- Fractional CFO Services
Senior CFO support without the cost of a full-time hire
Independent Advisors provides Fractional CFO services to growing businesses that need clear financial leadership, strong cash flow control, and confident decision-making, but do not yet require a full-time CFO.
Our Fractional CFO model gives you access to experienced CFO-level support on a flexible, predictable monthly basis, aligned to the stage and complexity of your business.
What is a Fractional CFO?
A Fractional CFO (sometimes called an Outsourced or Virtual CFO) provides senior financial leadership on a part-time or retained basis.
Unlike traditional accounting or bookkeeping, a Fractional CFO focuses on:
- Strategic financial decision-making
- Cash flow forecasting and liquidity management
- Financial performance analysis and KPIs
- Board, bank, and investor reporting
- Governance, controls, and financial structure
This service is designed for business owners who need clarity, control, and confidence in their numbers.
Who our Fractional CFO services are for
Our clients are typically:
- Founder-led or owner-managed businesses
- Scaling SMEs and mid-market companies
- Businesses experiencing rapid growth or cash pressure
- Companies preparing for funding, sale, or professionalisation
Fractional CFO support is particularly valuable if:
- You rely on gut feel for major decisions
- Cash flow feels tight despite reported profits
- Financial reporting lacks clarity or credibility
- You need senior finance input for banks or investors
- Hiring a full-time CFO is not yet justified
What we do as your Fractional CFO
As your Fractional CFO, Independent Advisors takes ownership of the financial leadership of the business.
This typically includes:
- Cash flow forecasting and working capital management
- Monthly financial performance review and analysis
- Budgeting, forecasting, and scenario modelling
- KPI development and performance dashboards
- Board and shareholder reporting
- Banking and funding support
- Financial controls and governance improvement
- Oversight of internal finance teams and advisors
- Strategic input into key commercial decisions
Support is delivered through a structured monthly cadence and focused on outcomes, not hours.
Our Fractional CFO service tiers
CFO Core
Remote CFO leadership for growing businesses
CFO Core is designed for businesses that need senior financial oversight, insight, and decision support without regular on-site presence.
What’s included:
• Monthly financial performance review
• Rolling cash flow forecast and runway analysis
• Monthly CFO strategy call
• KPI dashboards and financial visibility
• Ongoing commercial and financial decision support
• Liaison with accountants, auditors, and tax advisors
Typical monthly investment:
USD 4,000 – 6,000
Best suited for:
Growing businesses that want clarity over cash, performance, and direction.
CFO Plus
Hybrid CFO support with board-level involvement
CFO Plus is ideal for businesses entering a growth, restructuring, or professionalisation phase and requiring deeper CFO involvement.
Everything in CFO Core, plus:
• On-site attendance where it adds value
• Board and leadership reporting
• Board meeting attendance and preparation
• Banking and funder engagement
• Budget ownership and forecasting responsibility
• Finance process and systems improvement
Typical monthly investment:
USD 8,000 – 12,000
Best suited for:
Businesses that need CFO-level input for boards, banks, and strategic decisions.
CFO Partner
Embedded CFO support for complex or high-growth businesses
CFO Partner provides senior, embedded CFO leadership for businesses facing complexity, transactions, or major growth initiatives.
Everything in CFO Plus, plus:
• Weekly leadership cadence with founders or CEOs
• Transaction support (funding, refinancing, M&A)
• Deep working capital and cash optimisation
• Oversight and mentoring of internal finance teams
• Preparation for investment, sale, or exit
Typical monthly investment:
USD 15,000+
Best suited for:
Complex, fast-growing, or investor-facing businesses that require a CFO at the leadership table.
How our Fractional CFO model works
- Outcome-led, not time-based
- Monthly retainers with predictable costs
- Remote-first delivery, on-site when it matters
- Senior CFO involvement at all times
- Scalable as your business grows
You engage us for leadership and insight, not days on site.
Why Independent Advisors
Clients choose Independent Advisors because:
- We operate at true CFO level
- We explain finance in plain English
- We focus on cash, not just profit
- We challenge assumptions constructively
- We combine experience with modern reporting and AI
Our role is to help you see clearly, decide confidently, and stay in control.
