Executive Financial Leadership
Fractional CFO Services
Get Fortune 500-level CFO expertise without the Fortune 500 salary. Strategic financial leadership that scales with your business.
What is a Fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO provides executive-level financial leadership to your business on a part-time basis. Unlike a full-time CFO who might cost $200,000-$400,000 annually plus benefits and equity, a fractional CFO engagement typically runs 8-20 hours per month at a fraction of that cost—usually between $3,000 and $10,000 monthly depending on your needs.
Hire a Fractional CFO to Help You Grow Your Business
This model is ideal for growing businesses that have outgrown their bookkeeper or controller but aren't ready for a full-time CFO. You get the strategic thinking, board-level reporting, and financial leadership you need—exactly when you need it. At 1CFO, we combine this traditional fractional CFO approach with AI-powered analytics to deliver insights faster and more accurately than ever before.
For companies between $2 million and $50 million in revenue, fractional CFO services often represent the perfect balance of expertise and cost efficiency. You gain access to a seasoned financial executive who has likely seen hundreds of businesses like yours, navigated similar challenges, and knows the playbook for growth—all without the commitment of a full-time hire.
Key Benefits
Strategic Financial Planning
Develop comprehensive financial strategies aligned with your business goals. This includes growth modeling, scenario planning, capital allocation frameworks, and long-term financial roadmaps. Your fractional CFO helps you see around corners and prepare for multiple futures.
Board & Investor Relations
Professional financial reporting that builds credibility with stakeholders. From monthly board packages to investor updates, your fractional CFO ensures your financial story is told accurately and compellingly. They often participate directly in board meetings and investor calls.
Cash Flow Optimization
Healthy cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. Your fractional CFO implements better AR/AP management, working capital optimization, and sophisticated forecasting to ensure you always know your cash position and can plan accordingly.
Financial Systems & Controls
Robust financial infrastructure that scales with your growth. This includes implementing the right accounting systems, establishing internal controls, designing approval workflows, and building the financial processes that professional businesses require.
KPI Development & Tracking
Identify the key performance indicators that truly matter for your business and industry. Build dashboards that provide real-time visibility into what drives your financial results and where to focus improvement efforts.
Cost Optimization
Find hidden savings and optimize your cost structure without sacrificing quality or growth potential. Your fractional CFO brings fresh eyes and benchmarking data to identify opportunities you might miss from inside the business.
Detailed Benefit Breakdown About Fractional CFO Services
Click to see comprehensive details about each benefit
Detailed Benefit Breakdown About Fractional CFO Services
Click to see comprehensive details about each benefit
Strategic Financial Planning
Develop comprehensive financial strategies aligned with your business goals. This includes growth modeling, scenario planning, capital allocation frameworks, and long-term financial roadmaps. Your fractional CFO helps you see around corners and prepare for multiple futures.
Board & Investor Relations
Professional financial reporting that builds credibility with stakeholders. From monthly board packages to investor updates, your fractional CFO ensures your financial story is told accurately and compellingly. They often participate directly in board meetings and investor calls.
Cash Flow Optimization
Healthy cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. Your fractional CFO implements better AR/AP management, working capital optimization, and sophisticated forecasting to ensure you always know your cash position and can plan accordingly.
Financial Systems & Controls
Robust financial infrastructure that scales with your growth. This includes implementing the right accounting systems, establishing internal controls, designing approval workflows, and building the financial processes that professional businesses require.
KPI Development & Tracking
Identify the key performance indicators that truly matter for your business and industry. Build dashboards that provide real-time visibility into what drives your financial results and where to focus improvement efforts.
Cost Optimization
Find hidden savings and optimize your cost structure without sacrificing quality or growth potential. Your fractional CFO brings fresh eyes and benchmarking data to identify opportunities you might miss from inside the business.
How Our Fractional CFO Company Can Streamline Your Organization
Fractional CFO solutions deliver executive financial leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire. Our streamlined onboarding gets you up and running in days, not months.
Discovery Call
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your business goals and financial challenges. We assess fit and outline next steps.
Financial Assessment
Our team reviews your financial systems, processes, and reporting structure. We identify quick wins and strategic opportunities.
