1
FocusCFO Editor's pick
6 named clients 200+ people
Fee on request
Best fractional CFOs: firms and solo practitioners
A fractional CFO gives a founder-led company the finance leadership of a senior CFO for one or two days a week. The work is cash first: a 13-week forecast, a monthly close that lands on time, a reporting pack the CEO actually reads, and the bank and investor conversations that a bookkeeper cannot have. Most buyers sit between $2M and $20M in revenue, and the trigger is usually a raise, a loan, a second entity or a cash surprise. Published retainers run $3,000 to $12,000 a month, with $5,000 to $8,000 the common band; the bigger firms bundle bookkeeping and controller work, while solo CFOs expect you to keep your own. This page lists fractional CFO firms and solo practitioners from their own published facts, in one fixed order that nobody pays to change. Each row shows the revenue bands and industries the firm names, its stated minimum fee and term where it publishes one, and whether it also coaches founders who would rather learn the finance themselves.
65 firms and practitioners on this page offer fractional CFO work. That is 52 firms, 10 marketplaces, 2 solo practitioners and 1 collective. Editor's picks here are FocusCFO, NOW CFO, Preferred CFO and TechCXO. 16 publish a monthly fee, from $1,095 to $5,000 a month. The other 49 quote.
Most fractional CFOs at a $1M to $50M company work 4 to 16 hours a week, usually one fixed day plus the close and the weeks before a board meeting or a raise. A three-month minimum with 30 days notice is the common term; some firms ask for six or twelve months, and engagements often run two years or more.
2
NOW CFO Editor's pick
6 named clients 300+ people
Fee on request day or hourly rate, no minimum
3
Preferred CFO Editor's pick
6 named clients Founded 2013
Fee on request
4
TechCXO Editor's pick
6 named clients Founded 2003, 245+ people
Fee on request
5
The CFO Centre Editor's pick
6 named clients Founded 2001, 750+ people
Fee on request
6
6 named clients Serves US
$1,600 per month
7
Serves US
$2,200 per month
8
6 named clients Founded 2018
$5,000 per month
9
3 named clients Founded 2012
$1,600 per month, no minimum
10
6 named clients Serves US
$1,600 per month
11
6 named clients Serves US
$2,000 per month
12
6 named clients Serves US
$2,499 per month
13
70+ peopleServes UK
$2,280 per month, no minimum
14
4 named clients Serves US, Canada
$1,095 per month
15
3 named clients Serves US
$2,000 per month, no minimum
16
6 named clients Serves US
$1,750 per month
17
4 named clients Serves Australia
$1,650 per month, no minimum
18
Serves UK
$2,540 per month, no minimum
19
6 named clients Serves UK, Australia
$1,584 per month, no minimum
20
2 named clients Serves US
$1,750 per month
21
6 named clients Serves US
$1,599 per month
22
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer, no minimum
23
6 named clients Serves Canada
Fee on request
24
Founded 1987Serves US
Fee on request
25
1 named client Serves US
Fee on request
26
Serves US
Fee on request
27
6 named clients Founded 2002, 300+ people
Fee on request
28
4 named clients Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer, no minimum
29
Founded 2009Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer, no minimum
30
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
31
Serves UK
Fee on request monthly retainer
32
Founded 2020Serves US
Fee on request
33
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
34
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request
35
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
36
6 named clients Serves US, UK, Australia, Canada
Fee on request no minimum
37
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request
38
6 named clients Founded 2006
Fee on request monthly retainer
39
3 named clients Founded 2013
Fee on request day or hourly rate
40
1 named client Founded 2004
Fee on request
41
Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
42
Serves US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada
Fee on request monthly retainer
43
4 named clients Serves US, UK, EU, Australia
Fee on request no minimum
44
Serves US
Fee on request
45
2 named clients Serves US
Fee on request
46
5 named clients Serves US
Fee on request no minimum
47
3 named clients 30+ people
Fee on request monthly retainer
48
6 named clients Founded 2008
Fee on request monthly retainer, no minimum
49
6 named clients Founded 2012, 15+ people
Fee on request monthly retainer
50
5 named clients 150+ people
Fee on request monthly retainer, no minimum
51
Serves Global
Fee on request
52
5 named clients Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer
53
6 named clients Founded 2010, 200+ people
Fee on request
54
Serves US
Fee on request
55
6 named clients Serves US
Fee on request
56
6 named clients 37 people
Fee on request
57
Serves US
Fee on request
58
2 named clients Founded 2004
Fee on request
59
1 named client Serves US
Fee on request monthly retainer, no minimum
60
3 named clients Serves Global
Fee on request
61
Serves Global
Fee on request
62
6 named clients Founded 1996
Fee on request
63
6 named clients Serves US, Canada
Fee on request day or hourly rate
64
3 named clients Founded 2017, 85+ people
Fee on request
65
3 named clients Serves UK
Fee on request fixed project fee
How this list is built. Every firm and practitioner here offers fractional CFO work on its own site. Order is editor's pick, then a published fee, then name. Nobody pays to appear or to move up. Full methodology.
CFO guides
- What is a fractional CFOA fractional CFO is a senior finance executive shared by several companies. What the role owns, typical hours, fees of $3,000 to $12,000 a month, and when to hire one.
- How much a fractional CFO costsFractional CFO retainers run $3,000 to $12,000 a month. What drives the price, hourly and project rates, equity deals, and how to read a quote.
- Fractional CFO vs interim CFOAn interim CFO works full-time for a few months; a fractional CFO works part-time for years. When each fits, what each costs, and the PE and exit cases.
- Fractional CFO vs full-time CFOA full-time CFO costs $300,000 to $500,000 in year one; a fractional CFO costs $40,000 to $140,000. The math, the revenue thresholds and what you give up.
- Fractional CFO vs consultantA finance consultant delivers a project and leaves. A fractional CFO owns the numbers every month. How they differ on scope, pricing and decision rights.
- Fractional CFO vs coachingWhen a founder at $1M to $5M should hire a fractional CFO, when finance coaching is enough, and when to do both. Costs and triggers for each.
- How to become a fractional CFOThe path from finance executive to fractional CFO: picking a niche, pricing at $3,000 to $10,000 a month, contracts and insurance, first clients and a pipeline.
Questions founders ask
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Published fractional CFO retainers run $3,000 to $12,000 a month, with $5,000 to $8,000 the common band for a $1M to $20M company; bookkeeping is often billed on top. 16 firms and practitioners on this page publish a monthly fee, from $1,095 to $5,000 a month. The other 49 quote.
How many hours a week does a fractional CFO work?
Most fractional CFOs at a $1M to $50M company work 4 to 16 hours a week, usually one fixed day plus the close and the weeks before a board meeting or a raise.
What is the difference between a fractional and an interim CFO?
An interim CFO works full time for a fixed period, usually while the company hires a permanent one. A fractional CFO works part of the week, often for two to four companies at once, and can stay for years.
How long do fractional CFO engagements last?
A three-month minimum with 30 days notice is the common term; some firms ask for six or twelve months, and engagements often run two years or more. 16 firms on this page publish their terms, and none asks for a minimum.
Do fractional CFOs take equity?
Some do, mostly with venture-backed startups. No firm on this page publishes an equity plus cash model, so ask on the first call.