Getting started
Every Fractional CFO engagement begins with a short discovery call to:
- Understand your business and current challenges
- Identify financial risks and opportunities
- Recommend the most appropriate CFO tier
There is no obligation and no pressure to proceed.
Ready for CFO-level clarity?
If you need senior financial leadership without hiring a full-time CFO, book a discovery call today.
Book a Fractional CFO discovery call
Or, if you’re not sure which level of support is right:
Find out if Fractional CFO services are right for your business
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Fractional CFO and an accountant?
An accountant focuses on historical reporting, compliance, and accuracy.
A Fractional CFO focuses on forward-looking financial leadership.
As a Fractional CFO, Independent Advisors supports:
- Cash flow forecasting and liquidity planning
- Strategic financial decision-making
- Performance analysis and KPIs
- Board, bank, and investor engagement
Many clients already have accountants. We work alongside them to provide CFO-level insight and leadership.
What size businesses typically use Fractional CFO services?
Fractional CFO services are most commonly used by:
- Growing SMEs
- Owner-managed and founder-led businesses
- Companies with increasing financial complexity
Clients typically have revenues from early-stage growth through to USD 20m+ and operate across services, construction, recruitment, real estate, manufacturing, and logistics.
How is a Fractional CFO different from hiring a full-time CFO?
A full-time CFO is a permanent hire with a significant fixed cost.
A Fractional CFO gives you:
- Senior CFO-level experience
- Flexible and scalable support
- Predictable monthly investment
- No long-term employment commitment
This allows businesses to access CFO leadership earlier and more cost-effectively.
Do you work on a day-rate basis?
No.
Our Fractional CFO services are delivered on a monthly retainer basis, focused on outcomes rather than hours or days.
This ensures continuity, accountability, and alignment with your business objectives.
How much does a Fractional CFO cost?
The cost depends on the level of support required.
Typical monthly investment ranges are:
- CFO Core:USD 4,000 – 6,000
- CFO Plus:USD 8,000 – 12,000
- CFO Partner:USD 15,000+
The appropriate tier is agreed following a short discovery call.
How quickly can a Fractional CFO engagement start?
Most engagements can begin within 2 to 4 weeks, depending on:
- Data availability
- Business complexity
- Scope of support
Urgent situations can often be prioritised where required.
Will I still need my existing accountant or finance team?
Yes.
A Fractional CFO does not replace your accountant or internal finance team. We work alongside them to:
- Improve the quality of reporting
- Strengthen financial controls
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight
Think of the Fractional CFO as the STRATEGIC FINANCIAL PARTNER, not the back office.
How much time will a Fractional CFO require from me?
Our model is designed to reduce your time burden, not increase it.
Most clients:
- Attend one structured monthly CFO call
- Receive clear reports and insights
- Involve us only when decisions matter
The cadence is agreed upfront and kept efficient.
Do you provide on-site support?
Yes, where it adds value.
Our model is remote-first, with on-site attendance typically used for:
- Board meetings
- Strategy sessions
- Bank or investor meetings
On-site support is included or arranged depending on the CFO tier selected.
Can Fractional CFO services help with cash flow issues?
Yes.
Cash flow management is a core part of our Fractional CFO services, including:
- Short- and medium-term cash flow forecasting
- Working capital optimisation
- Identifying cash pressure points early
- Supporting funding and banking discussions
Many clients engage us specifically to regain control over cash.
Can you support funding, refinancing, or business sales?
Yes.
Through the CFO Plus and CFO Partner tiers, we regularly support:
- Bank funding and refinancing
- Investor reporting and fundraising
- Business preparation for sale or exit
- Due diligence and financial modelling
Is there a minimum commitment?
We typically agree an initial minimum term to allow meaningful impact and continuity.
This is discussed during the discovery call and aligned with your business needs.
How do we get started?
The first step is a short discovery call.
This allows us to:
- Understand your business and challenges
- Identify financial risks and priorities
- Recommend the most appropriate CFO tier
There is no obligation to proceed.