A fractional CFO for startups, from first raise to first finance hire.
Early on, finance comes down to three questions. How long does the money last? What do investors need to see? Can we afford the next hire? We answer them with a model you can defend and a monthly rhythm that keeps everyone honest.
At a glance
- Stage
- Seed to Series B, or bootstrapped and profitable
- Best fit
- SaaS and software-enabled businesses
- First deliverable
- A runway model you trust
- Pricing
- From $1,500 a month
What finance has to prove at each stage.
The job changes as you grow. So does the plan we run, and so does the price.
Seed: prove you can count
A clean model, a 13-week cash view, a monthly investor update, and the first written definitions of your metrics. Most seed companies start on Essentials.
Series A: prove the engine works
Cohorts, NRR, CAC payback and an MRR bridge that holds up, plus a data room that survives diligence. This is where Growth earns its keep.
Series B: prove you can scale it
Plan versus actual by team, a hiring plan tied to capacity, a quarterly board pack, and the groundwork for your first full-time finance leader.
Five signs it is time.
If two of these are true, a fractional CFO will pay for itself. If none are, keep your money and call us later.
A raise in the next six months
Investors will ask for a model, a metrics pack and a data room. Building them in the last month shows.
A board asking for numbers you can’t produce
If preparing for the board takes a week of spreadsheets, the reporting is not built yet.
Cash decisions made on the bank balance
Checking the account before approving a hire means you need a forecast, not more caution.
Three systems, three answers
When HubSpot, Stripe and the books disagree on customers or revenue, nobody trusts any of them.
Your first finance hire
A CFO-level person should define the role, set the systems, and hand over something that works.
Start with two weeks. Keep what we build.
Every engagement leaves something behind: connections, definitions your team can read, and workflows that keep running. Every plan starts with the Sprint.
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Finance Automation Sprint
StartTwo weeks
Your systems connected, one honest view of your numbers, and three workflows you keep.
$3,500 flatYour setup for Essentials; credited on Growth and Scale. -
Fractional CFO plans
StayEvery month
Perch, your monthly package, and an analyst in your Slack: the right numbers, the moment you need them.
- EssentialsGet your numbers in order.$1,500/mo
- GrowthMake bigger decisions, faster.$3,500/mo
- ScaleFull financial leadership.$6,500/mo
From $1,500 a monthEssentials, Growth or Scale. Published pricing. -
Raise & diligence readiness
When a deal is comingThree to six weeks
Your numbers rebuilt, checked and explained before an investor or buyer asks.
Scoped per dealIncluded on Scale.
When does a SaaS company need a fractional CFO?
Usually at one of five moments: a raise in the next six months, a board asking for metrics you cannot produce with confidence, an acquirer or investor starting diligence, your first finance hire, or the point where your spreadsheets stopped scaling. If two of those are true, it is time. More on timing.
Is a fractional CFO worth it before revenue?
Usually not as a monthly retainer. Before revenue, a few hours of help on the model and the raise is enough. Book a call and we will tell you honestly which one you need.
Should we hire a full-time CFO instead?
A full-time SaaS CFO costs $250,000 to $400,000 a year in salary before equity, and most companies under $20M ARR cannot keep one busy. A fractional CFO gives you the same judgment for the hours you need, and the systems we build stay with you when you do hire full time.
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Prinsee publishes its pricing. Essentials is $1,500 a month, Growth is $3,500 and Scale is $6,500. Every plan starts with the two-week Finance Automation Sprint, $3,500 flat. On Essentials, the Sprint is the setup. Growth and Scale add a one-time setup of $7,500 to $15,000, depending on how many systems and entities we connect, and the Sprint is credited toward it. See what fractional CFOs charge in 2026.
Will a fractional CFO help with fundraising?
Yes. We build the model and the metrics, prepare the financial section of the data room, rehearse the numbers questions with you, and answer investor follow-ups. We do not act as a broker or take a success fee.
Keep reading
Your next board meeting is coming either way.
Thirty minutes. Bring your last board deck or your messiest spreadsheet. You’ll leave with three things to fix, whether we work together or not.