Question 1

What does a fractional CFO do for a UK small business?

Accepted Answer

A fractional CFO gives you part-time access to a senior finance leader — covering cash flow forecasting, profitability, pricing, KPIs and fundraising — without the £190k+ cost of a full-time CFO. It suits UK SMEs turning over £300k to £5m.

Question 2

How much do your services cost?

Accepted Answer

Business Fundamentals course starts at £395+VAT, Group Coaching is £995+VAT, Smart VA from £300+VAT/mo, Web Design from £750+VAT, AI Solutions from £1,000+VAT, and Fractional CFO from £4,000+VAT/mo.

Question 3

Do you only work with UK businesses?

Accepted Answer

We specialise in UK SMEs — particularly founders scaling from £300k to £2m in revenue — because our frameworks, tax context and peer network are UK-focused. We occasionally support international founders on the AI and web design services.

Question 4

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Book a free 30-minute consultation. We'll understand where your business is stuck, recommend the best fit from our services, and give you a clear next step — no obligation.

Question 5

Can I combine services (for example, CFO plus AI automation)?

Accepted Answer

Yes — most clients start with one service and layer others as they scale. A common path is Fractional CFO for financial control, then AI Solutions and Smart VA to remove admin, then Web Design to grow demand.

Question 6

Do you offer any free tools?

Accepted Answer

Yes. TaxShock is a free UK Self Assessment estimator for PAYE employees with side income, and the Household Income Strategy tool shows your real effective tax rate and who should earn the next £1,000. Both are free with no sign-up.

Question 7

How much does a fractional CFO cost per month in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Most UK fractional CFO retainers run between £1,500 and £8,000 + VAT per month. Light-touch reporting and forecasting sits at the lower end; board-level involvement, fundraising and multi-entity reporting sits at the top.

Question 8

How much does a fractional CFO cost per hour?

Accepted Answer

UK hourly rates are typically £90–£200, and day rates £600–£1,200. Hourly billing suits defined projects; ongoing finance leadership is usually better value on a fixed monthly retainer.

Question 9

Is a fractional CFO cheaper than hiring a finance director?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in almost all cases. A full-time UK finance director costs £120,000–£190,000 a year once National Insurance, pension, bonus and recruitment are included, versus roughly £18,000–£96,000 a year for a fractional CFO.

Question 10

Do I need a bookkeeper as well as a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes. A fractional CFO interprets and directs the numbers; a bookkeeper or accountant records them. Paying CFO rates for data entry is expensive, so the two roles work best together.

Question 11

What size business needs a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

Typically businesses turning over £300k to £10m. Below that, a good accountant plus solid systems is often enough; above it, a full-time hire usually becomes justifiable.

Question 12

Is a fractional CFO the same as an accountant?

Accepted Answer

No. An accountant records and files what has already happened — bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and statutory accounts. A fractional CFO uses those numbers to forecast, price, plan and make decisions about the future.

Question 13

Do I still need an accountant if I hire a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

Almost always yes. The CFO relies on accurate underlying records and rarely files statutory accounts or tax returns. The two roles work alongside each other.

Question 14

Which is more expensive, an accountant or a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

A fractional CFO. UK SME accountancy typically costs £150–£800 a month for compliance, while fractional CFO retainers usually start around £1,500 + VAT a month for ongoing strategic finance.

Question 15

At what point should I hire a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

Most UK businesses benefit once they pass roughly £300k of revenue, or earlier if cash flow is tight, margins are unclear, or they're preparing for funding, hiring or an exit.

Question 16

What is a 13-week cash flow forecast?

Accepted Answer

A weekly, rolling projection of money into and out of your bank account over the next quarter. Each week you drop the completed week, add a new week 13, and replace forecasts with actuals.

Question 17

How often should a small business update its cash flow forecast?

Accepted Answer

Weekly. A forecast updated monthly is usually too stale to act on, and the weekly comparison against actuals is what makes future forecasts accurate.

Question 18

Can I do cash flow forecasting in a spreadsheet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A well-built spreadsheet is enough for most UK SMEs. Discipline in updating it matters far more than the software you use.

Question 19

Why is my business profitable but has no cash?

Accepted Answer

Usually because sales are recognised when invoiced but paid much later, while payroll, VAT, tax and stock leave the account sooner. Growth widens that gap, which is why fast-growing businesses often feel the tightest.

