The job title on the business card might say CFO, but the engagement looks nothing like a traditional executive role. No corner office. No full-time salary. No equity package worth millions. Instead, a senior finance professional works with your company 10 to 20 hours weekly, providing the strategic guidance you need without the overhead you can’t afford.
Part-time CFO services go by many names—fractional CFO, outsourced CFO, virtual CFO, interim CFO. The terminology varies, but the core proposition is consistent: access to experienced financial leadership at a fraction of full-time cost. For growing companies caught between needing CFO expertise and not being able to justify a $350,000 hire, the part-time model fills a critical gap.
According to CFO Research, 73% of mid-market companies now use some form of outsourced financial leadership, up from 54% five years ago. The shift reflects both economic reality—full-time CFOs are expensive—and changing attitudes about what executive presence actually requires.
This guide explains what part-time CFO services include, who benefits most from the model, and how to evaluate whether it fits your situation.
What Part-Time CFO Services Actually Include
The scope of part-time CFO work mirrors full-time CFO responsibilities, compressed into fewer hours and focused on highest-value activities.
Financial strategy and planning forms the core. Your part-time CFO helps translate business goals into financial plans, builds models that test strategic options, and ensures decisions are grounded in financial reality. Should you expand to a new market? Hire ahead of revenue? Raise prices? These questions require financial analysis that part-time CFOs provide.
Cash flow management and forecasting prevents the surprises that sink companies. A part-time CFO builds 13-week cash flow forecasts, identifies potential shortfalls before they become crises, and ensures you always know your runway. According to U.S. Bank research, 82% of business failures involve cash flow problems—most of which are preventable with proper forecasting.
Board and investor relations require financial leadership with executive presence. Part-time CFOs prepare board materials, present financial results, field questions from directors, and manage investor communications. They bring credibility that founders presenting their own numbers often lack.
Fundraising support is among the most common reasons companies engage part-time CFOs. Building investor-ready financial models, preparing due diligence materials, coaching founders on financial presentations, and supporting negotiations all fall within scope. Many engagements begin specifically because a fundraise is approaching.
Financial reporting and KPI development ensures you’re measuring what matters. Part-time CFOs design dashboards, establish metrics relevant to your business model, and ensure reporting provides actionable insight rather than just historical record. For guidance on effective metrics, see our article on what a CFO dashboard should include.
Team oversight and development includes managing your finance function—whether that’s a single bookkeeper or a small accounting team. Part-time CFOs provide the senior guidance that ensures accuracy, establishes processes, and develops capabilities over time.
What Part-Time CFO Services Don’t Include
Understanding boundaries prevents misaligned expectations.
Daily bookkeeping and transaction processing falls below CFO-level work. Part-time CFOs oversee bookkeeping but don’t do it themselves. You need outsourced bookkeeping services or an in-house bookkeeper handling the foundational work.
Tax preparation and compliance typically requires separate expertise. Part-time CFOs coordinate with tax advisors and ensure your books support tax preparation, but most don’t prepare returns themselves. Keep your CPA relationship active.
Full-time availability isn’t part of the model. Part-time means part-time. Your CFO handles other clients and won’t be available every moment you want them. If you need someone on-call 50 hours weekly, you need a full-time hire, not part-time services.
Hands-on accounting work like journal entries, reconciliations, and close processes typically sits with controllers or accounting staff. Part-time CFOs review and oversee this work but don’t perform it. If you need both, look for providers offering integrated services.
Who Benefits Most from Part-Time CFO Services
The part-time model fits certain situations better than others.
Growing companies between $1M and $20M in revenue represent the sweet spot. Below $1M, basic bookkeeping often suffices. Above $20M, complexity may justify full-time leadership. The middle range—complex enough to need CFO thinking but not large enough to afford full-time cost—fits the part-time model perfectly.
Companies approaching major transactions need CFO support regardless of size. Fundraising, acquisitions, significant debt financing, or exit preparation all benefit from experienced financial leadership. Even smaller companies should consider part-time CFO engagement when transactions loom.
Businesses with solid accounting but weak strategy have the infrastructure to benefit from CFO guidance. If your books are accurate but nobody’s translating that data into strategic insight, a part-time CFO adds the missing layer. If your books are a mess, fix that first—CFOs analyze good data, they don’t create it.
