How fees work
Fees for fractional CFO and advisory work usually follow one of three models. Each fits a different kind of need.
Monthly retainer
A set fee each month for an agreed level of involvement, such as a certain number of days or a defined set of responsibilities. This is the usual model for an ongoing fractional CFO role. It makes the cost predictable and means you don't have to think about the meter running every time you pick up the phone.
Hourly
You pay for the time actually spent. This suits occasional advisory work, such as reviewing a plan or being a sounding board before a decision, where the amount of time is hard to predict and fairly small. It's flexible, but harder to budget for if the work grows.
Fixed-fee project
One agreed price for a defined piece of work with a clear deliverable: a three-year financial model, a profitability review or diligence support for a transaction. You know the cost before the work starts. If the scope changes along the way, the change and any effect on the fee are discussed before the extra work is done.
What drives the cost
- Scope: how many areas the work covers, and what has to be delivered
- Complexity: the number of entities, locations, products and systems, and the condition of the existing books and data
- Time commitment: how many days a month, and for how long
- Timing: a deal or lender deadline can compress the work into a shorter, busier period
How Month8 handles fees
Every Month8 engagement is tailored to its scope, with the fee agreed up front. Before anything starts, you'll know what's included, what isn't, and what it costs.