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Complete guide to outsourcing your CFO function. Understand benefits, costs, provider types, and how outsourced CFO services compare to fractional and in-house options.
"Outsourced CFO" and "fractional CFO" are largely synonymous terms. Both describe external CFO services provided on a part-time basis without the full-time employment commitment. The terminology varies by provider preference, but the service delivery model is identical: strategic finance leadership for a fraction of full-time cost.
An outsourced CFO is a senior finance professional who provides CFO-level services to your business on a part-time, external basis. Instead of hiring a full-time employee, you engage an experienced CFO (or CFO services firm) for 1-3 days per week.
Initial consultation to understand your needs, company stage, and strategic priorities. CFO proposes engagement structure (days per week, key deliverables, pricing).
CFO conducts financial assessment, reviews systems and processes, meets key stakeholders, establishes reporting cadence, and identifies quick wins.
Regular strategic input (weekly/fortnightly meetings), monthly board reporting, quarterly planning, ad-hoc advisory on major decisions, and project-based work (fundraising, M&A, systems).
Save 60-80% vs full-time CFO. £30K-£120K annually instead of £150K-£300K+. No benefits, pension, NI, or recruitment costs.
Access experienced CFOs (15-25 years) within 2-4 weeks. No 3-6 month recruitment process. Start immediately with proven professionals.
Flexibly adjust commitment (1-4 days/week) as needs change. Scale up for fundraising/M&A, scale down during steady state.
Outsourced CFOs bring cross-industry insights from working with multiple companies. Broader perspective than single-company CFOs.
| Factor | Outsourced/Fractional CFO | In-House CFO |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | £30K-£120K | £150K-£300K+ |
| Time to hire | 2-4 weeks | 3-6 months |
| Commitment | 1-3 days/week, flexible | 5 days/week, fixed |
| Best for | £1M-£50M revenue | £50M+ revenue |
See full comparison in our fractional vs full-time CFO guide.
Fractional Quest connects businesses with experienced outsourced/fractional CFO professionals and firms across the UK.