A bookkeeper tells you what happened. A CFO tells you what to do next. Many growing businesses reach a point where clean books are not enough—they need financial strategy—but they are not ready to pay $200,000+ for a full-time CFO. That is exactly the gap a fractional CFO fills.
What does a fractional CFO do?
A fractional CFO provides senior financial leadership on a part-time basis—cash flow forecasting, budgeting, profitability analysis, KPI reporting, and guidance on hiring, pricing, and financing. You get executive-level strategy without the full-time salary.
What are the signs you need a fractional CFO?
It is usually time when one or more of these is true:
- You are growing but never seem to have enough cash
- You are making big decisions—hiring, equipment, expansion—on gut feel
- You do not know which jobs, products, or services are actually profitable
- You are preparing to raise money or apply for a loan
- Your books are clean, but you do not know what the numbers are telling you
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Far less than a full-time CFO. Most engagements are a flat monthly fee scaled to how much support you need—often in the low thousands per month—versus the $150,000-$300,000+ all-in cost of a full-time hire. For most growing businesses it pays for itself through better cash flow and pricing decisions.
If any of those signs sound familiar, it may be time. Learn more about our fractional CFO & growth services, or book a free consultation to talk it through.