Fractional CFO Services
Stop Flying Blind.
Get a Fractional CFO Who Delivers by the 5th.
A fractional CFO gives your growing business senior-level financial leadership — management accounts, cash flow forecasts, KPI dashboards — without the cost of a full-time hire. Stuart Wilson, ACMA CGMA, delivers decision-ready financials by the 5th of every month.
What Is a Fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO (also called a part-time CFO, outsourced CFO, or virtual CFO) is a senior financial executive who works with your business on a part-time or contract basis. You get the same strategic financial leadership as a full-time CFO — financial planning, cash flow management, KPI dashboards, board reporting, and fundraising support — at 40–60% lower cost.
Unlike a bookkeeper or CPA who focuses on recording transactions and tax compliance, a fractional CFO is forward-looking. They translate your financial data into decisions: Where should you invest? When will cash run tight? Which service lines actually make money? What does the board need to see?
Fractional CFO vs Controller vs Bookkeeper
| Role | Focus | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | Transaction entry, categorization, bank reconciliation | $500–$2,500/mo | Simple, single-stream businesses |
| Controller | Monthly close, GAAP compliance, management reporting | $3,995–$5,995/mo | Businesses with growing complexity |
| CFO | Strategy, forecasting, fundraising, board reporting, M&A | $5,995–$8,995/mo | Businesses planning growth or a sale |
What You Actually Receive Each Month
Every BlackpeakCFO engagement delivers a concrete set of outputs — not vague "advisory" time. By the 5th business day of every month:
📊 Management Accounts
P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statement with written commentary explaining what drove the numbers and what to do about it. Not just data — interpretation.
📈 KPI Dashboard
Revenue growth rate, gross margin by service line, customer acquisition cost, cash conversion cycle, AR aging, and the 5–7 metrics that actually matter for your business.
💰 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast
Rolling weekly forecast showing exactly when cash gets tight, when you can invest, and what happens under different scenarios. No more surprises.
📋 Budget vs Actual
Variance analysis showing where you're over/under budget, why, and what to adjust. The single most important tool for financial discipline.
🔍 AP/AR Aging
Who owes you money, who you owe, and a collections strategy for anything over 30 days. Cash flow problems start here — and so do the solutions.
🤝 Strategy Calls
Monthly deep-dive review (45–60 min) plus ad-hoc access via email, Slack, or Teams. Questions answered within 4 business hours.
Who Hires a Fractional CFO?
Fractional CFO services are designed for owner-managed small and mid-sized businesses that need real financial leadership but can't justify a full-time CFO hire. Common profiles include:
- Owners who are also the finance department — spending 10+ hours/month on spreadsheets instead of running the business
- Owners who don't know if they're actually profitable — revenue is coming in, but the real picture is unclear
- Construction firms and contractors — struggling with WIP schedules, job costing, and margin fade across multiple projects
- SaaS and software businesses — needing MRR/ARR tracking, cohort analysis, and clear metrics dashboards
- Law firms and professional practices — trust accounting compliance, realization rate tracking, and partner distribution planning
- E-commerce sellers and DTC brands — contribution margin analysis, inventory management, and marketplace fee reconciliation
- Multi-entity businesses — consolidation across subsidiaries, intercompany eliminations, and cross-border reporting
- Owners preparing for a sale or raise — need 12–24 months of clean financials to get the best outcome
When Should You Hire a Fractional CFO?
Consider a fractional CFO if any of these describe your situation:
⚠️ Cash flow surprises
You've been caught off guard by a cash crunch more than once in the past year.
⚠️ Decisions on gut
You're making pricing, hiring, or investment decisions without reliable financial data.
⚠️ CPA gives you last year's numbers
Your CPA only shows up at tax time with backward-looking reports.
⚠️ You ARE the finance department
The CEO is also the person reconciling bank statements at midnight.
⚠️ Dreading every deadline
Tax and filing dates creep up and you're scrambling to pull the numbers together.
⚠️ Growth outpacing controls
Revenue is up but you're not sure if you're actually more profitable.
⚠️ Can't answer "what's our runway?"
You don't have a 13-week cash flow forecast. You're guessing.
⚠️ A sale on the horizon
A sale or handover is 12–24 months away and your books aren't ready.
Not ready yet? If your finances are simple — one income stream, no employees — a good bookkeeper may be enough for now. But once things get more involved — multiple revenue streams, staff, contracts, or entities — that's when a fractional CFO pays for itself.
