Cash is king: from Excel to real-time control

How LION Finance uses Liquid to truly drive business owners forward

Marco Zevenbergen is the co-founder of LION Finance: a team of ‘CFOs to share’ for fast-growing companies and business owners who want to get more out of their business. Not traditional accountants, but financial partners who think strategically, take decisive action, and sit right at the table with the business owner.

For a long time, LION Finance worked with Excel and separate reporting tools, but these couldn't keep up with the pace of their clients. “We want to be able to adjust course in real-time. Not a few months later.”

Building cash flow, not just numbers

Through Liquid’s founder, Marco became convinced of the tool's power. “We were looking for something that works simply, integrates well with Exact, and gives business owners insight into what really matters: their cash flow.”

And why are LION Finance and Liquid such a good match? “Most tools are built from the accountant's perspective. Liquid looks through the entrepreneur's lens. It's not just about profit, it's about cash in the bank. And that is what Liquid shows in real-time.”

‍Actionable insights

LION Finance now works with Liquid as standard. Clients receive monthly reports, and depending on the client's size, LION Finance sits down with them every quarter or sometimes even monthly. Not just to look back at the past period, but also to look ahead to the future. A key question here is: where is the company heading and what actions are needed to achieve the objectives? “Liquid then forms the starting point for the conversation. Not to rattle off numbers, but to look ahead, run through scenarios, and support decisions.”

Especially with startups and scale-ups, Marco notices a difference: “These companies don't want thick reports, but actionable insights. Liquid aligns perfectly with that.”

Not for everyone

However, Liquid isn’t for everyone. “It works best for business owners who have their administration in order and are open to automation,” Marco explains. “If your administration is a mess or you’re still working with outdated software, you miss out on the power of Liquid,” says Marco. “That’s why we’ve become more selective about who we work with: if you really want to steer the business, your data needs to be accurate.”

A team that moves with you

What Marco values about Liquid isn’t just the tool, but above all, the team behind it. “They are easily accessible, think along with us, and act quickly. They also take feedback seriously. We’ve already made several suggestions that were actually implemented. You don’t see that often.”

‍Liquid as a growth accelerator

For Marco, Liquid has become an integral part of his advisory work. “We help business owners grow. And you don’t grow by looking back, but by looking forward in real-time.” Liquid fits perfectly. Not as a replacement for accounting, but as an accelerator for better decision-making.