Hiring a full-time CFO is a big commitment—and for many growing businesses, it’s not the right move just yet. But the need for financial leadership doesn’t disappear just because you’re not at enterprise scale. That’s where a fractional CFO comes in.
A fractional CFO is a part-time or project-based executive who helps businesses with financial strategy, planning, and oversight. They bring the same level of expertise as a traditional CFO—just in a more flexible (and affordable) package.
So what do they actually do?
At a high level, they help you make better financial decisions. That might mean building a forecasting model, cleaning up your budget, or figuring out how to extend your runway. They’ll often set up monthly reporting that actually makes sense to the leadership team—not just numbers for compliance’s sake. And they’re usually the ones helping you prep for a fundraise or lender meeting, making sure everything from your financials to your story is dialed in.
If you’re spending too much time in spreadsheets, unsure about your margins, or trying to scale without a solid financial plan—those are signs it’s time to bring one on.
It’s not just about controlling costs or cleaning up your books. A great fractional CFO helps you understand your numbers so you can run your business with more confidence. For a lot of founders, it’s the moment when finance stops being a burden and starts becoming a growth tool.
