- Founders hire fractional CFOs for modeling, fundraising, and cash management—without shelling out $250K salary.
- Typical cost: $4K–$12K per month retainer; ROI appears when burn rate drops or round size rises.
Ready for help?Compare vettedfractional CFOs on Sam’s List!
Why Founders Graduate to Fractional CFOs
According to theBain Micro-Insights CFO Pulse 2024, 43% of U.S. SaaS CEOs at $1–5M ARR hired a fractional CFO before Series A.
Reasons:
- Controller can’t forecast cash runway
- Investors demand GAAP metrics
- Founders need a finance voice at the board
Pricing Models
| Model | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $200–$400/hour | Ad-hoc modeling projects |
| Monthly Retainer | $4 K–$12 K/month | Ongoing KPI + investor prep |
| Outcome-Based (rare) | 1–2 % of capital raised | Fund-raise sprints |
Source:Kruze Consulting 2025 Fee Index.
Deliverables
| Deliverable | Description |
|---|---|
| 13-week cash-flow forecast | Weekly inflow/outflow & burn-rate tracker |
| Board-ready KPI dashboard | Gross/Net retention, CAC:LTV, GM% |
| Fund-raise data room | GAAP P&L, SaaS metric workbook, cohort analysis |
Case-Studies
SaaS Company
- Fractional CFO renegotiated AWS spend—burn dropped $36K/month; runway extended five months.
E-commerce Company
- Introduced receipt-factoring line at 12% APR vs 19% MCA; margin improved 6 points.
Service SMB Company
- Shifted pricing to value-based; AR days fell from 45 to 21.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a fractional CFO do?
- Builds forecasts, manages cash, preps investor materials, and mentors the controller.
- They often clean chart of accounts, negotiate credit lines, and sit in on board calls.
How much does a fractional CFO cost per month?
- $4 K–$12K retainer covers 10–40 hours.
- Hourly spikes happen during fund-raise or audit; clarify scope in contract.
How to Vet a Fractional CFO
• Ask for three SaaS or DTC references in your revenue band.
• Request sample KPI pack.
• Confirm tool stack (NetSuite, Cube, Mosaic, or Google Sheets).
• Verify liability coverage (E&O).
Red-Flag Answers
• “We don’t touch your accounting file—give us exports only.”
• Zero experience with ASC 606 or inventory-based businesses.
• No written scope or KPI cadence.
Readiness Checklist
☐ Controller/bookkeeper already reconciles monthly
☐ At least 6 months runway or capital to pay retainer
☐ Founder wants off the FP&A hamster wheel
☐ Next round < 12 months away