Fractional CFO for Series A startups
Series A is the first round where the numbers really get scrutinised. VCs want predictable growth, a working sales motion, cohort retention that holds up, and a credible path to Series B economics. The bar on FP&A, board reporting and capital allocation steps up materially over what got the company through seed.
We act as the senior finance partner the CEO does not yet have time to hire. We build an institutional-grade three-statement model, run the monthly board pack with proper variance analysis, segment the P&L so capital flows to the strongest cohorts, sit on diligence calls, and prepare the company for Series B at least 12 months ahead of the raise.
Why Series A startups need a fractional CFO
Hiring a full-time CFO is a huge (and costly!) decision, and most advisors stuck in the 90s do not understand how a series a-stage business actually runs. We deliver actionable, no-BS advice tailored to your stage and the digital niche you operate in.
Institutional-grade three-statement model
Series A and Series B investors will rip into a model that does not balance, does not link to a real revenue build, or does not reconcile to actuals. We build a proper three-statement model with revenue drivers, headcount-driven costs, working capital and a defensible cash forecast - the kind that holds up in a live board meeting when scenarios get pressure-tested in real time.
Segment P&L and cohort-level capital allocation
By Series A the company cannot run on one ARR line. We split P&L by product, geography and customer segment, layer cohort retention and contribution margin on top, and surface which parts of the business deserve more capital - and which are quietly subsidising the headline growth.
Headcount and capacity planning function by function
People are 60-70% of the cost base at this stage. We model the hiring plan function by function, link sales hiring to booked pipeline and quota capacity, link engineering hiring to product roadmap, and flag when planned spend will outrun planned outputs - before the budget quietly drifts past the plan.
Monthly board pack that drives capital decisions
Series A boards expect actuals vs budget with real variance commentary, KPI dashboards, runway and hiring updates, and a forward agenda - not a status report. We own the pack end-to-end and frame the narrative so board time is spent on the two or three capital-allocation calls that actually move the company forward.
Data room and investor diligence on tap
Inbound from strategics, secondary interest, Series B prep - at this stage someone wants to see the data room every quarter. We keep it live: clean monthlies, signed contracts, customer cohort cuts, a populated investor Q&A log - so a serious enquiry gets answered in days rather than turning into a two-month internal project.
Series B narrative and efficiency framing
Series B funds underwrite the next 24 months on efficiency, expansion economics, and a credible path to profitability. We sharpen the financial narrative in the background, benchmark against public comps and recent rounds, and make sure when the raise process starts the company is presenting a story it has been quietly building for a year.
Different growth phase?
We provide fractional CFO services across pre-seed, seed, Series A, growth-stage and PE-backed companies.
Fractional CFO for pre-seed startups
At pre-seed we translate the founder vision into a credible model, define the unit economics and KPIs that matter, and set the company up so the seed round is a continuation of the operating rhythm rather than a scramble.
Learn moreFractional CFO for seed-stage startups
At seed we build the driver-based operating model, stand up the monthly FP&A cycle, put cohort and unit-economics tracking in place, and prepare the company for Series A diligence well ahead of the raise.
Learn moreFractional CFO for growth-stage startups
At growth stage we run segment-level FP&A across multiple entities, scale planning beyond spreadsheets, manage debt and treasury actively, and keep the company optionality-ready for Series C, growth equity or strategic M&A.
Learn moreFractional CFO for PE-backed companies
For PE-backed companies we own the value-creation plan and sponsor reporting, drive EBITDA quality and cash conversion, manage debt actively, run bolt-on M&A end-to-end, and keep the company exit-ready throughout the hold period.
Learn moreWe provide fractional CFO services across the globe
Simple pricing
No hidden costs, no complicated long-term contracts. We understand how important flexibility is for startups.
Per month
- Accounting / FP&A tech stack implementation
- Monthly financial statements and reporting pack
- Quarterly board pack with detailed financial analysis (with variance analysis vs. budget, relevant KPI observations etc.)
- Investor-friendly output
Per month
- Everything in Core, plus
- Operating model (via an online platform like Runway or Excel-based)
- Ongoing model maintenance, refining projections, burn/runway management
- Customer cohorts modelling, churn and retention analysis
- LTV / CAC, unit economics analysis
- Cap table management
Per month
- Everything in Grow, plus
- M&A / fundraising support; review of business plan
- Pitch deck preparation
- Investor approach strategy / list building
- Due diligence support and deal negotiation
- Valuation as required and free access to Multiples Pro
Packages shown are illustrative, final pricing is tailored to client requirements.