Founders spending excessive time on finance should consider delegation. If you’re personally building board decks, managing cash flow, or preparing investor materials, a part-time CFO can reclaim that time for activities only you can do.
Companies with boards or investors expecting financial sophistication need someone who can meet those expectations. Part-time CFOs bring the credibility and capability that satisfy demanding stakeholders without requiring permanent headcount.
Part-Time CFO Services Pricing
Costs vary based on hours, complexity, and provider experience.
Monthly retainers range from $3,000 to $12,000 for most engagements. The low end covers 10 to 15 hours monthly of strategic guidance for simpler businesses. The high end covers 25 to 40 hours monthly for complex operations or transaction-intensive periods. Our detailed breakdown of how fractional CFOs charge covers pricing models in depth.
Hourly rates range from $200 to $500 depending on CFO experience and your location. A CFO with Big Four and private equity background commands premium rates. One with mid-market corporate experience charges less. Both can be valuable depending on your needs.
Project-based pricing applies to defined deliverables. Financial model development: $5,000 to $15,000. Fundraising support: $15,000 to $35,000. Due diligence preparation: $20,000 to $50,000. These projects often supplement ongoing retainer relationships.
Part-Time CFO Cost Comparison
| Service Model | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part-time CFO (10 hrs/month) | $3,000–$5,000 | $36,000–$60,000 | Basic strategic oversight |
| Part-time CFO (20 hrs/month) | $6,000–$10,000 | $72,000–$120,000 | Active strategic partnership |
| Part-time CFO (30+ hrs/month) | $10,000–$15,000 | $120,000–$180,000 | Transaction-intensive periods |
| Full-time CFO | $30,000–$45,000 | $360,000–$540,000 | Consistent 40+ hour need |
The gap between part-time and full-time costs is substantial. Even the most intensive part-time engagement costs roughly one-third of a full-time hire. For companies that don’t generate 40+ hours of CFO-level work weekly, part-time delivers better value.
Part-Time vs. Fractional vs. Interim: Terminology Explained
The market uses multiple terms that mean similar things. Understanding the nuances helps you evaluate providers accurately.
Part-time CFO emphasizes the time commitment—less than full-time hours, ongoing engagement. The term suggests a regular, predictable relationship rather than project-based work.
Fractional CFO emphasizes shared capacity—you’re getting a fraction of someone who serves multiple clients. The term is often used interchangeably with part-time but sometimes carries connotation of more sophisticated, higher-end services.
Virtual CFO emphasizes remote delivery—services provided without on-site presence. Most part-time and fractional arrangements are now virtual by default, making this distinction less meaningful than it once was.
Interim CFO emphasizes temporary placement—filling a gap while you search for a permanent hire or navigate a transition. Interim engagements often involve more hours than typical part-time arrangements, sometimes approaching full-time for defined periods.
Outsourced CFO is the broadest term, encompassing any externally provided CFO services regardless of hours, delivery model, or duration.
In practice, these terms overlap significantly. Focus on the actual scope, hours, and deliverables rather than the label a provider uses.
How to Evaluate Part-Time CFO Providers
Not all providers deliver equal value. These criteria separate strong options from weak ones.
Relevant experience matters most. Has this CFO worked with companies like yours? In your industry? At your stage? Facing similar challenges? Experience with comparable situations predicts effectiveness better than general credentials.
Communication and presence determine stakeholder effectiveness. Your CFO will represent you to board members, investors, and lenders. Do they communicate clearly? Do they project confidence? Would you trust them in high-stakes conversations?
Availability and responsiveness affect practical value. How quickly do they respond to questions? How flexible is their scheduling? A brilliant CFO who takes three days to answer emails provides less value than a good one who responds same-day.
Service model fit should match your needs. Do they work independently or as part of a firm? Do they integrate with bookkeeping and controller services or expect you to manage those separately? Firms offering integrated accounting and CFO services can simplify your finance function; solo practitioners may offer more personalized attention.
For a complete evaluation framework, see our guide on how to choose a fractional CFO.
Common Mistakes When Engaging Part-Time CFOs
Certain patterns undermine engagement success.
