If you’re seed to Series B, “fractional CFO” usually means: runway + burn clarity, investor-ready reporting, a board deck that doesn’t feel like a math exam, and someone who can answer “are we okay?” with numbers you trust.
There are three real places founders hirefractional CFOs. The right choice depends on whether you want a team, options, or a specific operator.
Sam’s Listis a directory. We don’t provide financial advice and we don’t endorse any specific professional. Use reviews plus your own due diligence.
The 3 places founders actually find great fractional CFOs
1) Specialized startup finance firms
Best for:venture-backed startups, fundraising prep, “we need this done fast,” or when you want CFO + accounting + tax under one roof.
Pros
Faster ramp (process + templates + team)
Usually strong at investor reporting + modeling
Coverage if a team member is out
Cons
Higher cost
You may get a team model vs one dedicated person
Pick this if:you’re raising soon, your books are behind, or you need speed + coverage.
2) Marketplaces / curated directories (matching + reviews)
Best for:founders who want to compare options quickly and hire the best fit for their stage and model (SaaS,ecommerce,services, etc.).
Pros
Compare multiple CFOs without endless cold outreach
Easier to validate fit via reviews + positioning
More variety (operators, boutique firms, industry specialists)
Cons
Quality still varies, so vetting matters
“Fractional CFO” titles aren’t standardized
Pick this if:you want choice, speed, and transparency—without committing to one firm’s approach.
3) Independent operators (LinkedIn + referrals)
Best for:founders who know exactly what they need and want a senior person directly.
Pros
Independent
Direct relationship with the operator
Cons
Harder to verify outcomes
Less bench support if they’re unavailable
Pick this if:you can vet well and you want one person owning your finance cadence.
Why use Sam’s List to find a fractional CFO
Most “top fractional CFO” listicles mix together service providers and places to hire.
Sam’s Listis the second category: a place to hire.
How to use Sam’s List to hire faster
- Take our 30 second quiz to find a fractional CFO
Start with a startup-relevant shortlist (below).
Compare fit using: stage experience (seed/Series A/B), metrics fluency (MRR/ARR, burn/runway), and deliverables (forecast, KPI dashboard, board deck).
Run the “10-minute screen” and only then book deeper calls.
This is the gap most lists miss:founders don’t just need names—they need a repeatable hiring process.
Startup CFO Vetting: the 10-minute screen (copy/paste)
If afractional CFOis truly startup-capable, they can answer these quickly and concretely:
Runway & burn:“Show me arunway forecastyou built for a seed/Series A/B company (redacted). What changed monthly?”
Metrics fluency:“How do you define and report MRR/ARR,churn,CAC,payback,gross margin,contribution margin?”
Board + investor cadence:“What’s your monthly close + reporting timeline? What do board materials include?”
Fundraising ownership:“If we raise in 3–6 months, what do you own—model, narrative, data room prep, diligence Q&A?”
Close process:“Who owns bookkeeping/accounting vs your work? What has to be true for your forecast to be reliable?”
Decision support:“Tell me one pricing or hiring decision you influenced using the numbers. What did you change?”
Communication:“Weekly async update? Monthly meeting? Slack? What does ‘normal’ look like?”
If the answers are vague, you’re not hiring a CFO—you’re hiring vibes.
Firm vs Marketplace vs Independent
Specialized firm:fastest execution + coverage; higher cost; less “pick your person” control
Marketplace/directory:fastest comparison + choice; vetting required; best fit varies by operator
Independent:most senior/direct; depends heavily on the person; less backup support
What fractional CFOs cost (and what you’re actually buying)
Pricing varies by stage, scope, and whether you’re fundraising. These ranges are directional so you can sanity-check quotes.
Tier 1: Early-stage clarity (pre-seed to seed)
Typical scope:runway forecast, basicKPI setup, monthly reporting cadence, cash discipline
Common structure:monthly retainer, light async + 1–2 calls/month
Tier 2: Operating cadence (seed to Series A/B)
Typical scope:reliable forecasting, KPI dashboard, monthly close/reporting process, budgeting, hiring plan support
Common structure:monthly retainer + defined deliverables
Tier 3: Fundraising / transactions (raising, diligence, M&A prep)
Typical scope:model rebuild, investor reporting, diligence Q&A, board materials,scenario planning
Common structure:retainer + project fees (or a temporary step-up in monthly scope)
What you’re buying isn’t “finance help.”
You’re buying: (1)truthful numbers, (2)predictable reporting, and (3)decision-making support.
The most common founder mistakes when hiring a fractional CFO
Hiring “strategy” when the books aren’t reliable(forecasting on bad data = fiction)
Not defining ownership(who owns forecast, KPIs, board deck, close timeline?)
Confusing controller vs CFO(close vs decisions)
No cadence(you need a system, not random calls)
Over-hiring too early(buy the outcome you need now, not the title)
Fractional CFO options on Sam’s List
ROCA Advisors
Best for:founders who wantrunway control + fundraising readinesswith a clear finance operating system.
Learn More:https://samslist.co/fractional-cfo/roca-advisors
CPA on Fire
Best for:founders who wanthigh-touch CFO supportplus a strong partner fortax + structurealongside finance strategy.
Learn More:https://samslist.co/fractional-cfo/cpa-on-fire---concierge-level-cfo-services
Green Canyon CFO
Best for:founders focused onprofitability, margin clarity, and scaling with “exit-ready” reporting(even if you’re not exiting soon).
Learn More:https://samslist.co/fractional-cfo/green-canyon-cfo
Ever Ledger
Best for:founders who want aCFO + accounting + bookkeeping + taxapproach, especially if you need to tighten the foundation while building forecasts.
Learn More:https://samslist.co/fractional-cfo/ever-ledger-1
FAQs
Do I need a fractional CFO or just bookkeeping?
If you needrunway forecasting, KPI accountability, pricing/hiring decisions, board/investor reporting, or fundraising prep, you’re in CFO territory. If you mainly need accurate categorization and monthly closes, start with bookkeeping/accounting.
What should a fractional CFO deliver in the first 30 days?
A baseline forecast you trust, a KPI definition set, a monthly close/reporting cadence, and a prioritized plan for the next 60–90 days.
Can a fractional CFO help with fundraising?
Yes—if they’ve supported raises at your stage and they can clearly explain what they own (model, metrics, diligence, reporting cadence).
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Author: Kimi, Co-founder of Sam’s List
Kimi writes about what she's learning while building Sam’s List and shares honest takeaways from her conversations with accountants and financial advisors across the country. None of this is financial advice—just the stuff most people wish someone told them sooner.
