Quick Answer
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
What fractional and outsourced CFOs charge in 2026, how hourly and monthly pricing compare, and how to tell if the fee pays for itself.
The short answer
- Fractional CFO pricing is usually $1,000 to $5,000 a month, or $150 to $400 an hour.
- A full-time CFO salary is typically $180,000 to $280,000 before payroll taxes and benefits.
- Flat monthly pricing is easier to budget than hourly because the number does not move with how many questions you ask.
- LedgerDude charges $149, $249, $499 or $899 a month, and daily bookkeeping is included in every plan.
The three ways CFO help is priced
Hourly consultants bill for time, which punishes you for asking questions. Monthly retainers give you a fixed number. Percentage-of-revenue deals sound fair until a good year makes the fee sting.
- Hourly: $150 – $400 per hour
- Monthly retainer: $1,000 – $5,000 for most small businesses
- Software plus a CFO: often lower, because the data work is automated
What makes the price go up
More entities, more bank accounts, messy or behind books, inventory, job costing, and a need for lender or investor reporting all add work. Clean books and one entity keep the fee low.
Does the fee pay for itself?
Ask a simpler question: what is one pricing mistake costing you? If you are underpriced by 3% on $2,000,000 of revenue, that is $60,000 a year. Against that, a monthly fee is small — but only if the work actually changes what you do.
Illustration: cost of CFO help per year
- Hourly consultant, 8 hours a month at $250
- $24,000
- Typical fractional retainer at $2,500 a month
- $30,000
- LedgerDude Momentum (books + AI CFO) at $499 a month
- $5,988
- Full-time CFO salary plus benefits
- $220,000 – $360,000
What this tells you: These are example figures for comparison, not a quote. Ask any provider for a flat monthly number in writing.
What you see inside LedgerDude
This is the page you get each month once your books are closed — the numbers behind every answer on this site.
In one sentence
Most small businesses pay $1,000 to $5,000 a month for a fractional CFO, or $150 to $400 an hour with an independent consultant.
Questions people ask
Is a fractional CFO cheaper than hiring?
Almost always for small businesses. You are buying part of one person's time instead of a salary, taxes and benefits.
Are there setup fees?
Some providers charge one. LedgerDude does not; if your books are behind, catch-up work is quoted separately and up front.
What does LedgerDude cost?
Founding pricing is $149 a month for Launch, $249 for Growth, $499 for Momentum and $899 for Enterprise. Every plan includes your bookkeeping, done every day.
Should I pay hourly instead?
Only for a single defined project. For ongoing help, hourly billing makes owners avoid asking questions, which is the opposite of the point.
What does this cost?
One flat monthly price. No hourly bills, no surprises. Founding plans start at $149 a month, and your rate stays locked.
Keep reading
What does a fractional CFO do?
A fractional CFO plans your cash, checks that your prices cover your costs, shows which work makes money, and puts numbers behind big decisions.
When should I hire a CFO?
Hire finance leadership when growth stops feeling like progress: revenue is up but cash is tight, profit is a mystery, or a big money decision is coming.
All answers
Every question we have written a straight answer to.
Pricing
Flat monthly plans based on your revenue.
Want your books handled for you?
We read your receipts, match your bank activity, and close your books every month. You get one short list of questions and a dashboard that always tells the truth.