Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from business leaders about fractional CFO services, Decision-Ready Finance, and how I work with clients.

Is This For Me?

  • You need a fractional CFO when:

    • Your board is asking tougher questions about forecasts and you can't answer without 2 days of rebuilding models

    • You're making hiring decisions but unclear on cash impact (base case vs conservative vs stretch)

    • You have runway but can't articulate exactly how many weeks under different scenarios

    • Your forecast exists but doesn't actually change decisions—it's just a spreadsheet you update quarterly

    • Board meetings feel reactive (you're explaining what happened, not presenting choices and tradeoffs)

    If 3+ of these are true, you need Decision-Ready Finance – not just better spreadsheets.

  • Best fit: Growing organizations

    This might look like:

    • $2M-$10M revenue

    • 10-50 employees

    • Recently raised funding (6-18 months post-raise)

    • Board reporting pressure

    • Need strategic finance without $200K+ full-time CFO overhead

    If you are a startup, this is how it translates to fundraising stages:

    Too early (pre-seed): Spreadsheets and bank balance are usually enough. No board pressure yet. Decisions are still intuitive. Save your capital.

    Too late (Series C+): You likely need a full-time CFO + finance team. Multiple entities, complex capital structure, building infrastructure. I can help you hire the right person.

    Final Note: If you don’t fit the above parameters but are currently facing similar challenges (board pressure, complex forecasting, strategic planning), reach out anyways! I occasionally take on projects outside my core focus.

  • Yes. While I specialize in healthcare (I've built models around payer mix, value-based care, clinic expansion, and reimbursement dynamics at Boulder Care, Zus Health, and Kannact), the Decision-Ready Finance framework works for any growing company.

    I've worked with small business and nonprofit leaders on these same concepts. The core challenges — management pressure, runway clarity, hiring decisions, scenario planning — are the same regardless of industry.

Fractional CFO vs Other Options

  • Different jobs, different mandates:

    Bookkeeper = Backward looking

    • What happened last month

    • Monthly close, bank rec, AP/AR

    • Clean books for compliance

    • Necessary foundation

    • Cost: $3K-6K/month

    Fractional CFO = Forward looking

    • What's about to happen

    • Decision support and scenarios

    • Strategic planning, board narratives

    • Competitive advantage

    • Cost: $8K-15K/month fractional vs $200K+ full-time

    You need both, but they solve different problems. If you can't answer "What happens if revenue drops 15%?"—that's not a bookkeeping question. That's a strategic finance question.

  • hree reasons:

    1. Cost: Full-time CFO is $200K-$350K salary + benefits + equity. Fractional is $8K-15K/month—right-sized for Series A/B.

    2. You don't need 40 hours/week yet: You need the system (models, rhythms, board narratives), not constant presence. Most Series A/B companies need 10-20 hours/week of strategic CFO work.

    3. Speed: Hiring a full-time CFO takes 3-6 months. I can start building your Decision-Ready Finance™ system next week.

    When you hit Series C+, multiple entities, building a finance team—that's when you hire full-time. Until then, fractional is optimal.

  • Consultant = Project-based

    • Build a model, deliver it, leave

    • One-time engagement

    • No ongoing decision support

    Fractional CFO = Ongoing partnership

    • Build the system AND operate it with you

    • Embedded in weekly/monthly decision rhythms

    • Board meetings, hiring decisions, scenario planning

    • Iterative refinement as business evolves

    I don't just hand you a spreadsheet. I build the engine, establish the rhythm, and craft the board narratives—then I operate that system with you month after month.

  • No—I work alongside them.

    Your bookkeeper handles:

    • Monthly close

    • AP/AR

    • Bank reconciliation

    • Clean books for compliance

    I handle:

    • 13-week rolling cash forecast

    • Scenario planning (base/conservative/stretch)

    • Board reporting packages

    • Hiring impact modeling

    • Unit economics and driver analysis

    • Strategic planning

    Think of it this way:

    • Bookkeeper = Foundation (necessary)

    • Fractional CFO = Strategy (competitive advantage)

    You need both.

How It Works

  • Phase 1: Diagnostic (Week 1-2)

    • Assess current financial foundation across 7 layers

    • Identify gaps and priorities

    • Define specific deliverables

    Phase 2: Build the Engine (Week 3-6)

    • 13-week rolling cash forecast

    • Driver-based revenue/expense models

    • Scenario planning (base/conservative/stretch)

    • Unit economics clarity

    Phase 3: Establish the Rhythm (Week 7-8)

    • Weekly performance tactical framework

    • Monthly strategic review structure

    • Quarterly planning cadence

    Phase 4: Ongoing Partnership (Monthly)

    • Weekly forecast updates (30-60 min)

    • Monthly board materials

    • Ad-hoc scenario modeling

    • Strategic decision support

    Most engagements are 10-20 hours/week during build phase, then 8-12 hours/week ongoing.

