The seven pricing models
| Model | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $250 – $600 / hr | Narrow projects, ad hoc advisory |
| Daily | $2,000 – $5,000 / day | Interim CFO, transaction sprints |
| Monthly retainer | $5,000 – $25,000 / mo | Ongoing CFO coverage |
| Quarterly | $30,000 – $75,000 / qtr | Standardized executive engagement |
| Project | $25,000 – $200,000 fixed | Fundraise, audit prep, ERP implementation |
| Success-based | % of deal proceeds | Fundraises, exits — rarely offered by top firms |
| Enterprise fixed | $15,000 – $30,000 / mo, all-in | Complete finance function |
Hourly
The most flexible model, and the most misaligned. Independent CFOs bill $250 – $600 per hour for time worked. Well-suited to narrow, defined projects. Poorly suited to ongoing executive coverage — hourly billing incentivizes visible activity, not strategic depth.
Practical range: 15 – 40 hours per month, producing a total monthly spend of $4,000 – $20,000. Above 40 hours per month consistently, a retainer is more efficient.
Daily
Some fractional CFOs — particularly interim executives — bill by the day. $2,000 – $5,000 per day is a common range. Well-suited to intensive short-term engagements: a fundraise sprint, an interim gap between full-time CFOs, or a transaction diligence period.
The daily model is uncommon for ongoing engagements.
Monthly retainer
The most common commercial arrangement. A fixed monthly retainer buys a defined capacity of CFO time.
| Tier | Monthly | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Advisory only | $5,000 – $8,000 | Weekly call, ad hoc questions. No team. |
| Working CFO | $8,000 – $15,000 | Weekly meeting, monthly reporting, board deck. |
| CFO + team | $15,000 – $25,000 | CFO plus controller and/or analyst. |
Quarterly
A quarterly engagement bills a fixed amount for a full quarter of coverage, renewable each quarter. Aligns billing with the natural rhythm of financial planning. Common in firm-based engagements such as STANDARD, priced at $60,000 per quarter for the full finance team.
Project-based
Fixed-fee engagements for defined scopes. Fundraise support: $50,000 – $150,000. Audit preparation: $30,000 – $100,000. ERP implementation: $75,000 – $300,000. Financial model build: $25,000 – $75,000.
Well-suited to companies with an existing finance function that need incremental executive capacity for a specific initiative.
Success-based
Some CFOs — particularly those with investment banking backgrounds — offer success-based pricing tied to a transaction outcome (a completed fundraise, an exit). Typical range: 1% – 5% of proceeds, sometimes with a floor.
Reputable fractional CFO firms rarely offer this model. Success-based pricing on transactions is generally the province of investment banks; success-based pricing on operating outcomes is fraught with definitional disputes.
Enterprise fixed
A single fixed price that includes the entire finance function — CFO, controller, analyst, and finance operations lead. No hourly billing, no scope changes, no proposals. STANDARD uses this model at $20,000 per month, billed quarterly.
The primary advantage is the removal of scope friction. There is no incentive to bill more hours and no incentive for the company to withhold work. The executive delivers as much as the engagement requires.
Decision framework
- 01
Define scope
One-time project → hourly or project-based. Ongoing coverage → retainer, quarterly, or enterprise.
- 02
Assess team need
Existing controller and analyst → CFO-only retainer works. No team → enterprise engagement is faster than building one.
- 03
Estimate weekly executive hours
Under 4 → advisory retainer. 4 – 12 → working CFO retainer or enterprise. Over 12 consistently → consider full-time.
- 04
Prioritize predictability
If cost variance matters, avoid hourly. Fixed monthly, quarterly, or enterprise pricing produces the cleanest planning.
- 05
Weigh continuity
The pattern-recognition value of a CFO compounds. Optimize for the longest relationship, not the cheapest quarterly bill.