Services for Startups

Fractional CFO

Scale smarter and achieve your vision sooner with strategic financial guidance from your fractional CFO

Scale with Confidence
Maximize Your Runway
Improve Fundraising Outcomes
Focus On Your Core Business

Strategic Financial Guidance for Growing Startups

Scale with Confidence

Our fractional CFOs are startup experts who know what's around each turn. We help guide your startup along the best path to success.

Strategic Planning
Financial Modeling
Annual Planning & Forecasting
Long-Range Financial Planning

Maximize Your Runway

Extend your operating capital as you achieve critical milestones to secure the best terms for your next funding round.

Budgeting
Cash Management
Treasury Management
Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A)

Improve Fundraising Outcomes

We know investors, and we know what they need to see to make a confident investment in your startup.

Fundraising KPIs
Due Diligence Support
Pitchdeck Support
Strategic Introductions

Focus On Your Core Business

Your fractional CFO merges seamlessly with your team, taking over the heavy lifting of financial operations so you can develop your offering and scale your business.

Financial Oversight
Process Optimization
Board Support

Fractional CFO Services

Early-Stage & Beyond

Financial modeling
Long-range financial planning
Revenue model and unit economics
Fundraising project plan
Investor presentation
Cap tables, valuation and equity dilution
Series A overview and current trends
Series A term sheets

Mid-Stage & Beyond

Venture debt
Financial metrics and analytics
Preparing for an audit
Continuous Financial Intelligence
Cash Flow Management
Annual planning and forecasting
Board reporting packages
Financial metrics and benchmarking
Sales compensation structures
Quarterly review of metrics
Series B overview and current trends
Series B term sheets

Late-Stage & Exit

Financial metrics and data analytics
Potential international expansion
Strategic decision support
M&A support
Board / Investor presentations
Continuous Financial Intelligence
Series C overview and current trends
Series C term sheets

Fractional CFO FAQs

Hiring a Fractional CFO offers several advantages related to the unique needs of startups. First, it provides cost flexibility, giving you access to high-level financial expertise without a full-time salary commitment. Fractional CFOs typically work on a part-time or project basis, making it a cost-effective solution for startups. Additionally, they bring a wealth of experience gained from working with various companies, offering a diverse background and skill set that can be invaluable during different stages of your startup’s growth.

A Fractional CFO plays a pivotal role in a startup’s financial strategy. They are responsible for overseeing financial planning, forecasting, and analysis. Additionally, they can assist in fundraising efforts, M&A deals, managing investor relations, and helping to ensure compliance with financial regulations. Their expertise extends to risk management, cost optimization, and creating financial models that align with your business goals. Your Fractional CFO becomes a strategic partner to help guide your startup through financial complexities and help you make informed decisions.

Most startups are ready for a fractional CFO somewhere between their Seed round and Series A, but the ideal timing can vary based on a startup’s specific needs and growth trajectory. Generally, as your business starts to secure funding, experiences rapid growth, or faces complex financial challenges, it becomes prudent to engage a Fractional CFO. Early involvement allows your CFO to contribute proactively to financial planning and laying a robust foundation for future scalability.

Yes, industry experience matters. For example, SaaS startups have unique financial planning needs related to recurring subscription revenue and will be evaluated by investors based on different KPIs than other types of startups. Consumer startups need expertise and support in areas like inventory management, securing working capital, and measuring COGS. Healthcare startups demand CFOs with a strong understanding of the regulatory landscape, while Clean Energy startups are likely to require a CFO with a good understanding of grant funding and compliance.

The cost of a Fractional CFO is usually more affordable than hiring a full-time CFO. Fractional CFOs typically work on a contractual or part-time basis, deferring the need for a hefty salary and benefits package. This cost-effective approach makes financial expertise accessible to startups without straining their budgets, ensuring that financial resources can be strategically allocated to other critical areas of the business.