  • I recommend clients to work with me for 9-18 months. This is long enough to:

    • Build Decision-Ready Finance™ system

    • Operate through 2-3 board cycles

    • Navigate hiring decisions and runway planning

    • Prepare for next fundraise

    Then we transition in one of three ways:

    1. Continue fractional (if optimal for your stage)

    2. Hire full-time CFO (I help you hire and transition)

    3. Hand off to finance hire (Controller/FP&A who can maintain the system)

    Some clients stay fractional through Series B. Others transition to full-time at Series C. It depends on complexity and capital structure.

  • Financial Models (Excel/Google Sheets):

    • 13-week rolling cash forecast

    • Driver-based revenue & expense models

    • Scenario planning (base/conservative/stretch)

    • Unit economics & contribution margin analysis

    • Sensitivity analysis

    Board Materials (PowerPoint/Google Slides):

    • Monthly board reporting packages

    • Quarterly strategic reviews

    • Financial roadmaps (12-month forward)

    • Hiring plans tied to cash scenarios

    • EBITDA & cash bridges

    • Risk radar with quantified exposure

    Operating Systems & Documentation:

    • Weekly performance review frameworks

    • Meeting cadences & decision rhythms

    • KPI dashboards & tracking systems

    • Financial policy documentation

    • Assumption documentation

    What you receive is defined in a custom proposal after a diagnostic call.

  • Yes. I'm based in Chicago but work with clients nationwide.

    Most work happens asynchronously:

    • Model building and updates

    • Board materials preparation

    • Scenario analysis

    We sync weekly (30-60 min) for:

    • Performance reviews

    • Decision support

    • Forecast updates

    Monthly for:

    • Strategic deep dives

    • Board prep

    This works well for distributed teams—you get strategic CFO support without needing someone in-office daily.

Pricing & Investment

  • Fractional CFO services typically range from $8K-$15K/month depending on:

    • Complexity of business model

    • Number of entities

    • Board reporting requirements

    • Frequency of strategic support needed

    For context:

    • Bookkeeper: $3K-6K/month (necessary, but backward-looking)

    • Fractional CFO: $8K-15K/month (strategic, forward-looking)

    • Full-time CFO: $200K-$350K salary + benefits + equity

    Most Series A/B companies find fractional optimal—you get the system and strategic support without full-time overhead.

    After our diagnostic call, I'll provide a custom proposal with specific deliverables and investment.

  • Most engagements are 6 months minimum because:

    Months 1-2: Build the engine (models, forecasts, scenarios) Months 3-4: Establish the rhythm (operating cadence)Months 5-6: Prove the system through 2+ board cycles

    The real value comes from operating the system over time—not just building it once.

    After 6 months, we can transition to month-to-month or continue for fundraising prep, full-time CFO hiring, or ongoing partnership.

  • I prefer to work on ongoing retainers because my Decision-Ready Finance™ framework requires all three layers (Engine + Rhythm + Story) working together over time.

    However, I do offer project-based work for:

    • Board-ready forecast cleanup (one-time)

    • Fundraising financial model (2-3 months)

    • Dashboard & metrics overhaul (one-time)

    • Investor data room prep (one-time)

    If you need ongoing strategic CFO support (weekly decision-making, board reporting, scenario planning), retainer is the right structure.

    If you need a specific deliverable without ongoing partnership, short-term projects can work.

    We'll determine fit on the diagnostic call.

Getting Started

  • 30-minute diagnostic call covers:

    1. Your current financial foundation (7-layer assessment)

      • Cash visibility

      • Forecast quality

      • Board narratives

      • Risk prevention

      • Operating rhythm

      • Systems quality

      • Value creation metrics

    2. Specific pain points

      • What's not working?

      • What keeps you up at night?

      • What questions can't you answer?

    3. Fit assessment

      • Are you the right stage?

      • Do you need fractional vs full-time?

      • Can I actually help?

    If it's a fit:

    • I'll send a custom proposal (deliverables + investment)

    • You review and decide

    • We kick off within 1-2 weeks

    If it's not a fit:

    • I'll tell you honestly

    • I can recommend other resources (bookkeepers, full-time CFO recruiters, DIY tools)

    • No hard feelings

  • Most engagements kick off within 1-2 weeks of agreement.

    Week 1: Diagnostic phase begins

    • Access to current financials

    • Meet key stakeholders

    • Assess gaps and priorities

    Week 2: Start building the engine

    • 13-week cash forecast

    • Driver-based models

    • Initial board materials

    Unlike hiring a full-time CFO (3-6 months), fractional CFO support starts immediately.

  • You don't need clean books to start—we'll figure out what's broken and fix it together.

    The below is what will help me provide you with best support. I am happy to sign NDAs when applicable.

    Financial Access:

    • Last 6 months P&L and balance sheet

    • Current budget/forecast (if exists)

    • Access to accounting system (QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite)

    • Bank statements for cash flow analysis

    Context:

    • Most recent board deck

    • Hiring plan (next 6-12 months)

    • Fundraising plans or recent investor updates

    • Key operational metrics (if tracked)

    Time Commitment:

    • 1-2 hours for initial diagnostic discussions

    • 30-60 min weekly for performance reviews

    • 1-2 hours monthly for strategic planning