So...What Does a Fractional CFO Actually Cost?
We recently started supporting a new CFO, and he asked us how we come up with our pricing. It made me think this is a question many founders and CFO’s alike have. I wish I could tell you there's a simple answer.
There isn't.
I've seen founders pay $2,000 a month and get almost no strategic value. I've also seen companies spend $10,000+ a month and feel like it was the best investment they made that year.
The difference usually isn't the price.
It's the scope.
Across the market, you'll generally see something like this:
Hourly support: $175–450/hour
Monthly retainers: $3,000–10,000+
Project work: $10,000–35,000+
Those are reasonable ranges. But honestly, I don't think they're the most important part of the conversation.
The real question is: what problem are you trying to solve?
If all you need is someone to review a financial model before a board meeting, that's very different from needing someone to rebuild your close process, prepare for fundraising, and coach your leadership team through tough financial decisions.
Buying a CFO when what you really need is better accounting operations is like hiring an architect because your kitchen sink is leaking.
Here's How We Think About Pricing at SISU
One thing I've never liked about professional services is how unpredictable the pricing can be.
You get an estimate.
Then the scope changes.
Then the invoice shows up and somehow it's 40% higher than you expected.
Founders have enough surprises. Your finance bill shouldn't be one of them.
That's why we keep our pricing simple and predictable. We start with the level of support you actually need today and adjust as your business grows.
Foundations
Starting at $1,200/month
This is for founders who just want solid accounting they don't have to think about.
We'll keep your books clean, close the month, reconcile the accounts, and make sure the numbers are reliable when you need them.
Fractional CFO
Starting at $2,000/month
This is where we start helping you make better decisions, not just better reports.
Think advisory, forecasting, runway planning, board decks, fundraising support, KPI dashboards, and being a sounding board when you're making big decisions.
Growth & Scale
As your company grows, finance naturally gets more complicated.
Maybe you've added another legal entity. Maybe you're hiring internationally. Maybe you're raising another round or implementing AI into your finance workflows.
At that point, the work isn't just "more hours." It's a different level of complexity.
Our pricing reflects that.
Whether you're a Seed startup or a Series D company, our goal is the same: give you exactly the support you need, no more and no less.
What Actually Drives the Cost?
Here's something founders are often surprised to hear.
It's usually not transaction volume.
It's complexity.
A company with one entity, ten employees, and a couple hundred transactions a month can be incredibly straightforward.
Another company with the same revenue might have four legal entities, multiple revenue streams, deferred revenue, international payroll, and a different reporting requirement for every investor.
Those two businesses shouldn't pay the same price.
That's why we scope every engagement individually.
We're not trying to maximize billable hours.
We're trying to build a finance function that won't break six months from now.
The Best CFOs Should Make Themselves Less Busy
This might be an unpopular opinion coming from someone who sells CFO services...
But I don't think your CFO should become more indispensable every year.
Quite the opposite.
A good finance leader builds systems that don't rely on heroics.
That means documenting processes, creating clear ownership, improving communication between teams, implementing controls, automating the repetitive work, and giving leadership reporting they can actually trust.
If everything still falls apart every time your CFO goes on vacation, that's not job security.
That's a broken operating model.
So...How Much Finance Leadership Do You Actually Need?
Before you start comparing hourly rates or monthly retainers, ask yourself a different set of questions.
Can we trust our numbers?
Where does our team lose the most time?
What's preventing us from closing the books faster?
What financial decisions are we avoiding because we don't have enough visibility?
And what does our finance function need to look like a year from now?
The answers to those questions will tell you what level of support you actually need.
Sometimes that's a Fractional CFO.
Sometimes it's stronger accounting operations.
Sometimes it's fixing the workflows before adding another person.
More often than not, it's a combination of all three.
Ready to Build a Finance Function That Actually Scales?
Whether you need someone to clean up the books, help you raise your next round, redesign your finance operations, or implement AI the right way, we'd love to help.
We'll meet you where you are today and build a finance function that's ready for where you're going next.
Because the goal isn't to hire the most expensive CFO.
It's to build a finance team that gives you confidence, clarity, and one less thing to worry about.
