Fractional CFO Cost UK - Salary and compensation analysis
Pricing Guide 2026

Fractional CFO Cost UK

Complete guide to fractional CFO cost in the UK. Day rates, monthly retainers, project fees, and how to maximise ROI on finance leadership.

Photo: Austin Distel
£700-£1,200
Day Rate Range
£2k-£15k
Monthly Retainer
50-70%
Savings vs Full-Time
1-3 days
Typical Engagement

Fractional CFO Cost Overview

Fractional CFO cost in the UK typically ranges from £700-£1,200 per day, or £2,000-£15,000 per month on retainer. Most businesses engage a fractional CFO for 1-3 days per week, providing senior finance leadership at 50-70% less than a full-time hire.

UK Market Context: According to Fast Growth Consulting and C-Suite Recruit (Jan 2026), fractional CFO day rates range from £700-£1,200, with monthly retainers of £2,000-£10,000. Senior specialists and fundraise-focused CFOs command the top end.

The "founder misconception gap" is common: many assume a fractional CFO is just a few hours of advice monthly. In reality, a fractional CFO is often the first proper finance leader a business has ever had, requiring hands-on work to build financial clarity, systems, and reporting before strategic value can be delivered.

Day Rates

Fractional CFO Day Rates UK

What you'll pay per day based on experience and specialisation.

CFO LevelDay RateMonthly (2 days/week)Best For
Early-Career Fractional£700-£850£5,600-£6,800Seed stage, basic reporting
Mid-Level Fractional£850-£1,000£6,800-£8,000Series A, investor relations
Senior Fractional£1,000-£1,200£8,000-£9,600Series B+, complex operations
PE/VC Specialist£1,200-£1,500£9,600-£12,000M&A, exit prep, IPO

Source: Day rate data validated against Fast Growth Consulting, HireCFO, and C-Suite Recruit (Jan 2026).

Retainers

Fractional CFO Monthly Retainer Pricing

Predictable monthly costs for ongoing finance leadership.

STARTER
£2,500-£4,000
per month
  • • 1 day per week (4 days/month)
  • • Monthly financial reporting
  • • Cash flow oversight
  • • Board pack preparation
Best for: Seed/early-stage, £1-3M revenue
POPULAR
GROWTH
£5,000-£8,000
per month
  • • 2 days per week (8 days/month)
  • • Fundraising support
  • • Investor relations
  • • Financial modelling
  • • Finance team oversight
Best for: Series A-B, £3-15M revenue
ENTERPRISE
£10,000-£15,000
per month
  • • 3+ days per week
  • • Full CFO responsibilities
  • • M&A / exit preparation
  • • Board-level leadership
  • • Team management
Best for: PE-backed, £15M+ or pre-exit
Projects

Project-Based Fractional CFO Fees

Fixed-price engagements for specific deliverables.

Project TypeTypical CostDurationDeliverables
Financial Model Build£3,000-£8,0002-4 weeks3-statement model, scenarios, dashboard
Due Diligence Support£5,000-£15,0004-8 weeksData room, Q&A, investor meetings
Fundraising Preparation£10,000-£25,0008-12 weeksDeck, model, data room, investor intros
Systems Implementation£5,000-£20,0004-12 weeksERP/accounting system, reporting setup
M&A Exit Preparation£15,000-£30,0003-6 monthsClean-up, vendor DD, deal support
Hourly

Fractional CFO Hourly Rates UK

For ad-hoc consultations and short-term advisory.

Level / SpecialisationHourly RateBest For
Standard Consultation£100-£150/hourQuick financial reviews, ad-hoc advice
Senior CFO (15+ years)£150-£200/hourStrategic planning, board prep
Fundraising Specialist£175-£250/hourInvestor meetings, pitch prep
M&A / Exit Expert£200-£300/hourTransaction advisory, due diligence

When to Use Hourly vs Retainer

Hourly billing suits occasional needs like board meeting prep, investor calls, or specific questions. For ongoing strategic support (weekly reporting, cash flow management, team oversight), monthly retainers offer better value and predictable costs.

Comparison

Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time CFO Cost

How the costs compare across different CFO engagement types.

Cost FactorFractional CFOInterim CFOFull-Time CFO
Day Rate£700-£1,200£1,000-£1,500N/A (salaried)
Monthly Cost£2,500-£15,000£18,000-£30,000£12,000-£22,000+
Annual Cost£30,000-£180,000£72,000-£120,000 (4-6mo)£200,000-£350,000+
Time Commitment1-3 days/weekFull-time (temp)Full-time (perm)
DurationOngoing (6+ months)3-9 months typicalPermanent
Recruitment FeeNoneNone or minimal£30,000-£50,000
Benefits & PensionNoneNone£15,000-£30,000/year
Best ForSMEs, startups, scale-upsGap cover, crisis, M&ALarge enterprises, £50M+

Cost Savings: A fractional CFO at 2 days/week costs £60,000-£96,000/year vs £200,000-£350,000+ for a full-time CFO (salary + NI + pension + benefits + equity + recruitment). That's 50-70% savings while maintaining senior finance leadership.

Pricing Factors

What Affects Fractional CFO Pricing

Key variables that determine what you'll pay.

