fractional cfo services
You have big plans for your business
Let's make sure the numbers support them.
From hiring and expansion to acquisitions and exit planning, a fractional CFO helps you think through the financial implications, challenge your assumptions and build a realistic plan.
Sometimes, what you really need is an experienced financial partner you can turn to and say, “Here’s what I’m thinking. What am I not seeing?”
The Questions get bigger as your business grows.
Early on, many of your financial questions are relatively straightforward. Did we make money? How much cash do we have? What are our margins?
But eventually, the questions change. These aren’t questions you answer by looking at last month’s income statement. They’re strategic decisions with financial consequences. That’s where Fractional CFO support comes in.
Should we open another location?
Can we afford this senior hire?
Should we enter a new market?
Should we raise debt or bring in investors?
Can this new revenue stream make money?
Should we go public?
How do we prepare for an eventual exit?
The CFO Irony
You don't have to be a big business to face CFO-sized decisions.
Large companies almost always have CFOs. But growing businesses are often the ones making some of their biggest decisions without one.
Your business may still be small. Your decisions aren’t.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you need a full-time CFO.
It means there are moments when having CFO-level experience at the table can make a significant difference.
You might not need a Fractional CFO
And we'll tell you if you don't.
Sometimes business owners come to us asking for CFO support when what they really need is a Financial Controller. That distinction matters. A business doesn’t necessarily outgrow its Controller and replace them with a CFO.
As your strategic decisions become more complex, CFO expertise can be layered on top of the financial visibility and control you already need.
If what you really need is better reporting, visibility into your margins and cash flow, or more meaningful KPIs, you shouldn’t be paying CFO rates for Controller work.
Not sure what you need? We’ll help you figure it out.
Financial Controller
Help me understand what's happening in my business.
- Profitability
- Margins
- Cash flow
- KPIs
- Reporting
- Budgeting
Fractional CFO
Help me think through where my business goes next.
- Strategy
- Forecasting
- Capital Raising
- Expansion
- Major Decisions
- Exit planning
What a Fractional CFO actually helps with
The spreadsheets are tools. Better decisions are the goal.
Build a Financial Roadmap
Where do you want the business to be three to five years from now? We build forecasts and scenarios around your goals so you can understand what needs to happen financially to get there.
- Forecasting
- Scenario planning
- Strategic budgeting
- Growth planning
Evaluate Big decisions
“Can we afford it?” is only the beginning. We look at how much cash an investment requires, when it could start generating a return, how it could be financed and what happens if things take longer than expected. And sometimes the most valuable answer is that the numbers don’t support doing it at all.
- Expansion
- Major investments
- New revenue streams
- Acquisitions
Plan your capital
Growth often requires capital. The question is where it should come from and what the decision means for the business. We help you think through debt, equity, financing requirements and the implications of each option.
- Debt vs. equity
- Capital raising
- Financial strategy
- Investor preparation
PLAN WHAT’S NEXT
Growth doesn’t always mean doing something new. Before entering a new market or launching another revenue stream, we look at what’s already working, where your strongest opportunities are and whether you’ve actually reached the limits of your existing business.
- Maximizing existing revenue streams
- Business model changes
- Succession planning
- Exit preparation
What Working with Vistance Looks Like
1. We Learn your business & Your Goals
Before giving advice, we need to understand your business, your financials and what you're actually trying to accomplish.
2. WE Get the numbers right
Reliable decisions require reliable information. We establish accurate financial reporting and address problems that may be hiding in your books.
3. We Find the Story in the Numbers
We look at profitability, margins, cash flow, KPIs, costs and other drivers to identify what is actually happening inside your business.
4. WE HELP YOU PLAN YOUR NEXT MOVE
Whether you're considering expansion, raising capital or a major investment, we help you evaluate the financial implications and plan your next move.
5. We Become your financial Partner
We stay with you as your business changes. Through our Fractional CFO Services, you get a trusted advisor who knows your numbers and helps you make confident decisions every step of the way.
flexible cfo support
Get the expertise you need, without paying for what you don't.
A good full-time CFO can cost more than $250,000 a year. But you may only need a few hours a month, a day or two a week, or additional support around a major decision.
A few hours a month or week
For strategic advice and an experienced sounding board.
Regular monthly support
For businesses actively growing, investing, or raising capital.
Customized to your Business
For complex initiatives, acquisitions, expansion, or major transitions.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Fractional CFO do?
A Fractional CFO provides CFO-level financial and strategic expertise without requiring a full-time executive hire.
At Vistance, we become your financial business partner.
We take the time to understand your business, your goals and the challenges you’re facing, so we can help you build long-term forecasts, evaluate investments, raise capital, enter new markets or simply act as an experienced sounding board when you’re making an important business decision.
What’s the difference between a Financial Controller and a Fractional CFO?
A Financial Controller focuses on what’s happening inside your business today. They help you understand your financial performance, identify opportunities for improvement and make better decisions about your existing operations.
A Fractional CFO takes a broader, forward-looking perspective. They help you evaluate major strategic decisions, whether that’s changing your business model, raising capital, bringing in investors, acquiring another company, going public or preparing to sell your business.
The two roles complement each other. Many businesses benefit from ongoing Controller support while bringing in Fractional CFO expertise when larger strategic decisions arise.
How do I know if I need a Financial Controller or Fractional CFO?
Start with the questions you’re trying to answer.
If you’re asking about profitability, margins, cash flow, reporting or KPIs, you may need a Financial Controller.
If you’re asking about expansion, financing, acquisitions, new markets, major investments or long-term strategy, Fractional CFO support may make more sense.
And if you’re not sure, you can always contact us for a free consultation.
Do I need a full-time CFO?
The reality is that many businesses simply don’t have enough CFO-level work to justify a full-time executive. You could end up paying CFO-level compensation for responsibilities that a Financial Controller or bookkeeper could handle at a lower cost.
Some entrepreneurs only need a few hours of strategic financial guidance each week or month. Others need more regular involvement during periods of rapid growth, expansion, financing or major change.
A Fractional CFO gives you access to that expertise when you need it, without the cost of a full-time hire. As your business grows and becomes more complex, bringing on a full-time CFO may eventually make sense.
Can a Fractional CFO help us raise capital?
Yes. That can include determining how much capital you actually need, building forecasts, evaluating debt and equity options, preparing financial information, helping you choose the right investment partner and thinking through how different financing decisions could affect your business.
Can a Fractional CFO help us prepare to sell the business?
Yes. If your goal is to maximize the value of your business when you sell, you should ideally start planning at least three years in advance.
Preparing for an exit involves understanding what drives the value of your business, improving financial performance and visibility, forecasting future results and making strategic decisions that will make the business more attractive to potential buyers.
At Vistance, we help you plan ahead so that when the time comes to sell, you’re in a stronger position to achieve your exit goals.
You don’t have to think through every big decision alone.
You bring the vision. We bring the financial perspective to challenge assumptions, weigh your options and help you plan your next move.
You don’t have to think through every big decision alone.
You bring the vision. We bring the financial perspective to challenge assumptions, weigh your options and help you plan your next move.
