Market pricing across hourly, day, monthly, quarterly, and enterprise engagement structures — with typical scope and engagement length.
Median hourly rate
$385
Median day rate
$2,600
Median monthly retainer
$8,500
Enterprise packaged
$20,000/mo
Executive Summary
Fractional CFO pricing has consolidated around five distinct structures: hourly, day rate, monthly retainer, quarterly retainer (prepaid), and enterprise / packaged. Each structure implies a different scope, cadence, and level of team support. [1]
This report benchmarks each structure with median rates, interquartile ranges, typical scope, and typical engagement length. Data is drawn from 412 disclosed engagements collected between September 2025 and January 2026.
Section 01
| Structure | P25 | Median | P75 | Typical scope | Typical length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly | $275 | $385 | $525 | Advisory, ad hoc projects | 3–6 mo |
| Day rate | $1,800 | $2,600 | $3,400 | Fundraising, board prep, model build | 1–3 mo |
| Monthly retainer | $5,500 | $8,500 | $14,000 | 1 day/week ongoing leadership | 12–24 mo |
| Quarterly prepay | $16,000 | $24,000 | $38,000 | Retainer prepaid, 8–12% discount | 12–24 mo |
| Enterprise packaged | $15,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | CFO + controller + analyst, standardized deliverables | 12–36 mo |
Section 02
Figure · Column chart
% of engagements
Source · STANDARD Research, 2026 (n=412). [1]
Section 03
Key Finding
71% of new engagements in 2026 are packaged monthly retainers, up from 44% in 2021.
Evidence · Comparison of engagement structure mix across 412 disclosed engagements, 2021 vs 2026.
Implication · Hourly billing is now the exception, not the default. Buyers evaluating hourly proposals should expect narrower scope and less predictable spend.
Methodology
Data sources
Sample size
412 disclosed fractional CFO engagements
Collection period
September 2025 – January 2026
Limitations
Definitions
FAQs
Citations