Quick Answer
When should I hire a CFO?
The signals that mean you need finance leadership, when fractional is enough, and when a full-time CFO finally makes sense.
The short answer
- Most owners need CFO help before they think they do, usually between $1M and $10M in revenue.
- The trigger is rarely size — it is a decision you cannot make confidently with the numbers you have.
- Fractional or outsourced is enough for most businesses under about $20M in revenue.
- Fix behind or messy books first; CFO work on bad data produces confident wrong answers.
Five signs it is time
If two or more of these are true, you are already paying for the missing help — just in mistakes.
- Revenue grew but your bank balance did not
- You cannot say which jobs, crews or services make money
- Payroll week makes you check your balance twice
- You are about to borrow, buy or hire something big
- Your prices have not been checked against real costs in over a year
Fractional or full time?
Under roughly $20M in revenue, fractional is usually the right answer. A full-time CFO makes sense when you have a finance team to lead, complex financing, or investors expecting board-level reporting.
Do this first
Get current, reconciled books. If your last closed month is more than 30 days old, start with catch-up work — it is cheaper than paying for advice built on guesses.
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
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.
Questions people ask
Is $500,000 in revenue too small for a CFO?
Too small for a full-time hire, not too small for help. Start with a lower plan focused on cash and pricing.
Can my CPA do this?
Most CPAs focus on tax compliance, not monthly cash and pricing decisions. They work well alongside a CFO.
What if I am losing money right now?
That is the strongest reason to get help, not a reason to wait. The first job is finding where the money leaks.
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.
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
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.
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.