When to Hire a Fractional CFO (Hint: Before the Fires Start)

You don’t need a CFO when everything’s on fire—you need one before it gets to that point. Here’s when founders bring one in:

  • Revenue is between $5M-$75M, but finance feels like duct tape and prayers.

  • You're growing fast, but profitability is… “unclear.”

  • You’re raising capital and need to look like you actually know where the money goes.

  • You’re thinking about selling in the next few years, and valuations are a mystery.

  • You know where you want to go, but you’re unsure how to get there. A Fractional CFO doesn’t just give you numbers; they give you the roadmap. I bring the expertise of HOW we are going to get there—aligning financial strategy with business vision.

The Cost Equation: Is a Fractional CFO Worth It?

A full-time CFO costs $350K+ in salary, equity, and bonuses. A fractional CFO? A fraction (shocking, I know). You get expertise only when you need it, with no bloated overhead.

Think of it like bringing on a trusted financial navigator—focused, efficient, and without the bureaucracy. Except, I’m not just a hired gun—I’m a member of your team, walking in collaboration with you. I believe in skin in the game, rolling up my sleeves, and working side by side to navigate challenges and drive success.

Why Vitality CFO?

I’m Doug Heinz, a battle-tested CFO who’s helped companies navigate growth, chaos, and profitability puzzles. I bring connected agility in an age of increasing volatility—because financial strategy should move at the speed of your business.

I don’t just drop in, issue directives, and vanish. I embed myself in your team, tackling challenges with you, ensuring the financial engine runs smoothly while you focus on building the business you love.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start scaling, let’s talk.

The Founder’s Dilemma: Too Big for a Bookkeeper, Too Small for a Full-Time CFO

You built something. It’s working. Revenue is climbing, expenses are... well, also climbing, but in that vague, “should I be worried?” way. At some point, spreadsheets start feeling more like a choose-your-own-adventure horror novel, and you realize: you need financial expertise.

Enter the Fractional CFO—the financial brainpower of a full-time CFO, without the corner-office price tag.

What a Fractional CFO Actually Does (No, It’s Not More Spreadsheets & Complexity)

A Fractional CFO is not an overpaid Excel jockey, you get a modern CFO who partners with you at your ideal pricepoint to get the job done. Here’s what the job:

  • Strategic Finance, Not Just Accounting – A bookkeeper records history. A CFO writes the next chapter—capital strategy, profitability, scaling efficiently.

  • Cash Flow Zen Master – Turning “we have money” into ”we always have money.” Forecasting the future (financially, not astrologically).

  • Profitability Surgeon – Cutting out waste, identifying hidden opportunities, and keeping margins healthy.

  • Fundraising Wingman – Need to impress investors or secure a loan? We craft the story they want to hear (without the fluff).

  • Exit & Valuation Prep – Because someday, you might want a lucrative ‘goodbye.’