+10-15%

CFO Experience & Qualifications

ACA/ACCA qualified, Big 4 background, or 15+ years experience command premium rates

+15-25%

Fundraising or M&A Focus

CFOs with successful fundraising track records or M&A experience charge more

+15-20%

Company Stage & Complexity

Series B+ companies, multi-entity structures, or PE-backed require senior CFOs

+15-20%

Location (London Premium)

London-based engagements typically cost more; remote-first arrangements may save

+10-20%

Industry Specialisation

SaaS, FinTech, and healthcare specialists in high demand

-5-10%

Engagement Length

Longer contracts (12+ months) may warrant volume discounts on day rates

Value

Fractional CFO ROI: Is It Worth the Cost?

How fractional CFOs deliver value beyond their fees.

2-5x

Typical ROI

Most companies see 2-5x return on fractional CFO investment through cash flow improvement, better pricing, reduced costs, and avoiding costly mistakes.

15-30%

Cash Flow Improvement

Better working capital management, payment terms optimisation, and cash forecasting typically improve cash position by 15-30%.

10-20%

Better Fundraising Terms

CFO-prepared fundraises typically achieve 10-20% better valuations through professional financials, models, and investor relations.

5-15%

Cost Reduction

Identifying redundant costs, renegotiating contracts, and optimising vendor relationships typically saves 5-15% of operating expenses.

When Fractional CFO Cost Makes Sense

  • • Revenue £1-20M: Need senior finance leadership but can't justify full-time CFO cost
  • • Fundraising: Preparing for Series A-C, need investor-ready financials
  • • Growth phase: Outgrowing founder-led finance, need systems and processes
  • • Exit preparation: Getting financials ready for M&A or sale
  • • Bridge hire: Need immediate CFO coverage while recruiting full-time
Qualifications

Professional Bodies & Rate Premiums

Qualifications that justify higher fractional CFO costs.

🏛️

ICAEW (ACA)

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

+10-15% rate premium

🏛️

ACCA

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

+10-15% rate premium

📊

CIMA

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

+10-15% rate premium

💼

BVCA

British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association

PE/VC experience valued

Calculate

Fractional CFO Cost Calculator

Estimate your potential costs based on engagement level

Fractional CFO Earnings

Calculate Your Potential Income

£1,000
£750Avg: £1000£1500
2.5 days
1 day5 days
2 clients
14
Weekly
£5,000
Monthly
£21,650
Annual
£240,000

Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.

BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.

Find a CFO

Browse Fractional CFO Opportunities

Connect with experienced fractional CFOs

Latest CFO Jobs

0jobs found
View All UK Jobs
FAQ

Fractional CFO Cost FAQ

Common questions about fractional CFO pricing and costs.

A fractional CFO in the UK typically costs £700-£1,200 per day, or £2,000-£15,000 per month on retainer. According to Fast Growth Consulting and C-Suite Recruit (Jan 2026), the average engagement is 1-2 days per week, costing £3,000-£8,000 monthly. This is 50-70% less than hiring a full-time CFO.
Monthly fractional CFO costs in the UK: Starter tier (1 day/week) £2,500-£4,000, Growth tier (2 days/week) £5,000-£8,000, Enterprise tier (3+ days/week) £10,000-£15,000. These rates include strategic finance leadership, board reporting, and investor relations support.
Yes, significantly. A full-time CFO costs £200,000-£350,000+ annually (salary, NI, pension, benefits, equity, recruitment fees). A fractional CFO at 2 days/week costs £60,000-£96,000/year - a 50-70% saving while still getting senior finance leadership.
Fractional CFO fees typically include: financial strategy and planning, cash flow management, board reporting and investor relations, fundraising support, financial modelling and forecasting, finance team oversight, and systems/process improvement. Most CFOs work on monthly retainers for ongoing engagements.
Fractional CFOs charge £700-£1,200/day for 1-3 days/week ongoing. Interim CFOs charge £1,000-£1,500/day for full-time temporary coverage (typically 3-9 months). Fractional is more cost-effective for ongoing strategic support; interim is better for crisis or gap-fill situations.
Key pricing factors: (1) CFO experience and qualifications (ACA/ACCA adds 10-15%), (2) Engagement complexity (fundraising, M&A command premiums), (3) Company stage (Series B+ pay more), (4) Location (London rates 15-20% higher), (5) Time commitment (more days often means volume discounts).
Yes. Project-based fractional CFO fees range from £3,000-£30,000 depending on scope. Common projects: fundraising preparation (£10,000-£25,000), due diligence support (£5,000-£15,000), financial model build (£3,000-£8,000), system implementation (£5,000-£20,000).
A fractional CFO makes sense when: you need senior finance leadership but not full-time, preparing for fundraising or exit, outgrowing founder-led finance, implementing financial systems, needing board-level reporting, or bridging gap while hiring full-time CFO. Most companies start at £3M-£10M revenue.

Related Resources

Explore more fractional CFO guides and resources

Ready to Find a Fractional CFO?

Browse UK fractional CFO opportunities and compare costs.

Browse CFO Jobs

Explore More Fractional Roles

Fractional CFO Cost UK 2026 | Pricing Guide, Day Rates & Monthly Retainers | Fractional Quest