What's Actually Included in a Fractional CFO Engagement? A Month-by-Month Look
One of the most common questions we hear from business owners considering a fractional CFO is some version of: "What am I actually paying for?"
It's a fair question — and one we're happy to answer directly. Here's what a Birdie Financial engagement typically looks like across the first several months, and why the value compounds over time.
First, the Numbers
Fractional CFO engagements at Birdie Financial start at $1,750/month.
For context: a full-time CFO in Omaha typically commands $150,000–$200,000 in salary — before benefits, payroll taxes, and the months it takes to hire one. A fractional engagement gives you the same caliber of strategic thinking at a fraction of that cost, scaled to exactly what your business needs.
We list our pricing upfront because we've been burned by surprise invoices too. You'll always know exactly what you're paying for and why.
Month 1: Onboarding and Data Gathering
Before we can give you useful strategic guidance, we need to understand your business deeply — not just your P&L.
In Month 1, we:
Connect with your accounting software and pull historical financials
Review existing reports, budgets, and forecasts (if they exist)
Meet with you and your leadership team to understand your goals, pain points, and how decisions are currently being made
Identify the gaps — where your financial visibility is strong, and where it's blind
This phase is less about deliverables and more about listening. The insights from Month 1 shape everything that follows.
What you'll feel at the end of Month 1: Seen. You'll have a financial partner who actually understands your business — not just your numbers.
Month 2–3: Building the Foundation
With a clear picture of where things stand, we get to work building the tools and systems that give you real visibility.
This typically includes:
A cash flow forecast tailored to your business model
A budget or updated budget that reflects your actual goals — not just last year plus 3%
A monthly reporting structure so you're getting the right information at the right time
Initial scenario models for key decisions you're already facing
For nonprofits, this phase often includes board-ready financial reporting and grant tracking frameworks.
What you'll feel at the end of Month 3: Clarity. You'll know where you stand, where you're headed, and what levers you can pull.
Month 4–6: Strategy and Decision Support
Once the foundation is in place, the engagement shifts toward the work that makes the biggest difference: helping you make better decisions, faster.
This is where we dig into questions like:
Should we hire? Can we afford to, and what's the right timing?
What does our pricing need to look like to hit our margin goals?
What's our cash runway if revenue softens?
Where are we leaving money on the table?
You'll have a standing monthly or quarterly meeting with your fractional CFO — not just a report dropped in your inbox, but a real conversation about what the numbers mean and what to do about them.
What you'll feel at Month 6: Confidence. You'll be making financial decisions based on data and strategy — not gut feel and anxiety.
What's Included in Every Engagement
Every Birdie Financial engagement includes:
Custom reporting built around your business, not a generic template
Cash flow forecasting so you're never caught off guard
Strategic support — real conversations about real decisions
A partner who speaks plain English, not jargon
Is This the Right Time?
A fractional CFO engagement makes sense when:
You've outgrown your bookkeeper but aren't ready for a full-time hire
You're making big decisions (hiring, pricing, expansion) without clear financial visibility
You feel like you're growing but never quite sure where the money is going
Your board or investors are asking harder questions
If you're not sure whether it's the right fit, that's what the discovery call is for. No pressure, no pitch — just a conversation.