Finding the Right Fractional CFO for Your Business
Growing businesses need reliable access to financial expertise. However, hiring a full-time CFO can be cost-prohibitive. Plus, even if you can afford one, finding a CFO that meets all of your needs can be a challenging, time-consuming process.
Fractional CFOs are an easier solution. They let you pay for financial expertise on an as-needed basis and can connect you with the talent you want faster.
But how do you go about finding the right fractional CFO for your company? These four steps will get you started.
1. Make a List of Your Financial Goals
Start by considering the financial goals you want a fractional CFO to help you achieve. These may include:
- Accessing new forms of funding to fuel growth
- Optimizing your operational budget for sustainability
- Getting more visibility into cash flow
- Receiving support with long-term financial planning
- Navigating a complicated financial situation, such as resolving a large existing debt
You can also consider your business goals more generally. For instance, you might be interested in expanding into new territory or reducing overhead expenses. Fractional CFOs can help you with any of these goals. But your needs can influence the kind of background, skills, or connections you look for in fractional CFO services.
2. Look for Industry Experience
You can also look for candidates with experience in your industry. These professionals may be better suited to navigate the unique challenges your business is facing.
For instance, you might run a car dealership in the Midwest. Hiring a fractional CFO who has worked in the car industry at a high level could be very beneficial. They could help you identify potential hurdles and solutions that are only obvious because they’ve been there before.
3. Connect on Strategy with Potential Candidates
At this point, you can start zeroing in on specific candidates that meet the previous two criteria. Now, it’s time to get to know your options. You might consider questions like:
- Who are they as people?
- Can you communicate with them effectively?
- Are you on the same page strategically?
- Can you imagine working with this person for the long term?
4. Consider Pricing vs. Services Offered
Finally, near the end of the process, you can start evaluating options based on their price. Filtering by price too early can lead to you missing out on great candidates. There are two questions to answer here:
- Which fractional CFO services do you want to pay for?
- How much do the providers you’re considering charge for them?
You may also want to consider the flexibility of each service. For instance, one may allow you to pay monthly without a contract. But another may ask you to commit to 12 months in advance.
Finding the Right Fractional CFO Solution with CFO Hub
If you’re looking for an easier way to find a great fractional CFO, we can help. CFO Hub offers affordable outsourced financial expertise in flexible packages. Whether you’re looking for one-time assistance with a tough problem or ongoing support from a team of experts, we can help you access the right services sooner.
But don’t take our word for it.Set up a free consultation to learn more.