Professional
‍CFO as a Service

Further reading

What CFO as a Service covers, when it pays off and where the line to other models runs.

Services and decision

• CFO as a Service: service modules and pricing models – which scope fits which company stage
• Interim CFO, CFO as a Service or a permanent hire? – the three models compared
• Fractional CFO, external CFO, part-time CFO – what the terms really mean
• What 3,372 pitch decks reveal about funding needs – from which round a finance function is needed

Glossary terms

• CFO as a Service – scope of services and how it differs from consulting
• Finance as a Service – the outsourced finance function from bookkeeping to planning
• Fractional CFO – ongoing part-time finance leadership instead of a full-time role
• Financial Modelling – building an integrated financial model
• Financial Due Diligence – review before an acquisition or investment

Frequently asked questions about CFO as a Service

What is CFO as a Service, and how does it differ from an interim CFO?

CFO as a Service means finance leadership is brought in from outside on an ongoing, part-time basis – billed as a monthly retainer, with only the scope you actually use being paid for. An interim CFO, by contrast, takes on the role for a fixed term and usually full time, most often because of a vacancy, a funding round or a transaction. Rule of thumb: a time-limited trigger at high intensity argues for interim, a permanent need below a full-time seat for CFO as a Service.

From what company size does the model pay off?

As soon as there are reporting obligations towards investors or banks, cash runway has to be answerable at any moment, or bookkeeping on its own no longer gives you anything to steer with. In practice that is often from the seed round onwards. The upper limit sits where complexity permanently ties up a full-time capacity – at that point a permanent hire is cheaper.

Which services are included and which are not?

CFO as a Service is bought in modules that can be switched on and off individually: ongoing bookkeeping, reporting and controlling, financial planning, liquidity management, investor and bank communication, and processes and systems. The retainer does not normally cover the annual financial statements, special projects and system implementations – those are quoted separately.

What does CFO as a Service cost?

The monthly retainer runs between EUR 2,500 and 15,000 depending on scope: a few days a month EUR 2,500 to 5,000, one day a week EUR 5,000 to 9,000, two to three days a week EUR 9,000 to 15,000. From around EUR 12,000 a month the model is level with the fully loaded cost of an in-house CFO seat. The full overview with day rates and a comparison calculator is on Pricing.

How quickly can we start working together?

The intro call is free and without obligation; after it you receive a proposal covering scope, retainer and term. Where the need is acute, someone from our network is usually ready to start within 24 hours. An orderly start that includes taking over bookkeeping and reporting normally needs two to four weeks of lead time.

What happens to our existing tax adviser?

They stay on board in almost every case. We work alongside the existing firm and take on the side it does not cover: steering, planning, reporting and the communication with investors and banks. Where ongoing bookkeeping is handed over as well, we agree the interfaces and the closing calendar with them beforehand.