Top 13 Fractional CFO Companies – Industry Specific List
Your revenue is climbing, but you can’t figure out why profits aren’t following. Your accountant closes the books on time, but you still don’t know what decisions to make next. This is the moment most founders realize they need more than bookkeeping; they need strategic finance. Enter fractional CFOs.
The thing is, not all fractional CFO companies are the same. Some specialize in high-growth ecommerce brands that need cash flow control and forecasting. Others serve SaaS startups navigating fundraising or manufacturers focused on operational efficiency.
This guide breaks down 13 of the most trusted fractional CFO companies, who they are, and what they offer.
TL;DR – Top 13 Fractional CFO Companies
If you don’t have time to read the full guide, here’s the quick version:
- CFO Expertise
- Burkland Associates
- Preferred CFO
- TGG Accounting
- Fuel CFO
- Craft CFO
- FocusCFO
- CFO Hub
- G-Squared Partners
- Driven Insights
- Summit CFO by Acuity
- Paro
- Scrubbed
These are the names shaping how modern businesses approach finance today. Keep reading for a clear breakdown of what each company does well, where they fall short, and how to decide which one actually fits your business.
Pricing Models and Cost Structures Explained
Most CFO firms price their services in a few common ways. The structure you choose depends on how complex your business is and how deeply you want your CFO involved in day-to-day decisions.
Let’s break down the most common structures you’ll come across:
Hourly or Retainer-Based
As a startup, hourly or flexible retainers are the simplest way to work with a CFO for you. Just pay for what you actually use, usually between $150 and $500 an hour.
This setup is very flexible and low-risk, though expenses tend to climb fast once you start needing more consistent support.
Monthly Fixed Fee
This model is what most ecommerce and D2C brands choose, once they’re past the early stages of the business, which is mostly chaos. A flat monthly fee gives you ongoing CFO guidance without worrying about fluctuating invoices.
The range typically sits somewhere between $3,000 and $10,000 a month, depending on your transaction volume, team size, and how much strategic help you need. It’s predictable, and that’s what most founders appreciate when they’re scaling.
Project-Based Engagements
Sometimes you don’t need to hire a team permanently; you just need a CFO to step in for one project that is currently in your hands. Maybe you’re raising a round, prepping for an acquisition, or need a financial model that actually makes sense.
These short-term projects typically range from $5,000 to $25,000 or more, depending on the scope and urgency.
Hybrid or Tiered Models
Some firms mix models, offering a lower retainer for ongoing advisory services, paired with project-based pricing for significant events, such as capital raises or audits. Others offer tiered packages (for example, “Growth,” “Scale,” or “Exit Ready”) so founders can match services to their current stage.
CFO Expertise follows a monthly pricing model, customized for ecommerce and D2C brands. Most clients invest between $4,000 and $8,000 per month, depending on the scale of their operations.
When Your Business Needs a Fractional CFO
Most founders don’t hire a fractional CFO because things are going perfectly. They bring one in when growth starts getting messy, when the numbers no longer tell a clear story, and big decisions start feeling more like guesses.
Let’s walk through the moments that usually signal it’s time:
- Growth outpaces your systems: Rapid revenue growth can strain your financial processes. A fractional CFO builds scalable systems, sets up clear reporting, and helps you pinpoint where the business is truly profitable or losing money.
- Cash flow becomes unpredictable: Even healthy businesses hit cash crunches. A fractional CFO analyzes your cash cycle, receivables, payables, timing, and creates forecasts so you can spend and plan without constant stress.
- Preparing for funding or loans: Investors and lenders expect accurate numbers and confident projections. A fractional CFO creates financial models, preps your data room, and ensures you can present a credible financial story.
- Reports exist, but don’t provide insight: Monthly statements are useless if they don’t inform decisions. A fractional CFO turns data into actionable insights, helping track KPIs and identify trends to guide smart choices.
- Strategic moves or big decisions: Expanding into new markets, launching products, or making acquisitions carries risk. A fractional CFO models outcomes, stress-tests scenarios, and acts as a strategic partner to make growth more predictable.
How to Choose the Right Fractional CFO Company
Choosing the right fractional CFO partner isn’t just about credentials or price. It’s about finding someone who understands your business, speaks your language, and can help you make smarter decisions with confidence.
