How to Price CFO Services
Complete Pricing Guide

Market Rates for CFO Services (2025)

Current market rates for fractional/virtual CFO services:

• Startup/Early Stage: $1,000 - $2,500/month
• Growing SMB ($1-5M revenue): $2,000 - $4,000/month
• Established SMB ($5-20M revenue): $3,500 - $7,500/month
• Mid-Market ($20M+ revenue): $5,000 - $15,000/month

Hourly rates typically range from $150-400/hour, but most CFOs have moved to monthly retainers for predictable revenue.

Pricing Models

Monthly Retainer (Recommended)

Fixed monthly fee for defined scope. Predictable for both parties. Most common model for ongoing engagements.

Hourly

Traditional but declining in popularity. Clients watch the clock, you trade time for money. Consider only for project work.

Value-Based

Price based on value delivered, not time spent. Requires confident positioning and clear value articulation. Highest profit potential.

Factors That Affect Pricing

• Client Size — Larger clients = more complexity = higher fees
• Scope of Services — Reporting only vs. full strategic advisory
• Meeting Frequency — Weekly vs. monthly engagement
• Industry Complexity — Some verticals require specialized knowledge
• Your Experience — Track record commands premium pricing

Increasing Profitability

The key to CFO service profitability is efficiency. If you spend 10 hours per client on report production, your effective rate drops. Automation tools like BizDoc reduce report time from hours to seconds, dramatically improving your margins.