Expecting full-time availability from part-time engagement creates frustration. If you need someone available 40 hours weekly, hire full-time. Part-time CFOs balance multiple clients—that’s how they deliver premium expertise at reduced cost.
Engaging before infrastructure is ready wastes CFO time on bookkeeping problems. If your books are months behind or consistently inaccurate, fix that first. CFOs analyze data; they don’t create it. Engaging a CFO to clean up bookkeeping overpays for the work needed.
Choosing based solely on cost often backfires. The cheapest part-time CFO is rarely the best value. You’re buying judgment and expertise—qualities that command premium rates for good reason. A $300/hour CFO who identifies $200,000 in savings delivers better ROI than a $150/hour CFO who misses it.
Failing to define scope clearly creates misunderstandings. What exactly will the CFO do? What’s excluded? How many hours monthly? What deliverables? Document expectations before engagement begins. Ambiguity about scope is the leading source of dissatisfaction in outsourced CFO relationships.
Not integrating them into your team limits value. Part-time CFOs perform better when they understand context, know your team, and participate in relevant discussions. Treating them as distant vendors rather than team members reduces what they can contribute.
When to Transition Beyond Part-Time
Part-time CFO services fit most growing companies well. But certain signals indicate you’ve outgrown the model.
Consistent hours exceeding 30 weekly suggests you need full-time support. At that intensity, part-time pricing approaches full-time cost without full-time availability. Run the math—if part-time CFO cost exceeds $15,000 monthly consistently, full-time may make sense.
Finance team requiring daily management exceeds part-time capacity. If you have four or five finance staff needing regular oversight, one-on-ones, and development conversations, a part-time CFO can’t provide adequate management presence.
Transaction complexity requiring constant attention may justify full-time. A company simultaneously managing an acquisition, raising capital, and navigating an audit might need dedicated leadership for a period. Consider interim arrangements that increase hours temporarily.
For detailed analysis of the transition decision, see our guide on fractional CFO vs full-time CFO.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are part-time CFO services?
Part-time CFO services provide experienced financial leadership on a less-than-full-time basis, typically 10 to 30 hours weekly. Services include financial strategy, cash flow management, board and investor relations, fundraising support, and oversight of accounting functions. The model delivers CFO-level expertise at 20-40% of full-time cost.
How much do part-time CFO services cost?
Monthly costs typically range from $3,000 to $12,000 depending on hours and complexity. Low-intensity engagements (10-15 hours monthly) run $3,000 to $5,000. Active strategic partnerships (20-25 hours monthly) run $6,000 to $10,000. Transaction-intensive periods may cost $10,000 to $15,000 monthly or more.
What’s the difference between part-time and fractional CFO?
The terms are largely interchangeable. Both refer to CFO services provided on less than full-time basis. “Fractional” emphasizes shared capacity across multiple clients; “part-time” emphasizes reduced hours. In practice, they describe the same service model. Focus on actual scope and deliverables rather than terminology.
When should a company hire a part-time CFO?
Consider part-time CFO services when approaching fundraising or major transactions, when founders spend excessive time on finance tasks, when boards or investors expect financial sophistication, or when you’ve outgrown bookkeeping but can’t justify full-time CFO cost. Most companies between $1M and $20M in revenue fit the model well.
Can a part-time CFO help with fundraising?
Yes—fundraising support is among the most common reasons companies engage part-time CFOs. They build financial models, prepare due diligence materials, coach on investor presentations, and support negotiations. Engaging at least 90 days before actively fundraising allows adequate preparation time.
The Right Financial Leadership for Your Stage
Part-time CFO services exist because most growing companies face a genuine gap: they need financial leadership but can’t justify executive compensation. The part-time model bridges that gap, providing the expertise that drives better decisions without the overhead that strains resources.
The question isn’t whether you need CFO-level thinking—most companies do, earlier than they realize. The question is how to access it efficiently. For most businesses between $1M and $20M in revenue, part-time services provide the answer.
GetExact provides part-time CFO services integrated with bookkeeping and controller support, ensuring your strategic guidance builds on accurate financial foundations. If you’re evaluating options, schedule a conversation to discuss your needs and explore whether our approach fits your situation.
