How much does a fractional CFO cost?
A fractional CFO typically costs $3,000 to $10,000 per month for healthcare clinics, with most outpatient practices in the $4,000 to $7,000 range. A full-time CFO runs $200,000 to $400,000 per year in base compensation alone.
Definition
A fractional CFO is a senior finance executive who works with a practice on a part-time, retainer basis instead of as a full-time hire.
The detail
Fractional CFO pricing for healthcare practices ranges from $3,000 to $10,000 per month depending on engagement depth, number of locations, and revenue size. Most outpatient clinics with $2M to $20M in revenue land in the $4,000 to $7,000 monthly band. Pricing is almost always retainer-based rather than hourly, since the value comes from continuity. A typical engagement includes monthly close oversight, KPI dashboards, cash flow forecasting, board or partner meetings, and ad hoc strategic projects like lease negotiations or acquisition modeling. At Sorso, fractional CFO engagements start at $4,000 per month for single-location clinics and scale with complexity. By contrast, hiring a full-time CFO costs $200,000 to $400,000 per year in base compensation alone before benefits, equity, or recruiting fees.
| Engagement Type | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fractional CFO — single-location clinic | $3,000 – $5,000 | $36K – $60K |
| Fractional CFO — multi-location ($2M-$20M) | $4,000 – $7,000 | $48K – $84K |
| Fractional CFO — complex / large | $7,000 – $10,000 | $84K – $120K |
| Full-time CFO (base salary only) | $16,667 – $33,333 | $200K – $400K |
| Full-time CFO (fully loaded) | $20,833 – $41,667 | $250K – $500K+ |
Full-time CFO numbers are base salary plus benefits, bonus, and equity. Most fractional engagements run 10-25 hours/month at an effective $200-$400/hour rate.
Fractional CFO retainers typically range from $3,000 to $10,000 per month, well below the $200K+ all-in cost of a full-time hire.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment Statistics — Financial Managers
The median annual wage for financial managers was $161,700 in May 2024, with healthcare-sector CFOs at the top of the band.
Source: BLS OES May 2024
Most fractional CFO engagements run 10 to 25 hours per month, making the effective hourly rate $200 to $400.
Source: Sorso engagement data (proprietary, 2024–2026)
Sorso fractional CFO engagements start at $4,000 per month for single-location clinics.
Source: Sorso pricing
What this means for clinic owners
From Sorso
If your practice generates $3M or more in revenue and you do not have a senior finance person in the building, a fractional CFO is almost always cheaper per dollar of impact than the next full-time hire. The math gets compelling once monthly retainer cost stays under 0.3% of annual revenue.
Related questions
How much does healthcare accounting cost per month?
Outsourced healthcare accounting typically costs $1,500 to $5,000 per month for a single-location clinic, depending on transaction volume, locations, and whether you need controller-level oversight.
How much does a full-time CFO cost?
A full-time healthcare CFO costs $250,000 to $450,000 per year in total compensation for mid-market clinics, including base salary, bonus, benefits, and recruiting costs.
When should I hire a fractional CFO?
Most clinics should hire a fractional CFO when they cross $2M in revenue, add a second location, raise debt or equity, or start preparing for a sale, typically 12 to 36 months out.
What is the difference between a CFO and a controller?
A controller manages historical accounting (close, statements, audit, compliance), while a CFO is forward-looking (forecasting, capital allocation, M&A, strategy). Most growing clinics need both, sequenced controller first.
What does a fractional CFO actually do?
A fractional CFO owns financial forecasting, KPI dashboards, cash flow management, capital decisions, and strategic finance work, typically delivering 10 to 25 hours per month on a retainer.
What is the difference between a fractional CFO and a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper records what already happened: daily transactions, reconciliations, and clean financial statements. A fractional CFO uses those statements to plan what should happen next: forecasts, KPIs, strategic decisions, and growth or exit modeling. Bookkeepers typically cost $400 to $1,500 per month for a clinic. Fractional CFOs typically cost $3,000 to $10,000 per month. Most clinics above $1M in revenue need both, sequenced.
Founder of Sorso. 19 years in corporate finance. Managed a $450M loan portfolio before building a fractional CFO firm exclusively for healthcare clinics.
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