Small businesses are an important part of the economy: they generate a large part of the wealth produced and are responsible for a relevant portion of job vacancies. Despite their economic and social importance, small businesses are not usually the focus of studies related to management practices, especially regarding strategic management. In general, the focus of strategy literature is on large companies, so small businesses lack a specific conceptual framework suitable for their characteristics, also considering factors that can contribute to improve their management practices. On the other hand, Management Control Systems aim to make the company's strategy actually happen, and play their role in organizations through controlling functions, which are an important set of tools whose purpose is to promote strategic management. This work aims to investigate the role of controlling functions in the strategic management of small businesses, based on economic and conceptual foundations specific to the characteristics of smaller companies. The research is based on a multiple case study in which 11 pizzerias located in the metropolitan region of São Paulo were analyzed. Considering the management orientation identified in each case, the contribution provided by the controlling functions was analyzed through its role in (i) formulation of strategies, (ii) implementation of strategies and (iii) promotion of improvements in the company's operational effectiveness; means by which the organization can adopt a management orientation that goes beyond operational aspects, that is, adopting a more strategic or tactical stance. It was found that companies facing severe resource shortages benefit very little from controlling functions, since there are no resources to operate them. In these cases, it was observed that management relies predominantly on financial information (cash flow). In turn, companies capable of providing resources to operationalize controlling functions (mainly strategic-managerial functions and cost functions) can benefit from more appropriate information to promote improvements in operational effectiveness. More structured companies, generally classified as small companies, also use these functions to formulate and implement strategies. Finally, it was observed that only larger companies use controlling functions more comprehensively.