How Much Does a Fractional CFO Cost?
BlackpeakCFO pricing: $3,995 – $8,995/month
Full-time CFO cost: $250,000 – $500,000+/year (salary + benefits + bonus + equity + recruiting)
You save 60–80% with fractional.
| Tier | Monthly | Includes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Controller | $3,995 | Monthly close, management accounts, KPI dashboard, reconciliations | Owners who want reliable monthly numbers |
| CFO | $5,995 | Everything in Controller + cash flow forecasting, budget modeling, strategic advisory | Owners planning their next stage of growth |
| Board Ready | $8,995 | Everything in CFO + board packs, M&A support, exit planning, investor reporting | Owners preparing for a sale or outside investment |
UK pricing starts at £1,995/month. All tiers include AI-powered accuracy, human review, and the by-the-5th delivery guarantee. See full pricing details →
Fractional CFO vs Full-Time CFO
| Fractional CFO | Full-Time CFO | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $3,995–$8,995/month | $250K–$500K+/year |
| Commitment | Month-to-month | Long-term employment |
| Availability | 10–20 hrs/month focused | 40 hrs/week embedded |
| Industry breadth | Multi-industry experience | Deep single-company knowledge |
| Ramp time | 48 hours to start | 3–6 month recruiting + onboarding |
| Best for | Owner-managed small and mid-sized businesses | Large companies needing daily, embedded oversight |
Most businesses move from fractional to full-time only once they're large enough to need daily, embedded financial oversight. A good fractional CFO helps you hire their full-time replacement when that day comes. Read the full comparison →
How It Works: Getting Started with BlackpeakCFO
Discovery Call (15 min)
Quick conversation about your business, current pain points, and what you actually need. No sales pitch — just an honest assessment of whether fractional CFO services make sense for you right now.
Connect & Diagnose (48 hours)
Read-only access to your accounting platform and bank feeds. You receive a diagnostic: open reconciliation items, process gaps, and a prioritized cleanup plan. No surprises — you see exactly what needs fixing.
First Management Pack (Day 30)
Your complete management accounts package lands on your desk by the 5th. P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, KPIs, and written commentary. From this point forward, you never fly blind again.
Why BlackpeakCFO?
Principals Only
Stuart Wilson, ACMA CGMA, handles every engagement personally. No junior associates learning on your account. When you email, he replies.
AI-Powered, Human-Reviewed
AI handles the volume work — categorization, matching, anomaly detection. Human judgment handles every decision and recommendation. Enterprise accuracy at fractional pricing.
24 Years in Professional Finance
Seven years as Group Finance Director for a portfolio of small and mid-sized businesses in London. Earlier career across Arle Capital Partners, The Bancroft Group, Leaf Clean Energy PLC, and fund administration. Private equity portfolio finance, statutory reporting, M&A support — this isn't a bookkeeper calling themselves a CFO.
US & UK Cross-Border
Dual-qualified across both jurisdictions. If you have entities in both the US and UK, you don't need two finance teams. Multi-entity consolidation, FX management, and transfer pricing built in.
Free Financial Tools
Try our AI-powered calculators — no sign-up required:
🏗️ Margin Fade Calculator
See how much profit your construction projects are actually losing from bid to completion.
🔥 Burn Rate Calculator
Calculate your SaaS runway under different growth and spending scenarios.
📊 CFO ROI Calculator
Estimate the financial return of hiring a fractional CFO for your specific business.
Related Guides
- Fractional CFO vs Full-Time CFO: The Real Cost-Benefit Analysis
- When to Hire a Fractional CFO: 12 Signs Your Business Is Ready
- How to Hire a Fractional CFO: A CEO's Complete Guide
- Why Your CPA Can't Be Your CFO (And What to Do About It)
- What Fractional Controller Services Actually Cost in 2026
- In-House vs Outsourced Accounting: The Full Comparison
Case Studies — Real Results
The questions you're really asking.
This is the biggest financial decision you'll make this quarter. Here are the straight answers.
Who actually does the work? Is it you, or some junior?
Stuart Wilson, ACMA CGMA, personally handles every engagement. Every management pack, every reconciliation, every report. Principals only, no junior associates learning on your account. AI handles the volume work (categorization, matching, first-pass reports). I handle the judgment. When you email, I reply — and no junior ever touches your account.
What if I'm not happy after the first month?
