When, How, and Why Founders Should Work with a Fractional CFO

For many start-ups, the idea of hiring a Chief Financial Officer feels like something you do after you have raised millions and built a finance department. That thinking can leave founders making big financial decisions without expert guidance, sometimes until it is too late.

Enter the Fractional CFO: a senior finance leader who works with your company on a part-time or contract basis. You get the experience of a CFO without committing to a full-time salary.

When to Bring in a Fractional CFO

You do not need one from day one, but you do need one when:

1. You are about to raise capital.
   Investors expect more than vision. They want solid financials, forecasts, and answers that stand up under scrutiny.
2. You are scaling quickly.
   Growth brings complexity: cash flow pressure, hiring risks, margin squeeze. A CFO keeps you from growing into trouble.
3. You cannot clearly see your runway.
   If you are guessing how many months of cash you have left, you are already at risk.
4. You are making high-stakes strategic moves.
   Mergers, acquisitions, pricing shifts, and market entries all carry serious financial consequences.

How to Work with a Fractional CFO

It is not just about hiring someone to do the numbers. Done right, it is about integrating a finance leader into your decision-making.

• Define the mission.
  Be specific about whether you need fundraising prep, forecasting, or a full financial reset.
• Start with a review.
  Have them audit your financials, systems, and processes. This creates a clear plan of action.
• Include them in leadership meetings.
  Even on a part-time basis, your CFO should have a seat at the table.
• Use them to develop your team.
  They can train your finance or ops staff to handle more in-house.

Why a Fractional CFO Makes Sense

• Expertise without the full-time cost.
  A full-time CFO might run £150k–£300k a year. Fractional means you only pay for the time you need.
• Better decisions, fewer surprises.
  They help you see risks before they hit and identify real growth opportunities.
• Investor confidence.
  A well-prepared founder backed by a CFO is far more credible.
• Scalable support.
  Increase hours during high-pressure phases, reduce them when things settle.

If you are raising money, scaling, or making a big strategic decision without a CFO, you are taking unnecessary risks. A Fractional CFO gives you the expertise to protect and grow your business before it is too late.

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Why EmergeOne

(our Fractional CFO partner)

Choosing the right Fractional CFO is not just about finding someone with a finance background. It is about finding a partner who understands the pace, pressures, and unpredictability of a start-up.

EmergeOne specialises in supporting high-growth, venture backed companies in the UK with experienced fractional CFOs that know what they're doing. Every EmergeOne CFO has been in the trenches — scaling teams, raising capital, steering through downturns, sometimes having founded their own businesses in the past — and they bring that real-world experience to your business from day one.

With EmergeOne, you get:

• Proven track records with venture-backed and founder-led companies.
• Tailored matching so you work with someone who fits your stage, sector, culture and cadence.
• Scalable engagement that flexes with your needs.
• An embedded partner who becomes part of your leadership team, not just a consultant who checks in once a month.

In short, EmergeOne ensures you are not just getting financial advice, you are getting strategic leadership you can trust.

Get in touch with them today here!