Fractional CFO

Outsourced CFO Services vs. In-House | Pros, Cost & Benefits

Discover the benefits, costs, and key differences between outsourced CFO services and hiring an in-house CFO. Learn which solution fits your business best
Outsourced CFO Services vs. In-House | Pros, Cost & Benefits

When scaling your business, you may hit a certain point where your company needs more financial expertise and guidance than what you or existing employees can provide. 

You might wonder if it’s time to establish your C-suite and bring on a full-time chief finance officer (CFO). But, if you’re like many startups and small businesses, you may not have the workload or financial resources to bring on a full-time CFO in-house, leading you to outsource the role to an experienced professional.  

Both options provide certain benefits and drawbacks, so you can continue reading below as we discuss the pros and cons of in-house and outsourced CFOs, and how to determine which is best for your business. 

Understanding the Role of a CFO

A chief financial officer, a CFO, is an executive in charge of overseeing a business’s financial operations. Some of their main responsibilities include: 

  • Financial planning and analysis
  • Budgeting and forecasting
  • Financial reporting
  • Risk management 
  • Cost control
  • Cash flow management
  • Compliance 

An outsourced CFO generally has the same experience and education and can handle the same responsibilities as any other type of CFO. As you might be able to gather, the main difference between an in-house and an outsourced CFO is that one is employed full-time by the company, while the other works on a part-time or contract basis. 

Because of this, there are clear advantages and drawbacks to both types of employment, as we’ll explore in further detail below. 

Hiring an In-House CFO: Pros and Cons

An in-house CFO is a full-time employee. They are on the company’s payroll, and enjoy benefits, bonuses, and other types of compensation on top of their annual salary. 

As a result, the scope of their work is often greater than that of an outsourced CFO, giving them oversight over more of the company’s financial operations. Here is a quick overview of the top pros and cons of hiring an in-house CFO: 

Pros of In-House CFOs

  • In-house CFOs are available full-time, enabling quicker decision-making or real-time adjustments to support agile operations.

  • Full-time CFOs are more engrained in the company’s culture, which can make them more dedicated to their mission and invested in their financial performance.

  • These financial executives are seamlessly integrated into the executive team, making for easier communication and alignment on a day-to-day basis. 

Cons of In-House CFOs

  • It can be more expensive to hire an in-house CFO and pay an executive salary and benefits than to outsource the position, especially for smaller companies.

  • When a company grows, an in-house CFO may be unable to keep up with the growing demands without extra support.

  • An in-house CFO may possess general financial knowledge and expertise but might lack specialized training on emerging technologies and industry practices. 

Hiring an Outsourced CFO: Pros and Cons

On the other hand, companies may decide to outsource the CFO position. In this case, the company will find a firm or independent contractor that offers outsourced or fractional CFO services. Ideally, they’ll find someone with experience in their industry who can handle the specific tasks or responsibilities they need support with. 

The pricing structure will vary between providers. Outsourced CFOs commonly charge a flat monthly retainer or an hourly rate for their services. 

Pros of Outsourced CFOs

  • Companies only pay outsourced CFOs for the specific services they provide, which can be more affordable for startups and small businesses.

  • Outsourced CFO services are often flexible and scalable, meaning they can adjust their scope of work up or down as needed to accommodate changing business needs.

  • Outsourced CFOs may possess unique knowledge that isn’t found in the existing in-house team, bringing a new perspective and expertise to benefit the business. 

Cons of Outsourced CFOs

  • Companies don’t have full-time access to the CFO, meaning they may be at the will of their availability if they need immediate support on an issue.

  • The outsourced CFO may feel removed from the rest of the in-house team, and poor communication or structure could make them feel detached from the organization’s mission and goals. 

When Does an In-House CFO Make Sense?

Given the pros and cons of hiring an in-house CFO, this type of engagement is better suited to companies in certain scenarios and financial objectives. So, how do you know if it’s better to hire an in-house CFO rather than outsource the role? 

Generally, internal CFOs may be needed by companies that are well into their growth phase, and have highly complex financial management needs. In this case, it may be better to have a full-time CFO that is fully integrated into the business, and can devote all their working hours to strategizing and supporting financial operations. 

When Should You Hire an Outsourced CFO?

Hiring an outsourced CFO is often a logical choice for growing businesses or those in the earlier stages of development. For starters, it’s often a more cost-effective option. Especially for companies that might have limited financial resources, outsourced CFOs give them access to expert financial guidance and resources without the long-term commitment of paying an executive salary and benefits. 