Custom Engagement Plan
We design a flexible engagement tailored to your needs. Together we define priorities, deliverables, and success metrics.
Embedded Partnership
Your fractional CFO integrates with your leadership team. We provide ongoing strategic guidance that drives real results.
Understanding Fractional CFO Services
A fractional CFO is a highly experienced Chief Financial Officer who works with your company on a part-time, flexible basis. The term "fractional" refers to the fact that you're engaging a fraction of their time rather than their full attention. This shared model allows multiple businesses to access CFO-caliber talent that would otherwise be out of reach.
Unlike consultants who provide recommendations and leave, a fractional CFO becomes embedded in your business. They attend your leadership meetings, know your team, understand your operations, and care about your outcomes. The best fractional CFOs think of themselves as part of your company—just one that happens to also serve other clients.
The fractional CFO model emerged in response to a clear market gap: small and mid-sized businesses desperately needed strategic financial leadership, but couldn't justify or afford a full-time CFO. Today, the model has matured into a sophisticated service offering that combines strategic planning, financial analysis, investor relations, and operational guidance into flexible engagement packages.
When to Consider Fractional CFO Services
Signs your business is ready for this service
Revenue Threshold
Businesses between $2 million and $50 million in annual revenue often hit a complexity threshold where fractional CFO...
Cash Flow Complexity
If you're constantly worried about cash, struggling to forecast accurately, or making decisions based on gut feel rat...
Growth or Fundraising
Whether you're preparing for a Series A, seeking a bank loan, or planning rapid expansion, investors and lenders expe...
Major Decisions Ahead
Acquisitions, new product launches, market expansion, or considering an exit all require strategic financial analysis...
Lacking Financial Leadership
If no one on your team can answer strategic financial questions—like your unit economics, optimal pricing strategy, o...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO is an experienced financial executive who provides part-time CFO services to multiple companies. They bring the same expertise as a full-time CFO—strategic planning, financial modeling, investor relations, cash flow management—but on a flexible, as-needed basis. Think of it as having a seasoned CFO on your team without the $200,000-$400,000+ annual salary.
When should I hire a fractional CFO?
Consider a fractional CFO when: you've outgrown your bookkeeper but can't justify a full-time CFO, you're preparing for funding or acquisition, your cash flow is unpredictable, you need strategic financial guidance for major decisions, you're scaling rapidly, or you lack financial visibility into what's driving your business results.
How is a fractional CFO different from a controller?
A controller focuses on accounting operations and compliance—they look backward at what happened. A CFO focuses on strategy, planning, and growth—they look forward to help you plan and make better decisions. Many businesses need both: a controller to manage day-to-day accounting and a CFO for strategic leadership.
Can a fractional CFO help with fundraising?
Absolutely. Fundraising preparation is one of the most common reasons companies engage a fractional CFO. We help build financial models, prepare investor materials, establish proper reporting systems, and often participate directly in investor meetings. Our CFOs have collectively helped raise hundreds of millions in equity and debt financing.
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Fractional CFO services typically range from $3,000-$10,000 per month depending on the scope of work and hours required. Most of our clients invest between $5,000-$8,000 monthly for 2-4 days of CFO support. Compare this to a full-time CFO salary of $200,000-$400,000 plus 25-40% in benefits and equity—fractional services deliver executive expertise at 70-80% less cost.
What does a fractional CFO do?
A fractional CFO provides strategic financial planning, cash flow management, budgeting and forecasting, board and investor reporting, financial systems implementation, KPI development, cost optimization, fundraising support, and executive financial leadership. They become a strategic partner in your business, not just a number cruncher.
How many hours per week does a fractional CFO work?
Engagement levels vary based on your needs. Some clients need just 4-8 hours monthly for strategic guidance, while others require 2-3 days per week during critical periods like fundraising or acquisitions. The beauty of fractional arrangements is flexibility—you scale up or down as your business demands change.
How quickly can a fractional CFO make an impact?
Most clients see meaningful impact within 30-60 days. Quick wins often include improved cash flow visibility, identification of cost savings, and better financial reporting. Larger strategic initiatives like system implementations or fundraising typically show results over 3-6 months.
Related Services
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