
DARREN CHERRY

I’m Darren Cherry, part owner of a national Fractional CFO firm and Exit Planning Strategist. We help business owners with revenue between $1 and $50 million break from the overwhelming issues associated with underperforming (unhealthy) or rapidly growing businesses. Our goal is to increase enterprise value, strengthen financial performance, and lay the foundation for long-term optionality — whether that means turnaround, scaling, succession, or planning for a future exit.
I’ve personally been an entrepreneur and a C-level executive (CFO & CEO) of businesses ranging from $ 500,000 to $1 billion. Over the past decade, as an industry-leading exit advisor, I’ve leveraged my 35+ years of experience to help entrepreneurs add $75 million to their pockets.
My background includes senior roles that have expanded market share across continents and channels, as well as designed improved operations, marketing, and finance practices in both private equity and public-traded environments. These experiences spanned various organizations, including Honeywell, Komatsu Ltd, Connell Limited Partnership, Green Earth Technology, Gary-Chicago Regional Airport Authority, and Greif, Inc.
I received my MBA from The Ohio State University and my BS in Accounting from Purdue University.
I’m Darren Cherry, part owner of a national Fractional CFO firm and Exit Planning Strategist. We help business owners with revenue between $1 and $50 million break from the overwhelming issues associated with underperforming (unhealthy) or rapidly growing businesses. Our goal is to increase enterprise value, strengthen financial performance, and lay the foundation for long-term optionality — whether that means turnaround, scaling, succession, or planning for a future exit.
I’ve personally been an entrepreneur and a C-level executive (CFO & CEO) of businesses ranging from $ 500,000 to $1 billion. Over the past decade, as an industry-leading exit advisor, I’ve leveraged my 35+ years of experience to help entrepreneurs add $75 million to their pockets.
My background includes senior roles that have expanded market share across continents and channels, as well as designed improved operations, marketing, and finance practices in both private equity and public-traded environments. These experiences spanned various organizations, including Honeywell, Komatsu Ltd, Connell Limited Partnership, Green Earth Technology, Gary-Chicago Regional Airport Authority, and Greif, Inc.
I received my MBA from The Ohio State University and my BS in Accounting from Purdue University.
, hs_object_source_label=IMPORT, url_slug=darren-cherry, lname=Cherry, profile_image=https://6863690.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/6863690/Member%20Images/Darren-Cherry-263x280-1.jpeg, designations=[CEPA, MBA], hs_object_source_id=28461106, cepa_attendance_sheet_url=https://exit-planning-institute.org/hubfs/Certificates%20of%20Attendance/CEPA%20FEBRUARY%202018/PROOF%20OF%20ATTENDANCE-Darren-Cherry-Feb-2018.pdf, hs_created_by_user_id=44511833, hs_createdate=1663079394747, profile_text_area=, hs_was_imported=true, state=Ohio, id=2835802119, advisor_type=CFO, designations__text_=CEPA, MBA, custom_page_title=Exit Planning Institute - Find a CEPA | Darren Cherry, job_title=Area President, member_profile_approval_flag=false, email=d.cherry@focuscfo.com, is_speaker=true, associated_contact_record_id=2042403, website=https://focuscfo.com/, markets_served=, cepa_certificate_url=https://exit-planning-institute.org/hubfs/CEPA%20Certificates/CEPA%20FEBRUARY%202018/831_Cherry_CEPA-certificate_2018-FEB-ATL.pdf, is_editable=editable, pending_profile_information=, summit_type=[RESOURCE & SOLUTION LABS], url_slug_2=darren-cherry-2, impersonate_user_url=https://exit-planning-institute.org/member-detail/darren-cherry?impersonation=true, user_profile_updates_pending_epi_team_review=false, full_name=Darren Cherry, hs_lastmodifieddate=1752776127708, phone=+17408160556, company_name=FocusCFO, hs_object_id=2835802119, name=Darren, associated_resources=0, hs_object_source=IMPORT, hs_object_source_user_id=44511833, postal_code=43235, hs_updated_by_user_id=67963798, status=Published}- Advisor Type: CFO
- Website:
https://focuscfo.com/ - Phone: +17408160556
- City: Columbus
- State: Ohio
- Postal Code: 43235
- Country: United States
- Designations: CEPA, MBA
- Markets Served:
- Company Name: FocusCFO
DARREN CHERRY

120-Day CEPA Playbook: Download the Playbook

2022 Colorado State of Owner Readiness Quick Look Brochure

2022 Colorado State of Owner Readiness Report

2023 National State of Owner Readiness Report
.png)
2024 Webinar Series

2025 Webinar Series

5-4-3-2-1 Whitepaper

5-4-3-2-1 Whitepaper

A Look Inside The Unique World of - Value Creation Whitepaper

A Look Into Pressure Solutions Inc.: An Exit Planning Case Study

Access My Courses

Best-In-Class Whitepaper

Beyond CEPA Roadmap

Business Attractiveness Scorecard

Case Study: A Framework To Build Value In Your Business

Case Study: CEPA and CPAs

Case Study: CEPA and EOS

Case Study: CEPA and M&A

Case Study: How to Strategically Build Transferrable Value

Case Study: How To Utilize Your CEPA Credentials In A National Wealth Management Firm

Case Study: Human Capital, The Exit Planning Institute

Case Study: The Value of Transitioning a Business to its Employees

Case Study: The Value of Transitioning a Business to its Employees

Case Study: Value Acceleration

CEPA Development Scorecard

CEPA: 2024 APR | Online

CEPA: 2024 AUG | Online

CEPA: 2024 FEB | Online

CEPA: 2024 JAN | Online

CEPA: 2024 JUL | Online

CEPA: 2024 JUN | Online

CEPA: 2024 MAR | Online

CEPA: 2024 MAY | Online

CEPA: 2024 OCT | Online

CEPA: 2024 SEP | Online

Chapter Logos

Confidential Estate Planning Form

Decentralizing the Business Owner

Decentralizing the Business Owner

Email Marketing Templates

EPI Chapter President Circle Meeting Notes

Exit as a Business Strategy: A Collection of Case Studies from Advisors and Owners

First Steps

Five Stages of Value Maturity Infographic

Five Stages of Value Maturity Infographic

From Successful to Significant

From Successful to Significant Whitepaper

Infographic: Beyond CEPA Path

Infographic: Decentralizing the Business Owner

Infographic: Five Stages of Value Maturity

Infographic: The 5 D's

Infographic: Who Has a Seat at the Table

Issue One: The Annual Exit Magazine

Know Your Gaps

Phase 1 Stage 1: The Value Maturity Index - Identifying Value

Sample Personal Contingency Plan

The Impact of Unplanned Consequences on Business Value Whitepaper

The Value Acceleration Methodology
.png)