Full refund. 30 days, no questions, no hard feelings. I take on the risk, not you. If the management pack doesn't deliver at least one actionable insight you can act on this quarter, you shouldn't pay for it. That's the standard I held myself to as Group Finance Director across a portfolio of SMEs and a PE-backed Vienna business, and it's the standard I hold this firm to now.
You're not a CPA. Should that worry me?
No — a CGMA (Chartered Global Management Accountant) and a CPA serve different functions. The CGMA is the joint AICPA/CIMA designation focused on management accounting, strategy, and financial planning. Your CPA handles tax filings and compliance. That's their expertise. I handle everything that happens before year end: the books, the management accounts, the forecasts, the analysis. At year end, your CPA gets a complete, organized, reconciled package ready to file. We complement each other. Already have a CPA? Great, I work alongside them. Need one? I'll connect you with a trusted partner in your state.
What if you make a mistake on my books?
I carry professional liability insurance. But more importantly, the system is designed to prevent mistakes before they happen. AI flags anomalies. I review every number. Your CPA provides a third layer at year end. In 24 years in professional finance, my books have been audited by Big 4 firms with zero material findings. But if something ever does slip through? I fix it immediately, at my cost, no questions.
How fast can you start? I need help now.
You can start within 48 hours. After connecting your accounting platform and bank feeds, you'll receive a diagnostic: open items, reconciliation gaps, and a prioritized cleanup plan. Full onboarding typically takes one week, not the 6-week process some firms require. If your books are behind, the catch-up starts immediately.
I already have a bookkeeper. What happens to them?
Your bookkeeper stays — a fractional CFO works above the bookkeeping layer, not instead of it. Your bookkeeper handles day-to-day transaction entry. I sit above that layer, turning their data into management accounts, forecasts, KPI dashboards, and the strategic analysis your bookkeeper was never hired to produce. Think of it as adding a controller on top of your existing team, not replacing anyone. If your bookkeeper needs guidance on coding or processes, I'll work directly with them to tighten things up.
I've been handling finance myself. Do I actually need this?
Yes — if you're running a growing business without a dedicated finance function, you're making decisions on incomplete data. The cost isn't the hours you spend reconciling or building spreadsheets. It's the decisions you're not making because the data isn't there. A 13-week cash flow forecast, margin analysis by service line, budget vs. actual variance: these are the tools that turn a growing company into a valuable one. The question isn't whether you can do the work. It's whether your time is better spent on the work only an owner can do. See what's included ↑
What do I actually receive each month?
A fractional CFO costs $3,995–$8,995 per month — roughly 40–60% less than a full-time CFO hire. By the 5th of every month you receive: a full management pack (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow statement with written commentary), KPI dashboard, 13-week cash flow forecast, budget vs. actual variance analysis, and AP/AR aging reports. Plus strategy calls with me directly. Everything is GAAP-compliant, CPA-ready, and comes with plain-English notes explaining what drove the numbers and what to do next. The scope scales with your tier. See pricing above ↑
Will you talk to my CPA and bank, or do I have to manage that?
I handle it. CPA liaison, bank reporting packages, lender covenant compliance, audit support. That's my job, not yours. Your CPA gets a clean package. Your bank gets formatted reports. You get your time back. The whole point is that you stop being the middleman between your financial service providers.
What if I need more than reports? M&A, board prep, exit planning?
Yes — if your business is heading toward a sale, a funding round or a bank facility, I prepare the board packs, investor reporting and forecasts those conversations demand. I spent seven years as a Group Finance Director for a portfolio of owner-managed businesses, and earlier years embedded in portfolio-company finance teams — so the reporting I produce is built to stand up to outside scrutiny from buyers, investors and lenders. For a specific transaction we scope a custom engagement once you send your details. See pricing ↑
What happens if my business outgrows your service?
When you outgrow fractional, I help you hire my full-time replacement — that's by design. A fractional controller is the bridge between where you are and where you're going. When you're ready for a full-time hire, I'll help you write the job spec, evaluate candidates, and ensure the transition is smooth. Your books, processes, and reporting systems stay with you. Nothing is locked into a proprietary platform. Most businesses at this stage need 12–24 months of fractional support before a full-time controller makes economic sense.
Do you work with construction companies?
Yes — construction is one of our core verticals. I handle WIP schedules, job cost reconciliation, overbilling/underbilling analysis, AIA billing, and percent-complete revenue recognition. Construction companies lose 3–8% margin on every project without proper financial controls. Our margin fade calculator helps you see exactly where projects leak profit.