Here’s how to narrow it down without getting lost in the noise:
Start With Your Goals
Before you even look at CFO firms, get clear on what you actually need help with. Are you trying to clean up messy books, get investor-ready, or finally understand where your profits are going? Maybe you want better cash flow forecasting or help navigating rapid growth.
Write those goals down; they’ll shape the kind of CFO you should be talking to.
Look for Industry Experience
Not all CFOs are built the same.
Ecommerce and D2C brands have unique challenges, seasonality, ad spend volatility, inventory cycles, and marketplace fees that traditional finance pros often don’t fully grasp.
Assess Strategic Depth, not Just Technical Skills
Plenty of CFOs can close your books. The right one helps you think long-term, including pricing strategy, cash flow management, margin optimization, and fundraising readiness.
During interviews, ask about how they’ve solved complex financial challenges or guided other brands through growth and funding.
Check Communication Style and Chemistry
Money conversations can be a little complex, which is why you need someone who can explain difficult ideas simply and work well with your team.
A good fractional CFO feels like an extension of your leadership circle, someone who brings clarity, not jargon.
Understand their Service Model
Fractional CFOs work in different ways. Some dedicate a clear set number of hours each week; others work project-based or on a hybrid schedule. What you need to do is ask how they handle reporting, meetings, and collaboration with your accounting team.
The structure should fit your stage and workload, not the other way around.
Balance Cost with Value
Going for the cheapest CFO might save money today, but cost you clarity tomorrow. Instead of comparing rates, compare what you’re getting: regular reporting, forecasting, investor preparation, and real hands-on support.
The right structure pays for itself through better decisions.
Make Sure they Align with Your Culture
Numbers are the easy part; chemistry is what makes it work. A strong CFO partnership feels natural, someone who communicates clearly, adapts to your pace, and truly believes in your goals.
When you have that, finance stops feeling distant and starts feeling like part of your company’s rhythm.
Top 13 Fractional CFO Companies
There are plenty of firms offering fractional CFO services today, but not all of them are built the same. Some specialize in ecommerce and D2C growth, others in SaaS, healthcare, or manufacturing. The best fit depends on your stage, your financial complexity, and the kind of partnership you’re looking for.
To save you time, we’ve narrowed down 13 of the most reputable and founder-trusted fractional CFO companies in the market:
1. CFO Expertise
Many ecommerce founders have technically correct books but still make decisions by guesswork. Rapid growth can create chaos: unclear margins, unpredictable cash flow, and marketing or inventory spend that feels like a shot in the dark. That’s where we help.
We work exclusively with ecommerce and D2C brands: Shopify, Amazon, or direct-to-consumer channels, typically generating $1M–$50M+ in revenue. Our CFOs aren’t just accountants; we provide the clarity and strategic guidance founders need to scale confidently.
Here’s what we bring:
- Custom KPI Dashboards: Revenue, COGS, CAC, LTV, and more, so you always know your numbers.
- Accrual Accounting: Reliable books by the 10th of each month, investor-ready.
- Forecasting & Growth Planning: Cash flow, inventory, and marketing spend managed without surprises.
- Exit & Acquisition Support: Financial cleanup, valuation modeling, and data room prep.
With 15+ years of experience and 50+ brands advised, we turn numbers into actionable insights that guide growth.
Ready to stop guessing and start knowing? Bring CFO-level clarity to your ecommerce brand. Book a consultation today.
2. Burkland Associates
Burkland helps venture-backed startups in SaaS, fintech, and healthtech build financial systems that can survive rapid growth. Their CFOs handle fundraising prep, investor reporting, KPI development, burn-rate planning, and long-term FP&A.
They’re often the team that founders call when they need to clean up financial operations before talking to VCs or scaling their product.
However, their approach can feel too structured and layered for bootstrapped teams who need hands-on support instead of corporate-style modeling.
3. Preferred CFO
Preferred CFO works with companies navigating high growth or major transitions. They specialize in forecasting, cash flow modeling, capital strategy, and investor readiness. When a company is prepping for an acquisition, turnaround, or multi-million-dollar raise, they build the models, create the financial story, and sharpen the company’s reporting so it holds up under due diligence.
Sometimes, their pricing and focus on bigger strategic events mean earlier-stage brands and smaller teams may feel pushed out of budget.
