.
Founder of DITAP
Knowing business.
