Fractional CFO services for investor-backed companies
Strategic finance leadership for revenue-generating companies backed by venture or private-equity investors: the operating model, the forecast, the board pack and the capital plan a sponsor expects. Engagements range from ongoing CFO leadership to defined projects.
A fractional CFO delivers the forward-looking half of the finance function – the operating model, the forecast, the capital plan and the transaction work – on a part-time, agreed-scope basis in place of a full-time executive hire.
What a fractional CFO delivers
A fractional CFO delivers the forward-looking half of the finance function: the forecast, the reporting, the capital plan and the transaction work, scoped to what the company needs. It usually covers some combination of these deliverables:
| Deliverable | What you receive | Decisions it supports |
|---|---|---|
| Financial forecast and scenarios | A driver-based forecast tied to the operating plan, with scenarios you can budget and plan against. | Hiring, spending, and fundraising decisions grounded in how the business actually operates. |
| Budget and performance analysis | An annual budget and monthly analysis that explains performance against plan. | Where to act on misses, redirect spending, and reset targets with the team. |
| Cash runway and capital requirements | A clear view of liquidity and funding needs over the planning horizon. | Hiring pace, investment timing, and when to start a financing process. |
| Management and board reporting | Consistent reporting that explains performance and highlights emerging risks. | Management discussions and board decisions on strategy and capital. |
| KPI and unit-economics analysis | Defined metrics and unit economics the whole team reports against. | Pricing, growth bets, and efficiency decisions made on shared, trusted numbers. |
This work complements the company’s accounting resources. They keep the financial records reliable and the reporting cadence running. The fractional CFO covers planning, analysis, capital and the priorities set at the start.
Ways to work with me
Every engagement is scoped to what the company needs. Most fall into one of these models.
Ongoing fractional CFO
Part-time CFO leadership on a monthly retainer: the forecast, the budget, the board pack and the decisions between them. Coordinated with the existing accounting team.
- Driver-based forecast and annual/monthly budgets
- Monthly board and investor reporting packs
- Burn targets, runway analysis, and scenario planning
- KPI definitions and reporting standards across teams
- Ongoing counsel on strategy, hiring, and capital decisions
Recent work: Building the financial architecture for a Series A consumer company.
For: portfolio companies between a full-time CFO or between rounds, and controllers who need senior leadership above them.
Fundraise support
Project-based support for management teams heading into a raise: the investor-grade model, the data room materials and the diligence preparation a raise requires.
- Fundraising strategy, timing, and process design
- Investor-grade financial model and data room materials
- Cap table, dilution, and ownership modeling
- Pitch narrative, memos, and diligence preparation
- Support through investor Q&A and negotiation
For: management teams planning a raise in the next 6 to 12 months.
Financial modeling projects
Defined modeling work with a fixed scope, fee and timeline. No ongoing retainer required.
- Operating model builds or rebuilds
- Board-ready forecast rebuilds
- Scenario and sensitivity analysis
- Unit economics and pricing analysis
- Acquisition and returns modeling
For: management teams that need the model, not the ongoing engagement: a fundraise model, a board-ready forecast, or analysis for a specific decision.
A fixed-fee, four-week operating model and forecast project.
M&A diligence & integration
Project-based support for acquisitions, sales and strategic transactions: valuation and accretion analysis, diligence management and integration planning on the buy side.
- Buy-side and sell-side financial and valuation models
- Synergy, returns, and accretion/dilution analysis
- Deal structure evaluation and negotiation support
- Diligence preparation and materials
- Post-close integration planning
For: acquisitive companies rolling up smaller players, or management teams evaluating an exit or strategic offer.
How much do fractional CFO services cost?
Retained engagements start at $5,000 per month; most run $5,000 to $20,000 depending on cadence and whether a transaction is in process. Defined projects, including the financial modeling sprint at $10,000, are fixed-fee.
Market ranges, what drives them up or down, and how to compare quotes are in the fractional CFO cost guide. To scope a fee for a specific situation, bring the stage and the ask to a 30-minute call.
When to hire a fractional CFO instead of a full-time CFO
Hire a fractional CFO when financial decisions matter more than the books can answer, but the workload does not justify a full-time CFO hire. Venture-backed companies may need support between funding rounds. PE-backed companies may need support after an acquisition, during a finance-leadership transition, or ahead of a refinancing or exit. The engagement depends on complexity, responsibilities and the existing finance team.
Watch for these signals: a fundraise in the next 6 to 12 months. A board or investors who expect investor-grade reporting. Burn managed against a plan. Pricing or hiring decisions where the math matters.
