What does a fractional CFO cost?

Fractional CFO pricing varies based on the scope of services, the complexity of your business, and the frequency of engagement. ClearlyKept structures engagements as flat monthly retainers so you know exactly what you’re paying each month. After an initial discovery conversation, we’ll provide a custom proposal aligned to your needs and budget.

How is a fractional CFO different from a bookkeeper or accountant?

A bookkeeper records and categorizes transactions. An accountant prepares financial statements and handles compliance. A fractional CFO uses all of that financial data to drive strategy — building forecasts, guiding decisions, preparing for fundraising, and helping you plan for growth. Many ClearlyKept clients use managed accounting and fractional CFO services together for complete financial coverage.

How many hours per month does a fractional CFO typically work?

It depends on the scope of engagement. Some clients need a few hours per month for CFO-level review and advisory calls. Others — especially those preparing for a fundraise, acquisition, or major growth phase — engage more intensively. ClearlyKept’s fractional CFO engagements are designed around your actual needs, not a standardized package.

Can a fractional CFO help me prepare for a business sale or acquisition?

Yes — and this is one of the most valuable applications of fractional CFO services. Preparing a business for sale or acquisition requires clean, auditable financials, well-documented processes, and a compelling financial narrative. Ashley Love’s background includes direct M&A leadership at Driven Brands, making ClearlyKept uniquely equipped for this kind of engagement.

Does ClearlyKept only serve businesses in Charlotte, NC?

No. ClearlyKept is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, but serves clients across the United States. Our model is built for remote partnership — structured digital workflows, regular video calls, and responsive communication that makes geography irrelevant.

Fractional CFO Services That Give Your Business the Financial Leadership It Deserves

Whether you’re navigating rapid growth, preparing for a funding round, managing through a cash crunch, or simply trying to run a tighter ship, we’ve been in your corner before, and we know what good looks like.

A fractional CFO is a part-time or contract Chief Financial Officer who provides strategic financial leadership to businesses that need C-suite expertise without the cost of a full-time hire. Engagements are flexible, typically monthly, and scaled to the company’s needs.

Most growing businesses hit a point where their accountant or bookkeeper can’t answer the questions that matter most: Are we pricing this correctly? Can we afford to hire? Are we ready to raise capital? These aren’t accounting questions — they’re strategy questions. And they require a different kind of financial partner.

A fractional CFO fills that gap. At ClearlyKept, our fractional CFO services bring executive-level financial leadership to your business on a flexible, right-sized basis — so you get the insight and guidance of a seasoned CFO without the six-figure salary, equity, or benefits package.

What Is a Fractional CFO?

A fractional CFO is a senior financial executive who works with your business on a part-time or retainer basis. Unlike a full-time CFO, a fractional CFO provides strategic financial oversight at a fraction of the cost, making CFO-level leadership accessible to small and mid-sized businesses.

The title “CFO” often conjures images of Fortune 500 boardrooms and teams of analysts. But the function of a CFO (providing financial leadership, identifying risk, planning for growth, and translating numbers into decisions) is just as valuable at $3M in revenue as it is at $300M.

A fractional CFO brings that function to your business without the overhead. You get dedicated strategic financial guidance on a schedule that matches your needs and budget. Think of it as having an experienced CFO in your corner on Monday mornings, without them on payroll every day of the week.

A fractional CFO handles the strategic side of your finances: building financial models, managing cash flow, supporting fundraising and M&A transactions, establishing KPI dashboards, improving operational efficiency, and developing a long-term financial roadmap. This enables business owners to make confident, informed decisions at every stage of growth.

What a Fractional CFO Does for Your Business

A fractional CFO builds the financial architecture your business needs to grow with intention. That means an annual operating plan, multi-year projections, and a capital strategy aligned to your goals, whether that’s profitability, expansion, exit, or all three.

Strategic Financial Planning

Cash Flow Management

Cash flow is the lifeblood of any business, and the number one reason small businesses fail. We build rolling forecasts that show you exactly what’s coming in and going. We help you act before a cash gap becomes a cash crisis.

If you’re preparing to raise equity capital, take on debt, pursue an acquisition, or explore a sale, you need financials that can hold up to scrutiny. We prepare investor-grade financial packages, model deal structures, and support due diligence processes from start to finish.

Fundraising and M&A Support

Board-ready reporting isn’t just for companies with boards. When your financial story is clear, organized, and consistent, you can make better decisions, attract better partners, and build more credibility with lenders and investors. We build reporting structures and KPI dashboards tailored to your industry and business model.

Financial Reporting and KPI Dashboards

Finance and operations are inseparable. A fractional CFO looks beyond the income statement to understand how your business runs: where margins are eroding, where overhead is creeping, where process improvements can directly impact the bottom line. This is the “operational insight” layer that separates a true CFO from a traditional accountant.

Operational Efficiency

Growth Strategy and Financial Roadmap

A fractional CFO helps you see beyond this quarter. We build multi-year financial roadmaps that align capital allocation, hiring plans, and revenue targets to your growth goals, whether that's profitability, expansion, exit, or all three.

Cost

Commitment

Expertise

Flexibility

Best For

Speed to Value

Fractional CFO vs. Full-time CFO

Fractional CFO

Full-time CFO

Flexible monthly retainer

Part-time, right-sized to your needs

$200K to $400K annual salary plus benefits & equity

Full-time, 40+ hours per week

Fixed overhead regardless of workload

$1M–$20M revenue companies needing to move quickly

Fast, engagements start quickly

$20M+ revenue companies with complex finance needs

Slow, recruiting a CFO takes months

Works across multiple industries and business models

Scale up or down as your needs change

Deep in one company’s context over time

Signs You Need a Fractional CFO

Your books are accurate, but nobody is interpreting them or helping you plan ahead. You’re making big decisions without a strategic financial voice.
Investors and lenders scrutinize financials intensely. You need projections, narratives, and models that tell a compelling, defensible story.
You’ve had months where the bank balance surprised you — in the wrong direction. You need a forward-looking system, not just historical reports.
Whether you have formal investors, a board of advisors, or simply want to run your company at that level of rigor, we build the reporting infrastructure that makes it possible.
Major inflection points (new locations, new markets, M&A, or a sale of the business) require financial modeling, due diligence support, and a CFO who has navigated these moments before.
The most common thing we hear from new clients: “I feel like I’m always behind.” A fractional CFO changes that dynamic.

Take the First Step Toward Financial Clarity

You don’t have to navigate growth, fundraising, or financial complexity alone. ClearlyKept’s fractional CFO services are designed to give you the financial leadership your business needs right now, and as you scale.

Schedule Your Free Discovery Call