In this episode James Kennedy sits down with Hillel Steiner, founder of ProfitUp Financials and a fractional CFO based in Israel, to discuss the surprising advantages of working with international finance talent. Together, they dive into the differences between U.S. and Israeli business cultures, what founders often get wrong about funding, and how having a strong financial strategy can be the difference between staying stuck and scaling up.
Hillel also walks through a real-life case study of a BI company stuck in a high-revenue, low-profit cycle – and how he helped them transform by refocusing their service model and aligning their team more efficiently.
Stick around to the end for a massive bonus offer from Hillel that’s perfect for growing service-based companies.
About Hillel Steiner:
Hillel Steiner is the founder of ProfitUp Financials, a fractional CFO firm helping service-based businesses gain financial clarity, improve margins, and grow with confidence. With a background in Deloitte, an MBA from Hebrew University, and over 18 years of experience spanning bookkeeping, controllership, and forecasting, Hillel combines deep technical knowledge with strategic insight. He’s based in Israel and works with clients globally – especially those in the U.S.
What You’ll Learn:
- The Israeli vs. U.S. Business Mindset: Why U.S. business owners embrace risk – and what Israeli founders could learn from them.
- Funding Mistakes to Avoid: Why bootstrapping alone often stalls growth, and how to think more strategically about outside capital.
- How to Spot a Hidden Profit Leak: What happened when one high-growth company discovered their support team was a cost center – not a value add.
- Why Time Tracking Isn’t Just for Contractors: How time sheets helped turn a negative-margin business into a profitable one.
Episode Highlights:
- “Reading books is great, but implementing what you learn – that’s where the value is.”
- “Don’t rely only on revenue. Profit and cash flow are where your business lives or dies.”
- “You don’t always need a separate support team. Sometimes, developers giving support makes the product and service better – and cheaper.”
- “Every no you say gives you more room for the right yes.”
More About Hillel’s Role:
As a fractional CFO, Hillel helps small businesses get clarity on their numbers, uncover hidden inefficiencies, and set financial goals that match their long-term vision. He’s known for providing actionable insights, building scenario-based forecasts, and helping owners step out of the chaos and into a confident financial strategy.
🎁 Special Offer:
Hillel is offering 50% off his fractional CFO services for all of 2025 to the first three service-based businesses (with 10–50 employees or subcontractors) who reach out. This is a rare opportunity to access top-tier financial strategy at an incredible value.
📩 How to Contact Hillel:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.profitupfinancials.com
- LinkedIn: Hillel Steiner, CPA
