Fractional CFO: straight answers
The questions founders actually ask before hiring. Short answers here, deeper dives linked where they help.
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Most fractional CFO engagements run as a monthly retainer sized to hours and scope, from a few thousand dollars a month for a light engagement to the low five figures for a heavy one. Hourly work typically runs a few hundred dollars an hour. Project-based work, such as fundraise support, is scoped and priced per engagement. The full cost guide breaks down what drives the price.
What is a fractional CFO, exactly?
A fractional CFO is a senior finance executive who works with your company part-time, typically one to three days a week. You get CFO-level judgment on forecasting, fundraising, board reporting, and strategy without the $300,000-plus cost of a full-time hire.
When should a startup hire a fractional CFO vs. a full-time CFO?
Hire fractional when you need senior finance judgment but cannot justify a full-time CFO salary, usually from seed through Series B. Move to full-time when finance becomes a daily operational load: multiple entities, an active M&A program, or public-company reporting requirements. There is a full guide on the timing decision.
What does a fractional CFO do in the first 90 days?
The first 90 days follow a set sequence: assess the current state of your financial operations, build or rebuild the forecast and budget cadence, install monthly board-ready reporting, and set burn targets the board believes. By day 90 you have a forecast the team runs on and reporting the board trusts.
How is a fractional CFO different from a bookkeeper, controller, or CPA?
Bookkeepers, controllers, and CPAs look backward: they record, close, and report what already happened. A fractional CFO looks forward: forecasting, capital strategy, board narratives, and the decisions that shape what happens next. The roles complement each other; they do not replace each other.
How much time does a fractional CFO spend with our company?
Typically the equivalent of one to three days per week, scaled to the company’s stage and needs. Early-stage companies often need less; companies approaching a fundraise or managing an acquisition need more.
Do you only work with venture-backed startups?
Most engagements are with VC or PE-backed startups from seed through Series B, plus founders preparing for a fundraise or an acquisition. I also work with profitable owners preparing for a sale. Pre-revenue founders with no finance complexity yet are usually better served waiting, and I will tell you that on the first call.
How does an engagement start?
With a 30-minute call about your numbers and your stage. If there is a fit, a focused diagnostic follows, then a scoped proposal with the model, hours, and price. Most engagements start within two weeks of the first call. Book the call here.