Vetted Fractional CFO Services

A fractional CFO is a senior financial executive who joins a company part-time to lead financial strategy, cash management, and the decisions that shape the finance function. Engagements typically run 10 to 25 hours per week, on an ongoing basis, for as long as the work requires it. Companies bring in a fractional CFO when they need executive-level financial judgment without the cost of a full-time hire.

Fractional CFO rates through Tecla vary by scope, seniority, and how deep the engagement runs into the finance function. Pricing is all-inclusive, with no upfront fees, no fees to start the search, and no charges for interviews.

The scope of the work is similar, senior financial leadership. The difference is in hours, cost structure, and commitment. A full-time CFO works 40+ hours per week with a six-figure salary and equity. A fractional CFO works 10 to 25 hours per week on a monthly retainer, with no equity required and flexibility to scale up or down.

They are the same underlying engagement, delivered under different names. CFO as a Service is a framing borrowed from SaaS, more common with accounting firms and companies used to buying finance functions as ongoing services. Fractional CFO is the more common framing in the startup ecosystem for the same fractional finance leadership model. Both describe senior financial leadership on demand, without a full-time hire.

The terms overlap significantly. Outsourced CFO usually implies a fully external, vendor-style relationship, more common in SMBs and non-tech businesses. Fractional CFO usually implies a leader who embeds part-time in the company. In practice, the market uses the terms interchangeably, and the engagement structure is often the same.

Common triggers include: outgrowing the controller or bookkeeper, filling a gap between full-time CFO hires, adding CFO-level oversight to a finance team that is running without one, preparing for a fundraise or acquisition, or supporting a founder through a critical financial decision.

Engagements typically run from three months to multiple years. Most start at three to six months and extend as the work continues. Companies often transition fractional engagements to full-time hires when the role grows beyond part-time scope, and we support that transition through executive search.

Yes. If the fractional CFO engagement does not work within the first 90 days, we replace the leader at no additional cost. The guarantee is standard across every engagement we run.

First candidates are typically presented within 3 to 5 business days of the briefing call. Most engagements are up and running within two weeks of the initial conversation.

Most companies work with specialized fractional CFO firms rather than running an independent search. Tecla is one of the fractional CFO companies focused specifically on senior financial leadership, with a network of pre-vetted executives ready to match within days. An independent search typically takes weeks and lacks vetting rigor.

Day-to-day work varies with the engagement. Common responsibilities include cash flow management, financial models, board reporting, investor updates, budget allocation, and strategic advisory to the CEO. The fractional CFO owns the finance function the way a full-time CFO would, at part-time hours.

Sometimes. In many engagements, the fractional CFO transitions to a full-time role once the company reaches the scale that justifies it. When that is not the right fit, Tecla runs the executive search for the permanent CFO alongside the fractional engagement.