4. TGG Accounting
TGG supports small and mid-sized businesses that want to move from reactive choices to true financial planning. Their CFOs and controllers handle full accounting cleanup, job costing, cash flow management, budgeting systems, and consistent reporting.
They’re especially strong in professional services and manufacturing, where tight margins and operational efficiency matter.
But they lean heavily on standardized processes, which can feel rigid for founders with fast-changing or creative business models.
5. Fuel CFO
Fuel CFO generally partners with SaaS and subscription companies that need a clear read on retention, churn, ARR/MRR growth, and cash cycles. They help teams build board-ready forecasts, understand customer lifetime value, and optimize billing systems.
Their whole model revolves around helping subscription businesses scale without losing control of their metrics.
Be mindful of the fact that they don’t bring much value to ecommerce, retail, or non-subscription businesses since their expertise is almost entirely SaaS-focused.
6. Craft CFO
Craft CFO works with creative and digital agencies that struggle with uneven revenue cycles and unpredictable project profitability. They build pricing frameworks, utilization models, and cash flow plans that keep agencies profitable without overworking their team.
They also guide hiring decisions, budgeting, and financial processes that support agency growth.
But they have a narrow list of specialization, so companies outside the agency world won’t get as much relevant expertise.
7. FocusCFO
FocusCFO embeds part-time CFOs inside owner-led businesses in manufacturing, construction, and distribution. They focus on practical financial stability: cash flow, margin structure, operational efficiency, and long-term planning. Their goal is to act like an internal strategic partner who strengthens the business from the ground up.
One drawback is that their model is more traditional and may feel slow for fast-moving companies that need rapid forecasting or data-heavy decision support.
8. CFO Hub
CFO Hub gives high-growth tech and retail companies access to fractional CFOs, controllers, and bookkeepers. Their team handles FP&A, reporting dashboards, budgeting, audit prep, and operational finance. They’re strong in environments where founders need real-time financial visibility and a team that can scale with them.
But their service quality can vary depending on which CFO or controller a client is paired with, since the company relies on a large distributed team.
9. G-Squared Partners
G-Squared serves startups and mid-market companies across technology, life sciences, and consumer products. Their CFOs are strong in fundraising support, due diligence, forecasting, and implementing investor-grade reporting systems. They’re the kind of team you bring in when you need numbers that impress VCs or private equity.
But their structured, formal reporting style doesn’t always match how fast founders want to move day to day.
10. Driven Insights
Driven Insights helps SaaS and service businesses move from messy or inconsistent books to predictable financial clarity. They deliver monthly dashboards, recurring forecasts, profitability breakdowns, and strategic finance leadership. Their cleanup work is especially helpful for founders who inherited disorganized financials and need a reset.
Their process is more standardized, so companies that need a highly customized approach may find their support too formulaic.
11. Summit CFO by Acuity
Summit CFO works with growth-stage companies that need consistent financial guidance but don’t require someone full-time. They focus on budgets, cash planning, KPI creation, scenario modeling, and ongoing forecasting. Their CFOs help founders align long-term goals with the financial realities of the business.
But they tend to be less hands-on with day-to-day operations, which can leave gaps for teams that need tactical or operational finance support.
12. Paro
Paro is a marketplace that connects companies to vetted fractional CFOs on demand. Businesses use Paro when they need flexible, project-based help with forecasting, FP&A, financial cleanup, or M&A prep. Their network spans startups, agencies, ecommerce, and SaaS.
However, quality varies depending on which individual CFO you get matched with, and consistency can be hit-or-miss across engagements.
13. Scrubbed
Scrubbed offers outsourced accounting, tax compliance, and CFO-level guidance for startups, nonprofits, and ecommerce brands. They manage month-end close, reporting, financial cleanup, fundraising prep, and multi-market operations. Their strength is keeping reporting clean and compliant as teams scale.
They have a wide service range, which means strategic CFO work can feel diluted when attention spreads across accounting, tax, and advisory.
Red Flags When Evaluating Fractional CFO Companies
Here’s the thing about hiring a CFO: the wrong one doesn’t just waste money; they waste your time, momentum, and trust in the process.
Here’s what to watch for:
- They lead with price, not value: If the pitch starts with “we’re the most affordable,” walk away. The best CFOs focus on outcomes, clarity, growth, and control, not being the cheapest option. Low pricing usually hides inexperience or an overloaded team.