Can you handle SaaS metrics and recurring revenue models?
Absolutely. MRR, ARR, churn, LTV:CAC, net revenue retention, cohort analysis, and burn rate tracking are standard deliverables on a SaaS engagement. You'll get a metrics dashboard that speaks investor language, not just bookkeeper language. Try our burn rate calculator to see where your runway stands.
What about law firms and professional services?
Law firms and professional services are ideal for fractional CFO support. I handle trust accounting compliance, IOLTA reconciliation, partner distribution planning, realization rate tracking, and WIP aging analysis. If billable hours aren't converting to collected revenue, that's the gap I close. Most firms don't realize they have a 15–25% leakage between billed and collected amounts until someone actually measures it.
Do you work with e-commerce or DTC brands?
Yes. E-commerce financial management includes contribution margin by channel/SKU, inventory management and COGS tracking, marketplace fee reconciliation (Amazon, Shopify, etc.), customer acquisition cost analysis, and 3PL cost optimization. If you're spending on ads without knowing your true contribution margin per order, you're likely losing money on some of your best-selling products.
What if I'm getting ready to sell, raise money, or borrow?
This is something I've handled before. From earlier roles at Arle Capital Partners and The Bancroft Group, I know what buyers, lenders and investors look at: clean monthly reporting, variance analysis, KPI dashboards, covenant tracking and exit-ready financials. If you're preparing for due diligence, a bank facility, an SBA loan or a sale, I'll help you build the financial picture they need to see.
Can you handle US and UK entities together?
Yes — cross-border US/UK finance is one of our differentiators. I'm qualified in both jurisdictions: ACMA/CGMA (UK Chartered Institute) and aligned with US GAAP. I handle intercompany eliminations, transfer pricing documentation, FX management, and consolidated reporting across US and UK entities. If you're a UK company expanding to the US (or vice versa), you don't need two separate finance teams.
We have multiple subsidiaries on different accounting systems. Can you consolidate?
Yes. Multi-entity consolidation is standard work. I handle intercompany eliminations, minority interest calculations, different charts of accounts, and reporting across QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite, Sage, or any combination. If your subsidiaries are on different systems, the first step is a standardized consolidation template — not necessarily migrating everyone to one platform.
Do you handle fund accounting or fund administration?
Yes. I have direct fund accounting experience, including NAV calculations, investor allocations, capital calls, distribution waterfalls, and LP reporting. I was part of the Leaf Clean Energy Company administration when it first launched, handling the investment pipeline and due diligence processes. Whether you're running a PE fund, real estate fund, or venture fund, I can manage the financial reporting.
What accounting software do you work with?
All the major platforms: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Xero, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, FreshBooks, and Wave. I also work with construction-specific tools (Procore, Buildertrend, Foundation), project management platforms (Monday, Asana), and BI tools (Power BI, Tableau). The tool doesn't matter — the process and outputs do.
What do you mean by "AI-powered" financial reporting?
AI handles the volume work; I handle the judgment. AI categorizes transactions, matches invoices, flags anomalies, and generates first-pass variance commentary. This means your reports are ready faster and more accurate. But every number, every insight, and every recommendation is reviewed by me before it reaches your desk. AI is the assistant, not the accountant. It means you get enterprise-grade thoroughness at fractional pricing.
Can you help us migrate from QuickBooks to NetSuite (or another ERP)?
Yes. ERP migrations are high-risk projects that require someone who understands both the accounting and the technology. I handle chart of accounts mapping, historical data migration, parallel running, user training, and post-migration reconciliation. Most failed ERP migrations fail because nobody mapped the business processes first. I start with your workflows, then configure the system to match — not the other way around.
How do you handle data security and confidentiality?
Professional-grade security is non-negotiable. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest. I use read-only bank feed connections (no payment access), MFA on all platforms, and signed NDAs before any engagement begins. I carry professional liability (E&O) insurance. Your financial data never touches shared infrastructure or AI training datasets. 24 years in banking and private equity taught me that data security isn't a feature — it's a prerequisite.
Are you SOX compliant? Can you help us with audit prep?
I implement SOX-aligned controls for companies that need them. Segregation of duties, documentation of internal controls, reconciliation sign-off procedures, and audit-ready workpapers are standard deliverables. For annual audits, I prepare the full audit package: trial balance, reconciliations, supporting schedules, and management representation letters. Your auditors spend less time asking questions because the answers are already organized.
Is there a long-term contract or minimum commitment?