Sector expertise
Explore our fractional CFO offering across a variety of tech sectors - relevant for Series A startups too.
Software
Vertical and horizontal SaaS, AI-native software products, infrastructure SaaS, cybersecurity
AI & ML
Foundation models, AI applications, AI infrastructure, semiconductors, AI consulting
Fintech
Neobanking, online payments, fintech infrastructure, lending platforms, wealth tech, online brokerage, vertical FS software
Consumer internet
Consumer software subscription platforms, edutech, online content, social networks, online dating
Digital media
Streaming platforms, mobile and console gaming, content distribution, digital publishing, VR & AR
E-commerce & marketplaces
Consumer and B2B marketplaces, inventory-based e-commerce, classifieds, lead generation platforms
Consumer products
Direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, consumer electronics, smart home devices, lifestyle products
Mobility
Ridesharing, micromobility, food delivery, logistics tech, autonomous tech, EV charging infrastructure
Digital health
Digital therapeutics, telemedicine, mental health solutions, EHR and practice management, vertical healthcare SaaS
Industrial technology
Industry 4.0 solutions, 3D printing, climate tech, industrial IoT, robotics, smart manufacturing
Digital infrastructure
Data centers, cloud infrastructure, edge computing, network security, vertical infrastructure SaaS
IT services
Software development and testing, digital transformation, cloud services, advertising agencies, IT support services
Bring your FP&A to the digital age
The world runs on Excel, but we like to keep up with the times.
We can enhance your financial reporting by using leading SaaS providers across the entire finance stack.
Stripe
Xero
Causal
Quickbooks
Datarails
Mosaic
Excel
Google Sheets
Adyen
Abacus
Runway
NetSuite
Salesforce
Sage
Shopify
Cube
HubSpot
Snowflake
Recently completed fractional CFO projects
Selected fractional CFO engagements and prior CFO experience.
Got questions?
Schedule a call ordrop us an email to learn more about our CFO-as-a-service, capital raising and M&A advisory offering.
Talk to us
Schedule a call to get a health check on your business and see how we could help.
Fractional CFO
- Fractional CFO for Software
- Fractional CFO for AI & ML
- Fractional CFO for Fintech
- Fractional CFO for Consumer internet
- Fractional CFO for Digital media
- Fractional CFO for E-commerce & marketplaces
- Fractional CFO for Consumer products
- Fractional CFO for Mobility
- Fractional CFO for Digital health
- Fractional CFO for Industrial technology
- Fractional CFO for Digital infrastructure
- Fractional CFO for IT services
Stages
Countries
- UK Fractional CFO
- Ireland Fractional CFO
- France Fractional CFO
- Germany Fractional CFO
- Spain Fractional CFO
- Portugal Fractional CFO
- Italy Fractional CFO
- Netherlands Fractional CFO
- Belgium Fractional CFO
- Switzerland Fractional CFO
- Austria Fractional CFO
- Denmark Fractional CFO
- Sweden Fractional CFO
- Norway Fractional CFO
- Finland Fractional CFO
- Poland Fractional CFO
- Estonia Fractional CFO
- US Fractional CFO
- Canada Fractional CFO
- Mexico Fractional CFO
- Brazil Fractional CFO
- UAE Fractional CFO
- Australia Fractional CFO
Cities
- London Fractional CFO
- Dublin Fractional CFO
- Paris Fractional CFO
- Berlin Fractional CFO
- Madrid Fractional CFO
- Lisbon Fractional CFO
- Milan Fractional CFO
- Amsterdam Fractional CFO
- Brussels Fractional CFO
- Zurich Fractional CFO
- Vienna Fractional CFO
- Copenhagen Fractional CFO
- Stockholm Fractional CFO
- Oslo Fractional CFO
- Helsinki Fractional CFO
- Warsaw Fractional CFO
- Tallinn Fractional CFO
- New York Fractional CFO
- Toronto Fractional CFO
- Mexico City Fractional CFO
- São Paulo Fractional CFO
- Dubai Fractional CFO
- Sydney Fractional CFO