A full-time CFO hire makes sense when finance becomes a full-time job. That means multiple entities, heavy M&A, a finance organization to lead, or an IPO on the horizon. For most companies at the seed or Series A stage, the workload does not justify that yet. The full decision framework is in fractional CFO vs. full-time CFO.
How an engagement starts
If you are looking to hire a fractional CFO, here is the process I run with every new engagement.
Introductory call
We discuss your business, financial priorities, and the support you are considering.
Scope and proposal
We define the responsibilities, deliverables, fees, and working arrangements before the engagement begins.
Assessment and initial deliverables
Once engaged, I review the available financial information and begin the highest-priority planning and reporting work. Timing depends on scope and data readiness.
Ongoing reporting and support
For recurring engagements, we establish a forecasting and reporting cadence aligned with your management and board calendar. Defined projects conclude with the agreed deliverables and handover.
Fractional CFO vs. controller vs. bookkeeper: the difference
A bookkeeper records what happened. A controller makes sure it is accurate and on time. A fractional CFO decides what to do about it. They are three different jobs, and the right combination depends on the company’s complexity, existing team, and financial priorities.
| Bookkeeper | Controller | Fractional CFO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Records transactions, reconciles accounts, keeps the books clean. | Owns the close: accurate financials, payroll, compliance, audit readiness. | Leads the finance strategy: forecast, budget, fundraising, and the decisions the numbers point to. |
| You need one when | You have revenue, vendors, and payroll and the books are a mess. | You need reliable monthly financials and someone to manage the accounting team. | You are making decisions the books alone cannot answer: runway, pricing, hiring, fundraising, investor reporting. |
| Cost profile | Lowest cost, usually hourly or a small retainer. | A senior accounting hire’s full-time salary. | A monthly retainer sized to scope, well below a full-time CFO hire. |
What matters is knowing which job each role does, so the company brings in the capability it is actually missing. The full comparison is in fractional CFO vs. controller vs. bookkeeper.
Who this works for, and who should look elsewhere
A good fit
- Revenue-generating companies backed by venture or private-equity investors
- Portfolio companies between a full-time CFO or between rounds
- Management teams preparing a raise, an acquisition or a sale within 12–24 months
- Boards that need investor-grade reporting from a lean finance team
- Companies with a controller or bookkeeper that need senior leadership above them
Not a fit
- Bookkeeping, payroll, or tax compliance (referred out)
- Pre-revenue businesses with no financial complexity or reporting requirements yet
Based in Houston and serving companies nationwide: how Houston companies work with a fractional CFO.
Fractional CFO services: common questions
How much do fractional CFO services cost?
Retained engagements start at $5,000 per month; most run $5,000 to $20,000 depending on cadence and whether a transaction is in process. Defined projects, including the financial modeling sprint at $10,000, are fixed-fee. Market ranges are in the fractional CFO cost guide.
How do I hire a fractional CFO?
Start with a 30-minute intro call on the numbers, the stage and the support needed. Then expect a scoped proposal that defines responsibilities, deliverables, fees, and working arrangements.
When should an investor-backed company hire a fractional CFO instead of a full-time CFO?
When financial decisions matter more than the books can answer, but the workload does not justify a full-time hire. Venture-backed companies may need support between funding rounds. PE-backed companies may need support after an acquisition, during a finance-leadership transition, or ahead of a refinancing or exit. The engagement depends on complexity, responsibilities and the existing finance team. The usual triggers are a fundraise in the next 6 to 12 months, investors who expect investor-grade reporting, and burn managed against a plan. The full framework is in fractional CFO vs. full-time CFO.
What is the difference between a fractional CFO, a controller, and a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper records what happened. A controller makes sure it is accurate and on time. A fractional CFO decides what to do about it. These capabilities work together. The appropriate combination depends on the company’s complexity, existing team, and financial priorities. More on this in the general FAQ.
How are your engagements structured?
Four models: an ongoing fractional CFO on a monthly retainer, project-based fundraise support, defined financial modeling projects, and project-based M&A diligence and integration. Every engagement starts with an intro call, followed by a defined scope and proposal. See the engagement models above for what each includes.
Do you work with pre-revenue companies?
Support depends on the company’s financial complexity and priorities. A pre-revenue business with significant investment, cash planning, or reporting requirements may benefit from CFO support; a simpler business may need a narrower engagement.
Schedule a scoping call
Thirty minutes on the current plan, reporting and capital position.