Quick answer: A Fractional CFO typically costs a fraction of a full-time finance executive. At our firm, Fractional CFO packages run from $1,040 a month (Bronze) to $13,500 a month (Diamond), and every level includes your monthly accounting, tax planning, tax preparation and audit protection. Compare that with a full-time hire: the median financial manager in the U.S. earns $166,570 a year before benefits, bonus and payroll taxes. If your business has outgrown basic bookkeeping but cannot justify that salary, a Fractional CFO is usually the better fit.
Most business owners only hear from their accountant once a year, when the return is due. By then the decisions that shaped the year are already made. As Bette Hochberger puts it, “I don’t want to be your once-a-year accountant.” A Fractional CFO relationship is built the other way around: someone senior is in your numbers every month, so you can grow and keep your wealth instead of finding out in April what last year cost you.
This guide explains what a Fractional CFO does, what it costs, what should be included in the price and how to tell when your business is ready for one.
Key Takeaways
- Fractional means part-time, not part-quality. You get CFO-level thinking for the hours and cadence your business actually needs.
- Price follows complexity. Monthly fees depend on how fast you need the books closed, how often you meet and how much payroll, payables and reporting work is involved.
- Ask what is bundled. Many CFO services bill tax work separately. Ours include accounting, tax planning, tax preparation and audit protection in every package.
- The comparison is a full-time salary. A full-time finance leader costs well into six figures before benefits. Fractional support costs a fraction of that.
- Clean books come first. CFO advice is only as good as the numbers underneath it, which is why accounting is part of every level.
What Does a Fractional CFO Actually Do?
A Fractional CFO is a senior finance professional who works with your business on a part-time, ongoing basis. Instead of only recording what happened, the role uses your financial data to guide what happens next.
In practice, that usually means:
- Cash-flow forecasting, so you see cash pressure and room to invest before it shows up in the bank balance.
- Monthly or weekly financial statements that management can actually use, not just a year-end report.
- KPI and margin visibility, so you know which products, clients or locations make money.
- Decision modeling for hiring, pricing, expansion, equipment purchases and financing.
- Owner-level strategy that connects business results with owner pay, distributions, retirement contributions and taxes.
- Investor, lender and board reporting when the business has outside stakeholders.
The difference from a bookkeeper or a tax preparer is direction. Bookkeeping and tax preparation look backward. A Fractional CFO looks forward and helps you decide.
How Much Does a Fractional CFO Cost?
Fractional CFO pricing is usually a flat monthly fee based on scope. Here is how our four levels compare. Every level includes accounting, tax planning, tax preparation and audit protection, so you are not paying separately for the tax work most CFO services leave out.
| Level | Monthly fee | Best for | What changes as you move up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | $1,040 | Owner-operated businesses that need reliable books and year-round tax support | Monthly accounting with a 4-week close, annual financial statements, business and personal returns, quarterly CPA consultations |
| Silver | $2,415 | Growing businesses with payroll and more decisions to make | 2-week close with monthly financial statements, monthly CPA and controller meetings, bi-weekly payroll, advanced tax strategy |
| Gold | $6,045 | Established companies that need weekly visibility | Weekly reconciliation and financials, weekly CPA calls, quarterly tax planning meetings, IRS audit support at no extra charge |
| Diamond | $13,500 | Complex, fast-moving businesses that need a full finance team | Daily reconciliation of every account, semi-weekly CPA consulting calls and controller meetings, expanded payables and receivables |
See the full list of what each level includes on our Fractional CFO pricing page.
Fractional CFO vs. Full-Time CFO: The Real Cost Comparison
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the median annual wage for financial managers, the category that includes CFOs and controllers, was $166,570 in May 2025. That is the midpoint salary alone. A full-time hire also brings benefits, payroll taxes, bonus or equity, recruiting costs and the time it takes to find the right person.
For many small and mid-sized businesses, that math does not work yet. A Fractional CFO gives you senior financial judgment for the meetings, reporting and decisions you actually need, and the engagement can scale up as the business grows. When the company eventually needs a full-time finance leader, a Fractional CFO can help define the role and hand off clean systems.
