FAQs
About Fractional CFO Services
What exactly is the meaning of fractional CFO services?
A fractional CFO provides the strategic financial leadership of a full-time CFO—but on a part-time, flexible basis. You get the expertise without the six-figure salary, benefits, and overhead of a full-time executive.
Think of it as having a seasoned CFO in your corner when you need them most—whether that's a few hours a week or several days a month.
How are fractional CFO services different from accounting or bookkeeping?
Bookkeepers record transactions and keep your books clean.
Accountants prepare financial statements and file your taxes.
Fractional CFOs provide strategic financial leadership.
We look forward, not just backward. We help you make decisions—about pricing, hiring, growth, cash flow, and investment—based on what the numbers are telling you.
If your accountant tells you what happened, your CFO tells you what to do next. Our job begins where the data ends.
Do I need fractional CFO services, or can my accountant handle this?
The job descriptions are totally different.
If you're asking questions like these, you likely need a CFO:
"Can we afford to hire this person?"
"Should we raise prices or focus on volume?"
"Why is revenue up but cash flow tight?"
"Are we ready to expand, or would that break us?"
"How do we prepare for a sale or exit?"
Accountants are essential for compliance and reporting. CFOs are essential for strategy and growth.
Most companies need both.
Whether you’re looking to grow, become more profitable, gain meaning in your industry, or prepare for an exit, having a fractional CFO on your side can help.
Working Together
How does the engagement work?
We tailor every engagement to your business. Most clients start with one of these structures:
Monthly Retainer – Ongoing strategic partnership with regular meetings, financial reviews, and as-needed services
Project-Based – Focused work like building a financial model, cash flow cleanup, or exit preparation
Hourly Consulting – Shorter-term or ad-hoc services for specific questions
We'll have a conversation about where you are, what you need, and build a structure that fits. Part of our job is to help you determine what sort of involvement aligns with your organization and its goals, whether through a retainer or hourly rate engagement. Our remote work operators are standing by - no full-time salary necessary.
What does a typical month look like?
It varies by client, but here's a common structure:
Weekly or bi-weekly check-ins (30-60 minutes)
Monthly financial review (deep dive into performance, cash flow, key metrics)
Ad-hoc support via email or Slack as questions come up
Strategic planning for upcoming decisions (hiring, pricing, investment)
You're not getting a "report dump." You're getting a partner who helps you make better decisions.
Do you work on-site or remotely?
Both are possible. We operate mostly with remote work (video calls, shared documents, cloud-based tools), but we're happy to meet in person for strategic sessions, board meetings, or critical planning work.
If you are looking for a fractional CFO “near me,” we're based in Central Florida, but we work with clients across the U.S. and can arrange a local, regional, or national on-site session.
Reach out to request an initial consultation or site visit.
How long do engagements typically last?
It depends on what you need.
Project-based work (like building a financial model or preparing for due diligence) might be 4-12 weeks.
Ongoing fractional CFO services is usually a longer-term partnership—many clients work with us for years as their companies evolve.
We're not here to "fix and run." We embody the very meaning of partner. We're here to stand in your corner and partner with you for the long haul.
Pricing & Investment
How much do fractional CFO services cost?
Our first-month retainer is $10,000, which includes discovery, strategic planning, and immediate financial assessment.
For each month beyond the first, the retainer for fCFO partnership is typically $5,000, but it can vary from $5,000-$15,000 depending on the scope, complexity, and frequency of services.
Project-based work and hourly consulting are quoted based on the specific need. We are happy to accommodate retainers or hourly rates.
Are fractional CFO services worth it for a small business?
Here's the better question: What's it costing you not to have clarity?
Most clients save 2-3× our fee in the first 30 days through:
Overlooked deductions and tax strategies
Pricing corrections
Cash flow improvements
Elimination of costly mistakes
But the bigger ROI? Speed. Decisions that used to take months now take days. Growth that felt 18 months away suddenly looks like 6 months.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start growing strategically, the investment pays for itself quickly.
Do you offer payment plans?
We're flexible. Monthly retainers are billed monthly. For project-based work, we can structure payment in milestones.
Let's talk about what works for your cash flow and cost structure.
What's included in the first month?
The first month is about discovery and immediate impact:
Complete financial assessment (where you actually stand)
Cash flow analysis and forecasting
Identification of quick wins (tax strategies, cost savings, pricing opportunities)
Strategic roadmap for the next 6-12 months
Regular meetings and unlimited email/message services
You won't wait months to see value. Most clients see measurable improvements within 30 days of beginning services.
Services & Expertise
What industries does Lunch Money CFO specialize in for fractional CFO services?
We work primarily with:
Professional services firms
Product-based companies
Trades and contractors
Technology and SaaS companies
Healthcare and wellness businesses
If you're an SMB owner (typically $1M-$20M in revenue) who's tired of financial fog, we can probably help.
