Pricing
Fractional CFO, bookkeeping and tax from $997 a month.
That is the starting point, not a headline price. What you pay above it comes down to three things, and you get the real number on the call.
What sets the price
Fractional CFO, bookkeeping and tax for a marketing agency starts from $997 a month. Three things decide where you land above that. Transaction volume, the number of entities you run, and whether you need CFO work alone or with the books underneath it. Catch-up work on books that are behind is quoted separately.
- 01
How many transactions you run
An agency putting client ad spend through its own account generates far more to reconcile than one that does not. Volume is the single biggest driver.
- 02
How many entities you have
A second company, a holding structure or an overseas entity each add their own close. Two entities is not twice the work, but it is not the same either.
- 03
Whether the books are current
If records are months behind there is catch-up work before anything else can start. That is quoted once and separately, not folded into a monthly fee.
- 04
CFO work alone, or with bookkeeping
CFO work on top of your existing bookkeeper costs less than both together. It also depends on your books being reliable, so we check that first.
Engagement terms
What you are actually signing up for
- What you get each month
- Books kept current and closed by the 5th, plus a weekly session with your CFO. The reporting pack covers profit by client, the cash forecast and your effective hourly rate.
- When we invoice
- A flat monthly fee, agreed before anything starts, invoiced on the 1st.
- Notice period
- Thirty days, either side, in writing. No exit fee and no minimum term.
- If you leave
- Your records are yours. We hand over the file in QuickBooks or Xero, current to the last closed month.
- Catch-up work
- Books that are behind are quoted once and separately, so the cost never hides inside the monthly fee.
Three ways to cover the same finance work
| Bookkeeper alone | Fractional CFO | Full-time CFO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps the books current | Yes | Yes, with the bookkeeping included | Usually delegates it |
| Tells you which client to reprice | No | Yes | Yes |
| Investor-ready reporting | No | Yes | Yes |
| Available for a same-week decision | No | Yes | Yes |
| What it costs you | The least | A share of a senior salary | A full senior salary, benefits and often equity |
Questions
What people ask about cost
01How much does a fractional CFO cost for a marketing agency?
It starts from $997 a month. Three things decide where you land above that. Transaction volume, how many entities you run, and whether you want CFO work alone or with the books underneath it. We give you the actual number on the call.
02Why is the exact price not published?
Because a single figure would be wrong for most people reading it. An agency running client ad spend through its own account is a very different job to one that does not, at the same revenue. The starting point is honest; a full price list would not be.
03How does that compare to hiring someone?
A finance hire who could do this work costs a senior salary plus benefits, and you would still need a bookkeeper underneath them. This is a share of that, and the person doing it already knows agency economics.
04Are we locked into a contract?
No. Thirty days' notice, either side, and no exit fee. The work compounds, so most of the value shows up after a few months. We would still rather you left than stayed on something that is not paying for itself.
05What happens on the call?
We look at your last twelve months and tell you where the money is going. If a good bookkeeper would fix it, we will say that instead of selling you CFO work.
06Do you charge for catch-up work separately?
Yes. If your books are months behind, bringing them current is quoted once and on its own, so it never hides inside a monthly fee.
Next step
Get an actual number
Twenty minutes on your last twelve months is enough to quote properly. If the answer is that you do not need this yet, you will hear that too.