Fractional CFO matched to your stage, industry and budget
A seasoned finance leader one or two days a week: tell ExpertMatcher what the money side of your business needs and compare verified fractional CFOs with real rates and open calendars.
What a fractional CFO does for you
A fractional CFO owns the financial picture of the company and gives the CEO a partner for decisions that involve money, risk and investors. The exact scope depends on your stage, but these are the areas founders bring to a first conversation.
- 01 Builds a three-statement financial model and an operating budget tied to hiring plans
- 02 Prepares fundraising materials, investor metrics and a clean data room
- 03 Manages cash runway, burn scenarios and banking relationships
- 04 Designs board reporting packs and runs the finance section of board meetings
- 05 Reviews pricing, unit economics and gross margin by product or customer segment
- 06 Oversees the bookkeeper or controller and sets the monthly close calendar
- 07 Leads due diligence on the finance side during a raise, debt facility or acquisition
Typical engagement formats
You choose the format in the brief, and the shortlist only shows CFOs who offer it.
- 01 Expert call of 30, 60 or 90 minutes to pressure-test a model, a term sheet or a budget
- 02 Fractional retainer of one to three days a week, usually for six months or longer
- 03 Fixed project, for example a fundraising model, a pricing review or audit preparation
A fractional CFO who works one day a week through a raise often moves to two days during diligence and back to a lighter schedule afterwards. The statement of work on the platform records those changes so invoices stay accurate.
How we verify every CFO on your shortlist
Finance leaders see your numbers, so the checks are strict and visible on each profile.
- Identity confirmed against a government ID
- Finance leadership history reviewed against the companies and titles listed
- References from founders, CEOs or board members they reported to
- CPA license or other certifications checked where the profile lists them
- A rate card with hourly, daily and retainer prices
- An availability calendar that shows when they can start and how many days they have open
What a fractional CFO costs in the US market
General US market rates for experienced fractional CFOs often sit between $200 and $450 per hour. Monthly retainers for one to two days a week commonly range from about $5,000 to $15,000, and fundraising-heavy periods can sit above that. Rates are set by each expert, and you see the exact figure on the profile before you request a call.
On ExpertMatcher you pay the CFO's own rate plus a platform fee of 4 to 12 percent depending on your plan, instead of the 20 to 40 percent markup that agencies and placement firms commonly add. For a full breakdown of what drives the price, read our guide to fractional CFO cost and compare plans on the pricing page.
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$200 and $450
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$5,000 to $15,000
When it is time to hire a fractional CFO
- A priced round, a debt facility or an acquisition is on the calendar within the next six months
- The board asks for metrics the current spreadsheet cannot produce
- Cash runway is shorter than twelve months and no one owns the forecast
- Revenue passes the point where the bookkeeper is making decisions above their role
- Pricing or margin questions keep coming back without a clear answer
These signals tend to appear well before a full-time CFO makes financial sense.
If you only need a few hours a month of finance leadership, our part time CFO services page covers lighter formats, and a fractional controller is often the better fit when the problem is the monthly close rather than strategy.
Industry experience changes what a good CFO looks like. Contractors need someone fluent in WIP schedules and bonding, which is why we match a fractional CFO for construction companies, agency owners see client margins in our fractional CFO for marketing agencies page, partner draws and trust accounts shape the job in our guide to a fractional CFO for law firms, and restricted funds and grant compliance define the work of a fractional CFO for nonprofits. Restaurant groups need weekly prime cost and new unit models from a fractional CFO for restaurants, and owner dentists weighing overhead, PPO contracts or a DSO offer can read our guide to a fractional CFO for dental practices. Subscription businesses with ARR, churn and investor reporting to manage can start with a fractional CFO for SaaS companies, property owners and sponsors can start with a fractional CFO for real estate companies, plants can read what a fractional CFO costs for a manufacturer, and physician groups with payer mix and collections questions can read our guide to a fractional CFO for medical practices.
How hiring a fractional CFO works on ExpertMatcher
The steps below follow the same flow described on how it works, tuned for a finance seat.
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01
Describe the finance need, including stage, industry and any deadline such as a raise
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02
Review the match brief, which weights competencies like fundraising, SaaS metrics or inventory accounting
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03
Compare a shortlist of verified CFOs with fit scores and the reason behind each match
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04
Send an NDA before sharing financial details, then book a paid intro call
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05
Agree a statement of work with days per week, deliverables and a start date
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06
Pay by card or ACH, receive invoices on the platform and rate the CFO after the engagement
How many hours does a fractional CFO work?
Most fractional CFOs work between four and twelve days a month for a single company. Early-stage startups often begin with one day a week and increase it around a fundraise or an audit.
Is a fractional CFO the same as an accountant?
No. An accountant or bookkeeper records transactions and closes the books. A fractional CFO uses that information to plan, raise capital, manage risk and advise the CEO and the board.
Can a fractional CFO help us raise money?
Yes. Building the financial model, preparing investor metrics, organizing the data room and handling finance diligence questions are among the most common reasons companies hire one.
Who sees our financial information?
Only the CFOs you choose to engage, and only after they sign the NDA that the platform sends before brief details are shared. Your brief stays private until then.
What does the platform fee cover?
The fee covers matching, verification, contracts, payment processing, invoices, payouts and 1099 handling for US experts. It is 12 percent on Starter, 9 percent on Growth, 6 percent on Scale and 4 percent on Enterprise.
Can we start with a single call before committing to a retainer?
Yes. Book a paid 30, 60 or 90 minute call with any CFO on your shortlist, and move to a project or retainer only if the fit is right.
Put a seasoned finance leader on your team
Describe where your numbers need help and compare verified fractional CFOs with rates and availability today. Looking at other seats too? Browse all fractional executives or see a fractional COO for operations.