Many small businesses go for years without considering their finances from a strategic standpoint. There are growth opportunities that are difficult to achieve without sound knowledge of finance. For this reason, some small businesses are hiring consultants to evaluate their finances and help them develop long-term plans that will take advantage of growth opportunities. For instance, one small business decided to sell stock to a venture capital firm so they could get more money to expand their business. Their profits are up 38% this year. That growth would have been impossible without a finance professional to guide them through the process.