How to Choose the Right Fractional CFO
So you’ve realized you need more than a bookkeeper, but less than a full-time CFO. Congrats — you’re in the “I’m a legit business now” club.
Enter the fractional CFO.
They’re everywhere now. Everyone’s offering “strategic insight” and “custom dashboards” and “manifesting”. Honestly, it’s starting to sound like the financial version of a green juice cleanse. Expensive. Confusing. And half the time, useless.
So how do you choose someone who’s actually helpful, not just spreadsheet-deep in jargon? Here’s what matters (and what doesn’t).
First, Know What You’re Actually Hiring Them For
Let’s clear this up: you are not hiring a fractional CFO to make your QuickBooks prettier. That’s your bookkeeper’s job.
You’re hiring someone to:
Help you understand your numbers without needing a translator
Build a cash flow plan that doesn’t rely on crossed fingers
Make your business decisions feel like strategy, not guesswork
If the person you’re talking to can’t explain how they’ll help you do that in plain English, run.
Avoid the Dashboard Trap
Yes, dashboards are nice. Yes, seeing your numbers in pie-chart form can be oddly satisfying. But if that’s all your CFO is offering? You’ve hired a glorified data visualizer.
The right CFO doesn’t just give you numbers. They give you meaning. Clarity. Direction. A plan.
No one needs more metrics you won’t look at. You need someone who says, “Here’s what metrics matter to you, here’s why they matter, here’s what they say, and here’s what we’re doing about it.”
Ask These Questions Before You Sign Anything
Do they understand service-based businesses?
Can they speak your language, not just GAAP?
Do they offer actual financial walkthroughs — not just PDFs and disappearing acts?
Do they come with a playbook — or are they winging it?
Do they have any sort of credentials or did they just take a course?
Oh, and if their pitch sounds like a Shark Tank audition? Hard pass.
What We Do (And What We Don’t)
At More Than Bookkeeping, we offer CFO Lite and VIP support that’s tailored for real small businesses — not Fortune 500s pretending to be relatable.
We do:
Cash flow forecasting you can actually understand
Monthly walkthroughs of your financials (with plain English + real insight)
Pricing, profit margin, and growth strategy
Big picture thinking, without corporate buzzwords
We don’t:
Disappear after onboarding
Send cryptic reports with no context
Use “proprietary frameworks” to explain basic concepts
And yes, we have a financial background-CPA licenses that you can lookup and verify and tons of experience in the financial field.
TL;DR: Choose the CFO Who Thinks Like a Partner, Not a Spreadsheet
If you’re serious about growing, you don’t just need clean books. You need someone who helps you lead with your numbers—not drown in them.
Book a call. Let’s make sure your next financial hire is actually the right one.