- No clear deliverables: Vague promises like “we’ll help improve cash flow” don’t cut it. You should know exactly what you’re getting: monthly reporting, dashboards, forecasting, or board decks. If it’s not clearly outlined, expect confusion later.
- One-size-fits-all packages: Every business is different. A startup raising seed capital doesn’t need the same financial structure as a $20M ecommerce brand. Be cautious of firms selling tiered “bronze-silver-gold” plans; custom matters.
- Little or no industry experience: Financial strategy changes by sector. A CFO who understands SaaS churn or ecommerce margins will move faster and make sharper calls. If they can’t speak your language, they’ll spend months catching up on your dime.
- You don’t know who’s actually doing the work: Some firms sell you to senior partners but hand the work to juniors. Ask who you’ll work with daily, how many clients they handle, and what their background is. Transparency is non-negotiable.
- They blur the line between accounting and CFO work: Bookkeeping is about recording the past. CFO strategy is about shaping the future. If all they talk about is reconciling transactions, you’re not getting strategic finance, you’re getting compliance support.
- Overly technical or overly simplified communication: Good CFOs make finance understandable. If they drown you in jargon or skip over details to “keep it simple,” that’s a red flag. You need clarity, not confusion.
- No measurable results or references: Real CFOs have real outcomes: improved cash flow, successful raises, better margins. If they can’t share examples or client references, be cautious; results speak louder than marketing claims.
- Slow responses or overpromising: Pay attention to how they communicate early on.
If emails drag for days or promises sound too good to be true, that won’t change after you sign. Reliability is part of financial leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here’s a quick breakdown of what most want to know before they hire:
What is Included in Fractional CFO Consulting Services?
Fractional CFO services cover everything a full-time CFO would handle, just on a flexible, part-time basis. That usually includes cash flow management, budgeting, financial forecasting, KPI tracking, board reporting, and high-level strategy.
Some firms also handle fundraising support, M&A prep, and investor communications.
How Do CFO Consulting Firms Assist With Fundraising and Budgeting?
A good fractional CFO helps you get investor-ready. They build financial models, create data rooms, and prepare your business to speak the language of investors or lenders.
On the budgeting side, they help you connect day-to-day expenses to growth goals, turning budgets into strategic roadmaps, not just spreadsheets.
What are the Key Differences Between Fractional CFO and Interim CFO Roles?
A fractional CFO works with you long-term but part-time, often serving multiple clients.
An interim CFO steps in full-time, usually for a short period, to fill a leadership gap or handle a major transition. Fractional is flexible and strategic; interim is temporary and operational.
How Flexible Are Fractional CFO Services for Scaling Companies?
Very. You can scale engagement up or down as your business grows. Early on, you might only need a few hours a week for financial planning and reporting.
As things expand, fundraising, new markets, and acquisitions, your CFO can take on more responsibility without needing a full-time hire.
What Questions Should I Ask a Fractional CFO Company Before Hiring?
Ask about:
- What is their industry experience and examples of similar clients?
- What deliverables and results can you expect monthly?
- Who will you actually work with day-to-day?
- How do they communicate and report progress?
- What happens if your business outgrows its model?
Good firms are transparent about all of this; the vague ones usually aren’t ready for serious work.
What Qualifications Should a Fractional CFO Have?
Look for a mix of formal and practical expertise. Most experienced CFOs hold a CPA, CFA, or MBA, but what really matters is track record, proven success helping companies like yours scale, raise capital, or improve margins.
You want both financial fluency and strategic thinking.
How Quickly Can a Fractional CFO Start Adding Value to My Company?
Expect to see results within the first 30 days. Most CFOs start by digging into your numbers, cleaning up reports, and giving you clarity on where you actually stand.
From there, they move into forecasting and strategy. By month three, you should be making decisions with real confidence instead of educated guesses.
Conclusion
Finding the right fractional CFO isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about trust, communication, and alignment. You want someone who can translate numbers into strategy, spot risks before they become problems, and help you build a business that scales with confidence.
If you take one thing away from this list, let it be this: great CFO support pays for itself many times over. The right partner doesn’t just manage your finances; they help you think, plan, and grow smarter.
Want a clearer picture of your finances? CFO Expertise delivers hands-on fractional CFO support for ecommerce and D2C brands, offering visibility, cash flow planning, and strategic guidance so your growth stays smart and controlled.
