Fractional CFO
A fractional CFO for startups, when the stakes are high.
Senior CFO support on demand — financial models, board prep, and fundraise strategy — working from books our team keeps clean. You get the high-stakes judgment without a full-time executive hire, scaled to your stage.
What a fractional CFO handles
The strategic finance work that sits above day-to-day bookkeeping.
Financial models
Operating models, hiring plans, and revenue forecasts an investor will actually trust — built on books we keep clean.
Fundraise support
Diligence prep, the data room, and term-sheet analysis so you walk into a raise knowing whether the deal is a good one.
Runway & scenarios
Burn, runway, and what-if planning — hire faster, cut, or raise, modeled before you commit.
Board reporting
Board decks and investor updates in the format your board expects, every cycle.
Revenue recognition
ASC 606, usage-based and committed-use revenue handled correctly as you move upmarket.
Strategic finance
Pricing, unit economics, and the runway-vs-growth calls that decide your next 18 months.
When does a startup need a fractional CFO?
Most founders do not need a full-time CFO — they need senior financial judgment at specific moments. A dedicated accountant or controller keeps the books accurate and the filings on time. A fractional CFO steps in when the questions get strategic: a priced round on the horizon, a board deck due, a pricing or packaging change, a hiring ramp that reshapes your burn, or a model that has to survive diligence.
For early-stage and pre-revenue teams, we usually recommend quarterly CFO support — enough to keep your model honest and your board informed, with a senior accountant covering the day-to-day. As complexity and fundraising heat up, engagements scale to monthly. The cadence should match your stage, not the other way around. See how we work for the full picture, or compare what is included at each tier on our plans & pricing page (fractional CFO comes with the Platinum engagement).
Want to pressure-test your own numbers first? Run your startup runway and build a 13-week cash flow forecast with our free tools, then bring the questions to a call. For more on when the CFO layer earns its keep, read when does a startup need a fractional CFO?
Fractional CFO FAQ
Straight answers on scope, timing, and cost.
What does a fractional CFO do for a startup?
A fractional CFO handles the high-stakes financial work a bookkeeper or controller does not: financial modeling, board and investor reporting, fundraise and diligence prep, runway and scenario planning, pricing and unit economics, and revenue recognition. It is senior CFO judgment on demand, without a full-time executive hire.
When does a startup need a fractional CFO versus a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper or accountant keeps your books accurate and your filings on time — the day-to-day. You bring in a fractional CFO when the questions get strategic: an upcoming raise, board prep, a pricing change, a hiring ramp, or a model that needs to hold up in diligence. Most early-stage teams need the CFO layer occasionally, not daily.
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
It scales with engagement. For most early-stage and pre-revenue teams we recommend quarterly support, which is far cheaper than a full-time CFO (a role that runs well into six figures). As complexity and fundraising heat up, engagements scale to monthly. The right cadence depends on your stage — book a call and we will size it to what you actually need.
Do we need clean books before bringing in a fractional CFO?
Yes, and that is the point of how we work. A model is only as good as the numbers under it, so our fractional CFOs work from books our team keeps reconciled and current. If your books are messy, we clean them up first — then the CFO work sits on a foundation you can trust.
Quarterly or monthly CFO support?
For early-stage and pre-revenue companies, quarterly is usually right — a senior accountant covers the rest. As you approach a raise, add headcount, or take on revenue-recognition complexity, monthly support makes sense. We scale the cadence with your stage rather than locking you into more than you need.