Fractional CFOs bring a wealth of experience in fundraising and investor relations. They can help create compelling financial narratives, prepare detailed financial models, and communicate financial performance and projections effectively to potential investors. Their strategic input can enhance your startup’s financial credibility, making it more attractive to investors and increasing the likelihood of a successful fundraising round at the best valuation. Another equally important benefit is that a good Fractional CFO can help your startup target the best VC firms to approach for funding in the first place, and even the best partners within those firms. Remember, VCs aren’t just sources of capital; they’re also key strategic partners for your startup. Beyond providing financing, the right VCs can also provide guidance, expand your network, and add credibility to your company.

Yes, experienced Fractional CFOs are adept at integrating seamlessly into the culture and dynamics of startups. They understand the fast-paced and dynamic nature of entrepreneurial environments, and their flexibility allows them to align with your company’s vision and values. Effective communication and collaboration are key, and a skilled Fractional CFO will work closely with your team to understand the nuances of your startup’s culture while providing valuable financial leadership. Burkland Fractional CFOs take this a step further and integrate directly into our clients’ teams. For example, it’s common for our CFOs to attend board meetings with or on behalf of their clients, join their clients’ Slack channels, and even set up an email address under a client’s domain.

Absolutely. A good Fractional CFO is equipped to scale with your startup. As your business expands, they can adapt their level of involvement, taking on additional responsibilities and contributing strategic insights. This scalability is one of the key advantages of hiring a Fractional CFO, ensuring that you have the right level of financial expertise at every stage of your startup’s growth journey.

Accountants and fractional CFOs play distinct but complementary roles in the financial management of venture-funded startups. While accountants focus on day-to-day accounting tasks and compliance, fractional CFOs provide strategic financial guidance and support to help startups navigate complex financial challenges and opportunities.

A Fractional CFO is a part-time or outsourced CFO who provides strategic financial guidance to a startup without the cost of a full-time hire.

Fractional CFO Articles

Smart Strategies Fractional CFOs Use to Stretch a Startup’s Cash

Scale smarter and achieve your vision sooner with strategic financial guidance from your fractional CFO

Rick Kjellberg

November 12, 2024

Protect Your Startup’s Finances: 12 Proactive Risk Management Tips

Scale smarter and achieve your vision sooner with strategic financial guidance from your fractional CFO

Jeff Burkland

May 7, 2024

Cost Benefits of a Fractional CFO vs. Full-Time CFO for Startups

Scale smarter and achieve your vision sooner with strategic financial guidance from your fractional CFO

Kate Adams

March 27, 2024

Hiring a Fractional CFO for Your Startup – Answers to Common Questions

Scale smarter and achieve your vision sooner with strategic financial guidance from your fractional CFO

Kate Adams

March 5, 2024

We are very satisfied with the energy and expertise Burkland has introduced to our small team. Thank you for making People and Financial operations a breeze!
Bella Kidd, Director of Operations

Working with Burkland for the second time I had confidence that they would deliver, and they have.
Laura Plato, Chief Solutions Officer, VolunteerMatch

Thank you again to the entire team for being part of our journey!
Tarja Stephens, Co-Founder & CEO, Mission Impact

Burkland has top notch staff. Very efficient and knowledgeable.
Terry Lane, CEO, Circulo Health

We can't speak highly enough about Diego, our fractional CFO from Burkland.
James Chin Moody, CEO, Sendle

Aaron’s been awesome to work with, super responsive, able to crank things out quickly and efficiently. He thinks about issues that probably would not have occurred to me, which is a tremendous asset at our early stage.
Asher Weiss, CEO, Tixologi

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Why Work at Burkland?

Fractional CFO

Strategic Financial Guidance for Growing Startups

Scale with Confidence

Maximize Your Runway

Improve Fundraising Outcomes

Focus On Your Core Business

Fractional CFO Services

Early-Stage & Beyond

Mid-Stage & Beyond

Late-Stage & Exit