What does a fractional CFO do?
A fractional CFO runs senior-level finance for your business part-time: monthly close oversight, cash forecasting, KPI reporting, board prep, and fundraising support. They sit above your bookkeeper and below a full-time CFO, typically 5–25 hours per week. For SMBs at $2M–$50M revenue, they deliver 90% of the value at 30–50% of the all-in cost. Get your finance gap diagnosed first.
What Does a Fractional CFO Actually Cost?
Most owners hear "fractional CFO" and get a $3K to $15K range with no explanation. Here is what drives the number.
| Engagement Tier | Monthly Cost | Hours / Week | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advisory | $3,000–$5,000 | 5–8 | $1M–$3M revenue, monthly close + light forecasting |
| Operational | $5,000–$10,000 | 10–15 | $3M–$15M revenue, full close oversight, board prep, cash forecasting |
| Strategic | $10,000–$15,000+ | 15–25 | $15M–$50M revenue, fundraising, M&A, system overhaul |
Hourly rates outside retainer typically run $150–$400/hr. Senior CFOs with vertical specialization (manufacturing, healthcare, SaaS) sit at the top of that band.
What Drives Fractional CFO Pricing?
- Hours per week. The single biggest variable. 5 hours/week ≠ 20 hours/week.
- Company stage. A $30M company needs more reporting infrastructure than a $3M one.
- Industry complexity. Multi-entity, inventory-heavy, or regulated industries cost more.
- Scope. Audit prep, fundraising, ERP migrations are usually priced separately.
- CFO seniority. Former Big 4 partner vs. controller-stepped-up: 2x rate difference.
See how your data matches our experts.
Sobo's diagnostic engine reads your actual P&L, workflows, and operations.
Get Your Free DiagnosisFractional CFO Cost vs. Full-Time CFO
The fair comparison is all-in cost, not base salary.
| Cost Component | Full-Time CFO | Fractional CFO |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | $200K–$300K | — |
| Bonus + equity | $40K–$80K | — |
| Benefits + payroll tax (~25%) | $60K–$95K | — |
| Recruiting fee | $50K–$100K one-time | — |
| Severance exposure | 3–6 months base | None |
| Annual all-in | $275K–$400K | $60K–$180K |
When Is a Fractional CFO Worth the Cost?
- Revenue between $2M and $50M.
- Your bookkeeper or controller is escalating decisions you can't answer.
- You're raising capital, selling the business, or preparing for audit.
- Cash is tight and you can't see 12 weeks forward.
- Margins are shrinking and nobody can tell you why.
If two or more apply, the fractional CFO usually pays for itself inside the first 90 days.
How Sobo Sizes Your Engagement
Most fractional CFO firms quote off a script. Sobo runs a diagnostic first — your actual P&L, cash, and reporting gaps — and matches a CFO scoped to fix what's broken, not staffed to fill a retainer. See also our mid-market CFO growth guide and the fractional executive ROI math.
Get a Right-Sized Quote
Start with the free diagnostic. The output tells you exactly how many hours/week your books actually need — before anyone quotes you.