Fractional CFO vs. Controller vs. Bookkeeper
| Role | Main focus | Typical question it answers |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | Recording transactions accurately | “Are the books up to date?” |
| Controller | Closing the books on schedule, reconciliations, controls and reporting | “Are the numbers right and on time?” |
| Fractional CFO | Forecasting, strategy, cash, margins and owner-level planning | “What should we do next, and what will it do to profit, cash and taxes?” |
Most growing businesses need all three layers. Our packages are built so the bookkeeping, controller-level close and CFO strategy sit with one team instead of three vendors.
7 Signs Your Business Is Ready for a Fractional CFO
- You are profitable on paper but always short on cash.
- You make big decisions on instinct, such as hiring, pricing or expansion, because the numbers arrive too late to help.
- Your financial statements show up months after the fact, or only at tax time.
- Your tax bill keeps surprising you because nobody is planning during the year.
- You are raising money or talking to a lender and need investor-ready reporting.
- You have outgrown your bookkeeper but cannot justify a full-time finance executive.
- Your personal and business finances are tangled, and you are not sure how much you can safely take out of the business.
If two or three of these sound familiar, it is worth a conversation.
What Should Be Included in a Fractional CFO Package?
When you compare providers, ask these questions before you compare prices:
- Is monthly accounting included, or will I need a separate bookkeeper?
- How quickly are the books closed each month: four weeks, two weeks or one?
- Are tax planning and tax preparation included, or billed separately?
- What happens if I get an IRS notice or audit?
- How often will we meet, and who will I actually talk to?
- Is payroll processing included?
A lower monthly fee that leaves out tax work, payroll or audit support can easily cost more once those pieces are added back.
How a Fractional CFO Helps You Keep More of What You Make
Growing revenue is only half of building wealth. The other half is keeping it. Because our Fractional CFO packages include tax planning, the same team that builds your forecast also models the tax effect of each decision: entity structure, owner salary, retirement contributions, equipment purchases and the timing of income and expenses. That connection is where many business owners find savings, and it is the reason we include tax work at every level. Learn more about the difference in our guide to tax planning vs. tax preparation.
Not Ready for a Fractional CFO Yet?
Not every business needs a CFO today. We offer three paths, and you can move up as your needs change:
- “I need my taxes done.” Tax preparation, with options for audit protection and essential planning.
- “I want to pay less in taxes.” Tax planning all year, with tax preparation and audit protection included.
- “I want everything handled.” Fractional CFO, with accounting, tax planning, tax preparation and audit protection managed by one team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Fractional CFO cost per month?
It depends on scope. At Bette Hochberger, CPA, CGMA, packages range from $1,040 a month to $13,500 a month, and every level includes accounting, tax planning, tax preparation and audit protection.
Is a Fractional CFO worth it for a small business?
Usually, once the business has steady revenue, payroll or real decisions about hiring, pricing and growth. A Fractional CFO gives you senior financial guidance for a fraction of a full-time salary, and better timing on tax and cash decisions can offset much of the cost.
What is the difference between a Fractional CFO and an outsourced accountant?
An outsourced accountant keeps your records accurate and current. A Fractional CFO uses those records to forecast, advise and plan. Our packages include both, so the person advising you is working from books they trust.
Does a Fractional CFO handle my taxes?
Many do not. Ours do. Tax planning, business and personal tax preparation and audit protection are included in every Fractional CFO package.
How long does it take to get started?
It starts with a 15-minute discovery call. If the books need catch-up work, we handle that first so your CFO-level reporting is built on clean numbers.
Talk to Us About Your Next Move
If your business has outgrown once-a-year accounting, start with a short conversation. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Bette Hochberger, CPA, CGMA, or compare our Fractional CFO packages.
This article is for general information and is not tax, legal or financial advice for your situation. Package details and pricing are current as of November 2026 and may change.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Financial Managers, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