No long-term contracts. Month-to-month after the first 30 days. I believe if I'm delivering value, you'll stay. If I'm not, you shouldn't be locked in. The only thing I ask for is 30 days' notice so I can prepare a clean handover.
How much does a fractional CFO cost compared to a full-time hire?
A fractional CFO costs $3,995–$8,995/month. A full-time CFO costs $250,000–$500,000+ annually (salary, benefits, bonus, equity, recruiting fees). That's a 60–80% cost reduction with fractional. For most owner-managed businesses, you don't need 40 hours a week of CFO time. You need the right 10–20 hours focused on the decisions that actually move the business. See our pricing tiers →
What's the ROI of hiring a fractional CFO?
The return shows up in five places. Recovered margin (spotting unprofitable services or projects), steadier cash flow (13-week forecasting prevents crises), lower audit and tax-prep fees (clean books are faster to work through), sharper pricing decisions (real cost data instead of gut feel), and your own time back (you stop being the finance department). Try our ROI calculator to estimate your specific return.
Can I start with just bookkeeping and add CFO services later?
Yes. You can start at the Controller tier ($3,995/month) for monthly close, reconciliation and management reporting — then move up to the CFO tier as your needs evolve. The beauty of fractional is that it scales with you. No need to hire-fire-rehire as your business grows.
What does "reports by the 5th" actually mean?
By the 5th business day of every month, your complete management pack is on your desk. That includes: P&L, balance sheet, cash flow statement (all with written commentary), KPI dashboard, 13-week rolling cash flow forecast, budget vs. actual variance analysis, and AP/AR aging. No chasing. No "we need a few more days." The 5th is a hard deadline, not a suggestion. This is the standard I set because I've seen what happens when finance teams deliver reports on the 20th — by then, the data is stale and the decisions have already been made without it.
How do we communicate? Weekly calls? Slack?
Whatever works for you. The usual rhythm is a monthly deep-dive call (45–60 min) when the management pack lands, plus ad-hoc access via email, Slack or Teams for questions that come up. I respond within 4 business hours during US Eastern time. I'm not going to make you schedule a meeting to ask a quick question.
What's your availability? You're one person — can you handle my business?
I take a maximum of 8–10 active clients at any time. This is deliberate. Fractional doesn't mean half-effort. When I take you on, you get senior-level attention, not delegated-to-a-junior attention. AI handles the scale; I handle the relationships. If I'm at capacity, I'll tell you upfront and offer to put you on a waitlist rather than deliver mediocre work.
What time zone do you operate in?
US Eastern Time (EST/EDT), Monday through Friday, 9 AM – 6 PM. I also work with UK businesses, with overlap hours. If you're on the West Coast, the 3-hour difference actually works in your favour — your reports are ready before your day starts. Businesses in other time zones are accommodated with async communication and scheduled calls.
What results can I realistically expect in the first 90 days?
Days 1–14: Diagnostic — identify open items, reconciliation gaps, process weaknesses. Days 15–30: First management pack delivered. You'll see your numbers in a way you've never seen them. Days 31–60: Cash flow forecast operational, KPI dashboard live, budget vs actual tracking in place. Days 61–90: Strategic insights — margin analysis by service line, pricing optimization recommendations, and a 12-month financial roadmap. By day 90, you'll wonder how you ran the business without this.
Will this help me sell my business or raise capital?
Significantly. Buyers and investors pay a premium for businesses with clean, reliable financial data. Companies with auditable books, KPI tracking, and 3-year financial models sell for 1–3x higher multiples than those with a shoebox of receipts. If exit or fundraising is on your horizon, 12–24 months of structured financial management dramatically increases your valuation and reduces due diligence friction.
How is BlackpeakCFO different from other fractional CFO firms?
Three things: (1) Principals only — Stuart Wilson handles your account personally. No junior associates learning on your dime. (2) AI-powered accuracy — enterprise-grade analysis at fractional pricing. AI handles volume; I handle judgment. (3) Dual US/UK qualification — ACMA CGMA chartered management accountant with 7 years as Group Finance Director for a portfolio of small and mid-sized businesses (24 years in professional finance overall). Most fractional CFO firms are really staffing agencies. BlackpeakCFO is a senior practitioner with a direct line.
Still have questions? See what the numbers look like first.
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If your first management pack doesn't give you at least one actionable insight worth more than my entire fee, I refund every penny. You keep the reports. No questions. No awkwardness.