A fractional CFO is a senior finance executive who works with a company part-time or on a defined project. We provide that CFO-level judgment on strategy, cash, capital and risk to startups and growing companies that don't yet need a full-time CFO. It is also called an outsourced, part-time, virtual or contract CFO.
What our fractional CFO service covers
Strategy and planning: a financial plan tied to the strategy; budgets, forecasts and scenarios.
Cash: rolling cash forecasts, working-capital discipline and early warning of shortfalls.
KPIs: the few metrics that matter, with targets and monthly tracking.
Profitability: margins by product, customer and channel; cost optimization.
Board and investor reporting: monthly packs on what happened and what management is doing about it.
Fundraising: how much, when and on what terms; models, data room and diligence.
M&A and exits: valuation, structure and diligence, with law and tax specialists only where they add value.
AI Finance & Accounting Automation: our AI agents replace the bookkeeper and staff accountant, the CFO approves their work, and the books stay current. See AI Finance & Accounting Automation.
When a company needs a fractional CFO
Growth has outpaced the finance function.
Cash shortages arrive unexpectedly; targets are missed or undefined.
The accounting team is not producing reliable, timely numbers.
A fundraise, recapitalization, acquisition or sale is planned.
Founders want a strategic finance partner, not only a record of the past.
Already in financial distress? See Turnaround & Restructuring.
Fractional CFO, full-time CFO, controller or bookkeeper
A bookkeeper records transactions; a controller closes the books and runs reporting and controls; an outside accountant handles audit and compliance. A CFO uses that record to decide where to invest, how to fund it and what risks to take. A full-time CFO fits a large, continuous finance agenda; a fractional CFO fits when the company needs senior judgment but not forty hours a week of it.
How engagements work
Monthly hours: ongoing planning, reporting, board preparation and advice, billed for the hours used.
Project: a defined outcome, such as a fundraise, an acquisition, a model or a business plan.
On demand: specific questions or peak periods.
Remote or on-site; no long-term contracts. A senior partner leads every engagement; contract finance and operations staff join when needed.
Examples of our work
Structured the acquisition of an established US fashion brand with an original asking price of $125M, bought through an assignment for the benefit of creditors for $2.5M.
Provided financial oversight across a founder's five-company hospitality and real estate portfolio.
Prepared an insurance-adjusting firm for a sale.
For a cryptocurrency fund for accredited investors: performance analysis since inception, performance metrics, and the investor tear sheet, financial plan and statements.
Questions founders ask
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Cost depends on the scope and the hours required. Ongoing, project and on-demand work are all billed for the hours used, with no retainer. Because there is no full-time salary, payroll taxes or benefits, the total is a fraction of a full-time CFO's cost. We agree scope and fees before work starts.
How many hours a month does a fractional CFO work?
It depends on the stage and the agenda: a few days a month for ongoing leadership, more around a fundraise, an acquisition or year-end.
Is a fractional CFO the same as an outsourced, part-time or virtual CFO?
Largely, yes. The terms describe the same arrangement from different angles: time commitment, employment model or location. Seniority and scope matter more than the label.
Can a fractional CFO replace our bookkeeper and staff accountant?
With our AI Finance & Accounting Automation, yes. AI agents do the bookkeeper's and staff accountant's work in QuickBooks Online, and the CFO approves what they prepare.
When should a startup hire a fractional CFO?
Usually when the first institutional round is six to nine months away, when cash or margins become hard to predict, or when the board starts asking for better reporting.
Do you work remotely?
Yes. We work with clients remotely or on-site, as the engagement requires.
Related: What Is a Fractional CFO? A practical guide · Turnaround & Restructuring · Contact us