Plus, outsourced CFOs can deliver support on an as-needed basis. So, they don’t have to go through the resource-intensive and time-consuming process to recruit, hire, and train an on-house CFO if they only need support on a certain project or financial task. In this way, outsourced CFOs offer flexible and adaptable support, giving companies of all sizes and needs access to expert financial support. 

If you want to know where to find expert outsourced CFO services, consider us at Bob’s Bookkeepers. Our fractional CFO services are designed to give you the expert financial guidance you need to optimize and grow operations without the cost or commitment of a full-time CFO. 

Contact us today to learn more about our custom fractional CFO services.

Frequently asked questions

What is an outsourced CFO?

An outsourced CFO (Chief Financial Officer) is a senior financial strategist who supports a business on a part-time, contract, or project basis, without being a full-time employee. This model allows startups and growing companies to access executive-level financial expertise at a fraction of the cost of hiring in-house.

CFOs provide the insight and leadership of a full-time finance executive, strategic planning, cash flow management, investor prep, and beyond, without the overhead. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses that are scaling fast but don’t yet need (or can’t yet afford) a permanent CFO.

For example, a seed-stage SaaS startup preparing for a Series A round may work with one of our CFOs to build investor-ready financial models, define KPIs for board reporting, and stress test their growth strategy.

What are outsourced CFO services?

Outsourced CFO services offer high-impact, high-level financial support tailored to the unique challenges and goals of your business. These services go far beyond traditional bookkeeping or accounting, they are about helping you make better financial decisions in real time.

Bob’s Bookkeepers outsourced CFO services include:

  • Strategic financial planning and forecasting for the next 12 to 36 months
  • Cash flow management to support growth, hiring, and capital efficiency
  • Budget creation and monthly budget-vs-actuals tracking
  • Fundraising prep, including pitch deck metrics and investor due diligence
  • Financial modeling and scenario planning to test multiple growth paths
  • Profitability and margin analysis by customer segment or product line
  • KPI development and dashboard reporting for leadership and board meetings
  • Support for M&A, equity raises, debt financing, or exits
  • Coordination of tax strategy with your CPA or tax advisor

For example, an eCommerce company facing rising customer acquisition costs might engage our team to build unit economics reports, identify profitable cohorts, and optimize cash burn.

Should I outsource my CFO or hire in-house?

The decision to outsource or hire a full-time CFO depends on your company’s size, growth rate, funding stage, and operational complexity.

Outsourcing may be the right move if:

  • You’re a startup or early-stage company that needs part-time CFO-level support
  • You’re preparing for a specific financial event like a raise, acquisition, or audit
  • You want to control costs while gaining senior financial insight
  • Your financials are too complex for a bookkeeper, but not complex enough to justify a full-time executive

Hiring in-house may be a better fit if:

  • Your business has complex or international operations needing daily oversight
  • You’re managing multiple business units, departments, or revenue channels
  • You’re consistently working with investors, lenders, or corporate partners

Many of our clients at Bob’s Bookkeepers start with outsourced CFO services, then gradually increase support as they grow. For example, a startup that raised a seed round may rely on our part-time CFO to plan cash runway, build hiring models, and navigate investor reporting. As they approach a Series B, we can scale our involvement or help them transition to an in-house CFO when the time is right.

How much do outsourced CFO services cost?

Outsourced CFO pricing varies depending on the scope, complexity, and duration of the engagement. They offer flexible pricing structures that are designed to grow with your business.

Pricing may follow one of these models:

  • Hourly: For short-term projects or advisory work, billed as needed
  • Monthly retainer: For consistent, ongoing support such as budgeting, forecasting, or board reporting
  • Fixed project fee: For clearly scoped deliverables like financial model creation, fundraising prep, or due diligence packages

To give you an idea, a startup may spend $3,000 to $5,000/month for part-time CFO support, while a one-time financial modeling engagement might range from $5,000 to $7,500. We tailor each engagement to your business goals, so you get maximum value without unnecessary overhead.

Who provides the best outsourced CFO services?

If you’re a startup, founder-led business, or scaling company looking for strategic financial clarity, Bob’s Bookkeepers is your ideal partner.

With over 20 years of experience supporting startups across SaaS, eCommerce, FinTech, healthcare, media, and professional services, we know that no two companies are alike. That’s why we offer flexible, tech-enabled CFO services designed to meet you where you are, and take you where you want to go.

Our CFOs don’t just report numbers. They help you make confident decisions, communicate clearly with investors, and keep your business financially healthy as you grow. Whether you're prepping for your first raise, cleaning up messy finances, or building a model for a new business unit, we're here to help.

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