What is a fractional CFO?

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A fractional CFO is an experienced chief financial officer who works with a company part-time, on retainer or for a defined project. The company gets senior financial judgment for planning, cash, margins, investors and deals without the salary, bonus and benefits of a full-time executive.

Some clients have no CFO at all. Others have a CFO or controller and bring in a fractional CFO for a specific project, such as an acquisition or a margin improvement program.

What “fractional” means in practice

The work is real CFO work, just not every day. A fractional CFO might spend a few days a month with your business: building the plan, reviewing results with you, preparing for a board or lender meeting, and being available when a decision comes up between those days. During a budget cycle or a deal, the time usually goes up for a while and then settles back down.

How it differs from other finance roles

A bookkeeper and a controller mostly look at what has already happened: recording it accurately and closing the books. A CFO looks ahead: where the business is going, what it will cost to get there, and whether the cash will be there when it's needed. The next guide sets the roles side by side.

Is it right for you?

Not always. A very early or very simple business is often better served by a good bookkeeper and an outside CPA. Signs your business may need CFO-level help walks through when it does make sense.