Fractional CFO Cost UK
What fractional CFOs cost versus full-time hires — day rates by company stage, monthly retainers, and total cost comparison. SME £700-£1,000/day, scale-up £900-£1,400/day, with 40-60% savings versus permanent CFO loaded costs.
Fractional CFO Cost by Company Stage
Day rates and monthly retainers by revenue/funding stage — FD Capital 2026 (FACTS rows 11-15)
Role analysis market data.
| Company Stage | Revenue | Day Rate | Monthly Retainer | Typical Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SME | £1-5m | £700-£1,000 | £3,000-£6,500 | 1-2 days/week operational |
| Scale-up | £5-10m | £900-£1,400 | £4,500-£10,000 | Strategic finance leadership |
| Mid-market | £10-50m | £1,000-£1,600 | £5,500-£12,000 | Board reporting + systems |
| PE-backed | Portfolio co | £1,200-£2,000 | £7,000-£15,000 | Covenant management |
| Pre-exit | Fundraising | £1,500-£2,500 | £8,000-£18,000 | Transaction leadership |
Fractional CFO Cost vs Full-time CFO Total Cost
Full-time CFO total cost includes base salary (£150k-£300k+), employer National Insurance (15% from April 2025), pension contributions (3-12%), plus recruitment fees (20-30% first year) and management overhead.
CFO recruitment fees alone cost £44k-£66k before they start (FACTS 17). Add base salary loaded costs (~£225k-£250k including NI/pension) and you're at £275k-£350k+ year-1 total for permanent CFO.
Fractional CFO at 2 days/week (£1,200/day × 2 × 50 weeks = £120k annually) provides senior finance leadership at 40-60% savings versus full-time loaded cost, with no recruitment fees, notice periods or employer NI.
Related Resources
More of the same shape — internal.