Question 20

What should a small business automate with AI first?

Accepted Answer

Start with high-frequency, rules-based admin: inbox triage, document and quote generation, data entry between systems, meeting notes and first-line customer questions. These are low-risk and give measurable hours back quickly.

Question 21

How much does AI automation cost for a small business?

Accepted Answer

Off-the-shelf tools usually cost £20–£60 per user per month. Custom automation builds that connect your existing systems typically start around £1,000, depending on how many tools are involved.

Question 22

Is AI automation safe for customer data?

Accepted Answer

It can be, with care. Use business-tier tools with clear data-processing terms, avoid pasting confidential data into consumer apps, keep human review on customer-facing output, and make sure your privacy notice reflects what you do.

Question 23

Will AI automation replace my staff?

Accepted Answer

In small businesses it usually removes admin rather than roles, freeing people for client work and sales. The realistic outcome is more capacity from the same team.

Question 24

What is a fractional CFO in simple terms?

Accepted Answer

A senior finance leader who works for your business part-time on an ongoing basis — usually one to four days a month — handling forecasting, pricing, margins and funding decisions for a fixed monthly fee.

Question 25

What does a fractional CFO do that my accountant doesn't?

Accepted Answer

Your accountant reports on the past and keeps you compliant. A fractional CFO is forward-looking: cash flow forecasting, pricing and margin decisions, budgets, funding preparation and growth planning. The two roles work together.

Question 26

When should I hire a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

Common triggers are turnover above roughly £300k, growth that isn't showing up in the bank, pricing that hasn't been reviewed recently, an upcoming funding round or bank facility, or a founder spending too much time on finance admin.

Question 27

Is a fractional CFO worth it for a small business?

Accepted Answer

It usually pays for itself when it unlocks a price rise, recovers margin on a loss-making line, or prevents a cash crunch. If none of those apply, a good adviser will tell you that you're not ready yet.

Question 28

How many days a month does a fractional CFO work?

Accepted Answer

Typically one to four days a month for a UK SME, plus availability between sessions. Scope rises around funding rounds, system changes or exit preparation.

Question 29

How do I hire a fractional CFO in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Define the three outcomes you want, confirm you need CFO-level help rather than bookkeeping, source through referrals or a specialist practice, test judgement using your own numbers, then agree written scope on rolling monthly or quarterly terms.

Question 30

What should I ask a fractional CFO in an interview?

Accepted Answer

Ask what they'd change in the first 90 days, for an example of a decision they advised against, how they work with your existing accountant, what the monthly deliverable looks like, and who you contact between sessions.

Question 31

How long does it take to onboard a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

Usually two to four weeks from first call to the first full month of delivery. Most of that is access to systems, a review of recent accounts and agreeing the reporting pack.

Question 32

What contract terms are normal for a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

A fixed monthly retainer, a written scope of deliverables, rolling monthly or quarterly terms with 30–90 days' notice, an NDA, and professional indemnity cover in place.

Question 33

What KPIs should a small business track?

Accepted Answer

Cash runway, gross margin by line, revenue against forecast, debtor days, creditor days, pipeline value and conversion, recurring revenue share, and overhead as a percentage of revenue.

Question 34

How often should I review KPIs?

Accepted Answer

Monthly for the full set, within ten working days of month end. Weekly, review only cash in the bank and your rolling 13-week cash flow forecast.

Question 35

What's the difference between a leading and a lagging KPI?

Accepted Answer

A lagging KPI reports what already happened, such as revenue or margin. A leading KPI predicts what's coming, such as pipeline value or quote win rate. Pair each financial metric with an operational one you can act on now.

Question 36

Do I need special software for a KPI dashboard?

Accepted Answer

No. A well-built spreadsheet fed from your accounting software works for most SMEs. Dedicated dashboard tools are worth it once several people need the same live view or the data comes from multiple systems.

Frequently asked questions

About our services

How Much Does a Fractional CFO Cost in the UK?

Fractional CFO vs Accountant: What's the Difference?

Cash Flow Forecasting for Small Businesses: A Practical UK Guide

AI Automation for Small Businesses: Where to Start

What Is a Fractional CFO? A Plain-English Guide for UK Founders

How to Hire a Fractional CFO in the UK

Which KPIs Should a Small Business Actually Track?

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