CFO cost comparison calculator
Put real numbers next to the full-time CFO, fractional CFO, and Sorso options for a clinic at your revenue level. Loaded cost ranges draw on published industry compensation surveys rather than recruiter anecdotes, so the comparison is defensible when it gets to a partner conversation.
The point of this calculator is not to argue that fractional is always cheaper. It is to put real numbers next to a decision that most clinic owners make based on a salary estimate they got from a friend or a recruiter.
Inputs
Tell us your revenue
$5,000,000
How we cost the options. Full-time CFO comp uses healthcare CFO base salaries commonly reported in industry compensation surveys, plus a 28% loaded factor for benefits, payroll taxes, and bonus reserve. Fractional CFO uses published market ranges for healthcare engagements. Sorso pricing is illustrative per the note below.
Annual savings vs full-time CFO
Sorso Fractional CFO: from $4,000/mo
Annual cost by model
Full-time CFO (loaded)
Base $195K-$320K + benefits, taxes, bonus reserve
$250K - $410K
Fractional CFO (industry)
$4K-$8K/mo per published market surveys
$48K - $96K
Sorso Fractional CFO
Starting at $4,000/mo
from $48K
How Sorso is priced
Sorso Fractional CFO engagements start at $4,000/mo. Final pricing depends on clinic size, location count, and scope. Sorso also offers Accounting on its own starting at $3,000–$4,000/mo for clinics that need clean healthcare-specialty books without the full CFO layer.
Book a 30-minute call with Stan for a custom quote.
Estimate only. Based on industry benchmarks. Actual costs depend on practice complexity, scope, and vendor engagement rates. Consult vendors directly for current pricing.
What it considers
Where the cost numbers come from
- →Full-time base salary. Healthcare CFO base salaries commonly reported in the $195K to $320K range per industry compensation surveys covering mid-market healthcare finance roles.
- →Loaded compensation factor. 28 percent applied on top of base for employer payroll taxes, health and dental benefits, retirement match, and bonus reserve. That puts loaded cost at roughly $250K to $410K.
- →Fractional CFO range. $4K to $8K per month based on market surveys for healthcare-focused fractional engagements. Equates to $48K to $96K per year for an active part-time CFO presence.
- →Sorso recommended tier. Based on the revenue range each tier was designed for. The calculator surfaces the closest fit so you are comparing the right Sorso engagement, not the cheapest one or the most expensive.
What it does not consider
Where the comparison gets more nuanced
- ×Recruiting and ramp cost. A full-time CFO hire involves meaningful recruiting costs plus a typical 3 to 6 month ramp before they are productive. Not in the headline cost number, but real.
- ×Equity or carry. Some full-time CFO roles include equity or carry, which is not in the loaded comp factor. For owners considering a sale, a CFO equity grant becomes a real transaction cost at exit.
- ×Healthcare expertise premium. Healthcare CFOs typically command a premium over general-finance CFOs given the payer-mix, compliance, and RCM learning curve. Not reflected in the headline range.
- ×Hours flex value. A fractional CFO can scale up during M&A or expansion and down during steady state. A full-time CFO is a fixed cost regardless of workload, which can either be a feature or a bug depending on the year.
When each model wins
The honest version of the decision
Cost is the easy part. Fit is the hard part. Here is the framing we use with prospects.
Fractional wins
Most clinics under $20M in revenue. You get senior finance leadership at 20 to 40 percent of the loaded cost of a full-time hire. Fractional CFOs pattern-match across multiple outpatient clinics, which is exactly the comparative lens most single-practice CFOs lack.
Full-time wins
Above $20M in revenue, multiple entities, active M&A, or daily treasury management. At that level the volume of daily decisions justifies a full-time seat and the cost gap shrinks relative to the strategic complexity.
Hybrid wins
Some growing clinics use a fractional CFO for 18 to 24 months while building toward a full-time hire. The fractional team helps recruit, onboard, and hand off, then transitions to advisory. Common path for clinics growing through $15M to $25M.
FAQ
Common questions about CFO cost
Why is the loaded cost of a full-time CFO so much higher than the base salary?
Healthcare CFO base salaries at $5M-$50M clinics are commonly reported in the $195K to $320K range across industry compensation surveys. Once you add employer payroll taxes, health and dental benefits, retirement contributions, bonus reserve, and equity or carry, the loaded cost typically lands at 25 to 30 percent above base. That puts the all-in number for a full-time CFO at roughly $250K to $410K per year.
What does a fractional CFO actually do day to day?
Strategic finance work, not bookkeeping. A typical week includes reviewing month-end financials, running scenario models on hiring or expansion decisions, joining a leadership meeting or partner call, working with the controller on KPI accuracy, and preparing materials for the next board or partner review. Hours flex with the calendar. Month-end close requires more attention; mid-month is lighter.
When does it make sense to move from fractional to full-time CFO?
Three triggers: revenue above roughly $20M, multiple legal entities with intercompany transactions, or active M&A where you genuinely need a daily presence. Below those thresholds, the fractional model usually wins on cost and pattern recognition. This is the natural handoff path when a clinic crosses the scale threshold.
Why does Sorso have multiple price points instead of one rate?
Different clinics need different things. A $2M practice with clean books and a focused product needs less time than a $15M multi-location group with active expansion. Pricing tiers exist so a $3M clinic does not subsidize a $25M clinic and vice versa. The recommended tier shown above is based on your revenue input.
Does fractional CFO replace my CPA or my bookkeeper?
No. A fractional CFO works alongside both. The bookkeeper or accounting firm produces the monthly close. The CPA handles tax filing and entity-level tax strategy. The fractional CFO uses the closed books to set forecasts, recommend pricing changes, model expansions, and prepare for capital events. Three different jobs, three different skill sets.
Want the honest fit answer?
Book a free 30-minute scoping call with Stan
We will look at your numbers and tell you whether you should hire fractional, hire full-time, or do nothing for another six months. No pitch.