DO I NEED A CFO?

Bookkeeper, controller, or CFO? Here's the honest answer.

Most owners hire the wrong one first. Here’s how to tell what you actually need, from someone who’s been the owner.

The short answer

Under about $750K in sales, a good bookkeeper is usually enough. Between $2M and $20M, most owners need CFO-level thinking but not a full-time CFO. That’s what a fractional CFO is for.

What each one does

Bookkeeper

Records what happened. Enters transactions, reconciles accounts, sends invoices, pays bills.

Looks back.

Controller

Makes sure the books are right and closed on time. Runs the accounting process and controls.

Looks back, accurately.

Fractional CFO

Tells you what to do about it. Cash forecasts, pricing, profit by type of work, hiring and growth decisions.

Looks forward, part-time.

Full-time CFO

The same forward-looking work, every day. Usually makes sense past $20M to $50M, or before a big raise or sale. Costs $250,000 to $500,000 a year.

Seven signs you've outgrown your bookkeeper

Sales are growing and cash still feels tight.
You can't say which jobs, clients, or services actually make money.
You're hiring based on how busy you feel, not what the numbers say.
Your biggest month ever still left you nervous about payroll.
Your books are "done," but nobody tells you what they mean.
Every money question lands on you.
You might sell someday and don't know what the business is worth.

If three or more sound familiar, bookkeeping alone isn’t enough anymore.

What to look for in a fractional CFO

Have they run a business, or only advised one?
Do they look forward, like cash 90 days out, or just report last month?
Will they work with your team, or only with you?
Is the price clear up front?
Do they work with your bookkeeper and CPA instead of replacing them?

Not sure where you land?

Book a free review. We’ll tell you honestly, even if the answer is “you don’t need us yet.”