Do you prepare taxes?
No. We're strategic advisors, not tax preparers.
That said, we work closely with your CPA to identify tax-saving strategies, optimize entity structure, and ensure you're taking advantage of everything available to you.
Think of it this way: Your CPA files the return. We help you make decisions throughout the year that make the return better.
Do you do bookkeeping?
Yes, some. We offer bookkeeping services in lower volumes.
Clean books are the foundation of everything we do. If your bookkeeping is a mess, we'll help you get it cleaned up (either by training your team or connecting you with a reliable bookkeeper).
We work with referral partners and can match you with a full-time accounting professional that aligns with your organization.
Our job is strategy. But strategy built on bad data is useless.
Can you help with fundraising or investor relations?
Yes. We help clients:
Build financial models for investor presentations
Prepare due diligence materials
Develop projections and forecasts
Translate financials into investor-friendly narratives
Whether you're raising debt, equity, or preparing for acquisition, we'll help you tell your financial story with confidence.
Do you offer business intelligence (BI) dashboards?
Yes. We build custom dashboards (typically in Power BI or similar tools) that give you real-time visibility into:
Cash flow
Product/service profitability
Customer acquisition costs
Key performance metrics
No more waiting until month-end to know how you're doing. You'll have the data you need, when you need it.
Getting Started
How do I know if I'm ready for fractional CFO services?
You're ready if:
✓ You're making financial decisions based on gut feel, not data
✓ Cash flow feels unpredictable (even when revenue is good)
✓ You're unsure if you can afford to hire, invest, or expand
✓ Payroll week causes anxiety
✓ You want to grow but don't have a clear financial roadmap
✓ You're preparing for a sale, acquisition, or major transition
If you checked 2+ of these boxes, let's talk.
What's the first step?
Step 1: Schedule a free 30-minute discovery call (or on-site meeting upon request)
Step 2: We'll discuss where you are, what's keeping you up at night, and whether we're a good fit
Step 3: If it makes sense, we'll build a custom proposal and get started
No pressure. No generic pitch. Just a conversation about your company and how we can help.
What do I need to prepare before our first call?
Nothing formal. Just come ready to talk honestly about:
Where your company is today
What's working (and what's not)
What decisions you're facing
What "clarity" would look like for you
We'll take it from there.
What if I'm not sure this is the right time?
That's fair. Not every company is ready for fractional CFO services—and that's okay.
Here's a simple gut check:
If the cost of not having clarity is higher than the investment in getting it, it's time.
If you're losing sleep, second-guessing decisions, or feeling stuck—let's at least have a conversation. Worst case, you'll leave with some clarity on what your next step should be.
What are the benefits of hiring a fractional CFO for a growing business?
Hiring a fractional Chief Financial Officer (CFO) offers growing businesses several key advantages:
Cost-Effectiveness: Engaging fractional CFO services provides access to high-level financial expertise without the substantial costs associated with a full-time executive. This arrangement allows businesses to tailor financial leadership to their specific needs and budget.
Extensive Expertise: Fractional CFOs bring diverse experience from various industries, offering insights into best practices, risk management, and strategic financial planning. Their broad background enables more informed decision-making and can accelerate business growth.
Flexibility and Scalability: As businesses evolve, their financial needs change. A fractional CFO provides adaptable support, scaling services up or down based on the company's growth trajectory and specific requirements.
Enhanced Risk Management: With expertise in navigating financial risks, fractional CFOs can proactively identify potential challenges and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring the business remains resilient in changing market conditions.
Improved Cash Flow Management: Effective cash flow management is crucial for business sustainability. Fractional CFOs implement best practices to optimize cash flow, ensuring the company can meet its obligations and invest in growth opportunities.
Strategic Financial Planning: Fractional CFOs assist in developing long-term financial strategies, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial modeling, aligning financial plans with business objectives to support sustainable growth.
Access to Advanced Financial Tools: Leveraging their experience, fractional CFOs introduce and implement advanced financial tools and technologies, streamlining operations and enhancing financial reporting and analysis.
Enhanced Investor Relations: By providing transparent and accurate financial reporting, fractional CFOs strengthen relationships with investors and stakeholders, building trust and confidence in the company's financial health.
In summary, hiring a fractional CFO offers growing businesses a cost-effective solution to access seasoned financial expertise, providing flexibility, strategic insight, and enhanced financial management to support sustainable growth.
How do I get in touch?
Email: info@lunchmoneycfo.com
Phone: 727 410 8944
Schedule a call: Here
Or just fill out the contact form on this site and we'll reach out within 24 hours.
Still Have Questions?
If we didn't answer your question here, reach out through this site. We respond to every inquiry personally—no automated responses, no runarounds.
Let's talk: Contact page
– Nicholas Youmans, Owner/Fractional CFO
Lunch Money CFO
Premium partnership at a fraction of the price