Outsourced CFO engagement for businesses that need CFO-level financial leadership but aren't ready for a full-time hire. Delivered through senior offshore CFOs with Big 4 or large-firm backgrounds. 10–60 hours per month at $1,800–$8,400 depending on engagement depth.
All three terms describe essentially the same role: a senior finance executive engaged externally on a part-time, contract, or retainer basis. The differences are emphasis, not substance:
For most businesses in 2026, all three apply simultaneously: external, part-time, and remote. We use "outsourced CFO" and "fractional CFO" interchangeably in our engagement scoping. Some clients prefer one term over another based on board or investor familiarity; the underlying service is the same.
For the same service framed around fractional terminology, see our fractional CFO page. For the same service framed around the offshore delivery angle specifically, see our offshore CFO page.
Full-time CFOs in the US typically cost $180k–$350k base salary plus 25–35% loaded cost (bonus, equity, benefits, payroll tax), so $220k–$470k/year all-in. That's a legitimate investment for a business doing $30M+ in revenue; it's often premature for a business doing $3M–$20M.
Outsourced CFO works well at the scale where:
| Revenue range | Typical finance structure |
|---|---|
| Under $1M | Bookkeeper + tax CPA. Outsourced CFO usually overkill. |
| $1M–$3M | Bookkeeper + tax CPA, occasional CFO advisory projects. |
| $3M–$15M | Strong bookkeeper/controller + outsourced CFO (10–30 hrs/mo). Sweet spot for outsourced CFO. |
| $15M–$30M | Internal accounting team + heavy outsourced CFO (30–60 hrs/mo) or full-time controller + outsourced CFO. |
| $30M+ | Full-time CFO typically makes sense. Outsourced CFO as interim bridge only. |
Monthly outputs from a typical outsourced CFO engagement:
| Engagement type | Monthly cost | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 10–15 hrs/mo advisory | $1,800–$2,800 | 3+ months typical |
| 20–30 hrs/mo standard | $3,200–$5,400 | Ongoing retainer |
| 40–60 hrs/mo heavy | $5,400–$8,400 | Often 6–12 months (pre-exit, active fundraise) |
| Interim CFO (bridge to full-time hire) | $6,500–$12,000 | 3–9 months |
| Project-specific (fundraise, QoE, integration) | $4,500–$25,000 | 4–12 weeks typical |
Pricing reflects offshore CFO delivery. US-only outsourced CFO providers (Preferred CFO, Focus CFO, NOW CFO, Burkland, Pilot) typically charge $3,000–$15,000+/month for comparable scope. Our offshore-delivered model runs 40–60% less for equivalent seniority.
Related