How to compare fractional CFO quotes
A fractional CFO’s fees depend on scope, seniority and availability. At Iter Advisors, recurring support has an indicative range of EUR 3,000–8,000 excl. VAT/month.
Co-founder and CFO, Iter Advisors
Which budget to compare?
The cost of a Fractional CFO depends on the work entrusted, the necessary seniority, the complexity of the data and the expected availability. A proposal limited to reporting cannot be directly compared to a financial department covering financing, management and international operations.
At Iter Advisors, recurring support ranges from €3,000 to €8,000 excluding tax per month. The formulas, their deliverables and their conditions appear on the fractional CFO pricing. This range describes our offer; it is not a market average. Interim engagements and one-off projects are quoted separately.
To link this budget to the responsibilities entrusted, consult our offer of Fractional CFO for SMEs and startups: responsibilities, scope and how an engagement starts.
Compare a daily rate and a monthly plan
With a daily rate, ask for the number of billable days, the definition of a day and the excess conditions. With a package, specify the deliverables, the exchanges included, the level of availability and the situations that require an amendment.
Example of calculation, purely illustrative: a proposal at €800 excluding tax per day for six days billed each month represents €4,800 excluding tax per month, or €57,600 excluding tax over twelve months. A package of €5,000 excluding tax per month represents €60,000 excluding tax over the same period. The difference of €2,400 excluding tax does not indicate which offers the best service: the scope and costs must still be compared. The price of €800 used here is neither a market average nor an Iter offer.
A weekly rhythm does not exactly correspond to four weeks every month. The quote must explain the timetable and the number of days selected; Any travel costs are calculated separately.
Compare proposals of the same scope
| Point to consider | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Profile | Who does the work and who proofreads it? |
| Deliverables | What documents are provided, how often and with what data? |
| Availability | What exchanges, meetings and emergencies are covered? |
| Continuity | How does a replacement work and where is the history? |
| Evolution | When is an amendment or project quote required? |
For a startup, the need may relate to the runway and the investors; for an established SME, on margins and the operating cycle. Specify your situation before comparing prices. Our firm selection grid completes these questions.
Show fees and exclusions
The annual budget should separate recurring fees, one-off projects, software licences, travel and any data migration work. Also ask who keeps access, files and documentation at the end of the engagement.
At Iter, the package covers the agreed scope. No excess is charged without a signed amendment. Travel arrangements are specified in the quote. Duration and handover terms are agreed in the contract.
Compare with recruitment without promising savings
For a salaried position, the budget includes salary, employer contributions, possible recruitment costs, tools and management time. For a service, it includes the fees and additional costs identified. These two models do not necessarily provide the same availability.
The decision must relate to the need: a lasting daily presence can justify recruitment; a more limited recurring scope may correspond to part-time. No percentage savings applies to all businesses. See the comparison of outsourcing and recruitment.
To evaluate a return on investment, separate the savings actually observed, the cash released and the expected gains. Avoid counting the same effect twice or attributing to the CFO alone a result that also depends on the sales and operational teams.
Prepare a useful quote request
Present the number of entities, the tools used, the quality of the data, the deadlines and the decisions to prepare. A turnover alone is not enough: two companies of the same size can have very different needs.
The guide to organising a part-time engagement helps define schedule and responsibilities. You can then describe your need to define a scope and a budget.
How much does a fractional CFO cost in 2026?
At Iter Advisors, recurring engagements have an indicative fee range of EUR 3,000–8,000 excl. VAT/month, depending on scope and seniority. Interim assignments and one-off projects are quoted separately; this range is not a market average.
