FAQ

A fractional CFO is an experienced chief financial officer who works with your business on a part-time or project basis. You get senior-level financial leadership — strategic planning, cash flow management, financial reporting, and decision support — without the cost of a full-time executive hire. Most of our fractional CFO engagements run between one and three days per week, depending on what the business needs.

A CFO focuses on financial strategy, forecasting, and decision support for leadership. A controller focuses on the accuracy and integrity of the books — managing accounting operations, financial reporting, compliance, and internal controls. The CFO is the person in the business looking up and out at what is coming while the Controller is looking down and inward to the business. Many growing businesses need both, and some start with a controller before they need a CFO. We help you figure out which role fits your situation.

A full-time CFO is the right move when the complexity and volume of financial decisions justify a dedicated executive. For most businesses between $5M and $100M in revenue, a fractional CFO provides the same caliber of leadership at a fraction of the cost. You get the experience without carrying the overhead of a $250K–$400K salary, benefits, and equity.

No. We work alongside your existing team. Your bookkeeper handles the day-to-day. Your CPA handles tax compliance. A fractional CFO sits above that — interpreting the numbers, building forecasts, advising leadership, and making sure the finance function is actually giving you what you need to run the business. We make the people you already have more effective.

This is one of the most common concerns we hear, and it's a fair one. We come in as a partner and a mentor — not a replacement. Our goal is to strengthen the team you have, not undermine them. We work with your people, build their capabilities, and create systems they can manage going forward. Every engagement starts with listening, not reorganizing.

It's a structured diagnostic that evaluates where your finance function stands today and what it needs to become to support where you're taking the business. We look at your books, your processes, your team, your risks, and your reporting — and deliver a clear picture of what's working, what isn't, and what it's costing you. Most assessments identify more value than they cost before they're finished.

Most assessments take four to six weeks, depending on the complexity of the business and the state of the financials. We move quickly but we don't rush — the goal is to give you something you can act on, not a surface-level report that sits on a shelf.

A detailed findings report covering financial accuracy, process gaps, compliance exposure, and operational risk — with quantified impact where possible. You also get a prioritized action plan and a clear recommendation on what your finance function needs going forward. Everything is specific to your business, not a template.

No. The Assessment stands on its own. Many clients move forward with us because the findings make the next step obvious, but there is no obligation. You'll have a complete picture of where you stand and what needs to happen — you can act on that with us or on your own.

We work with growing businesses, nonprofits, and lower middle market companies — typically between $5M and $100M in revenue. Our clients span construction, manufacturing, technology, professional services, and nonprofit sectors. The common thread is that they've outgrown their current finance function and need leadership-level support to get to the next stage.

Every engagement starts with a conversation. We listen first — to understand your situation, your concerns, and what you're trying to accomplish. If it makes sense to work together, we typically begin with a Financial Discovery Assessment to establish a baseline. From there, we scope the engagement to fit what the business actually needs.

It depends on the scope. Fractional CFO engagements are typically structured as a monthly retainer based on the number of days per week. The Assessment is a fixed-fee engagement. We're transparent about pricing from the first conversation — no surprises, no hidden fees. The better question is what it's costing you not to have this in place.

If your books are messy but your business is straightforward, you might just need better bookkeeping. But if you're making decisions without real financial visibility — if you're unsure about cash flow, can't forecast reliably, or feel like the numbers aren't telling you what you need to know — that's a leadership gap, not a bookkeeping gap. That's where we come in.

Yes. Call us at 866-324-4473 or schedule a discovery call. No forms, no gatekeepers. If we can help, we'll tell you. If we can't, we'll tell you that too.