Somewhere between $5 million and $50 million in revenue, most food, agriculture and beverage companies hit the same wall. The bookkeeper or controller keeps the books current, but nobody owns the forecast, the lender relationship, the margin analysis or the conversation with investors. The owner ends up doing CFO work at night, or not at all.
The usual answer is "hire a CFO." For many companies, that's the right move eventually. But a full-time CFO is a large fixed cost, and the work often comes in waves: a refinancing, a capital raise, a new co-packer, a bad harvest year. A fractional CFO fills that gap with the same experience, for the hours you actually need.
Signs you need CFO-level help
You probably need CFO judgment, fractional or full-time, if any of these sound familiar:
- You can't say with confidence what your cash balance will be in eight weeks.
- Your lender is asking for projections, covenant calculations or a borrowing-base certificate, and putting them together takes days.
- You know your total gross margin but not your margin by SKU, customer or channel.
- You're planning a capital raise, refinancing or sale in the next 12–18 months.
- Monthly financial statements arrive late, change after they're delivered, or don't match what the bank account says.
- Inventory, commodity prices or crop yields swing your results, and you find out after the fact.
How fractional and full-time CFOs compare
| Fractional CFO | Full-time CFO | |
|---|---|---|
| Time commitment | A few days a month to a few days a week, adjusted as needs change | Full time, permanently |
| Cost | A monthly retainer or hourly rate, with no benefits, bonus or equity | Salary plus bonus, benefits, payroll taxes and often equity |
| Time to start | Usually within a week or two | Often three to six months to recruit and onboard |
| Experience | Typically a former full-time CFO who has seen many companies and situations | Varies with what you can afford to pay |
| Best for | Companies that need senior judgment, a project led, or a bridge to a full-time hire | Companies with daily, complex finance demands and a team to manage |
The right choice depends on how much CFO work you have each week, not on company size alone.
When a full-time CFO is the right call
A fractional CFO isn't always the answer. Hire full time when:
- The finance work genuinely fills more than three or four days a week, every week.
- You have a finance team of several people who need daily leadership.
- You're preparing for an IPO or managing public-company-style reporting.
- Investors or lenders require a dedicated executive as a condition of the deal.
Even then, a fractional CFO often helps first: building the finance function, defining the role, and helping you recruit and onboard the right full-time person.
What the first 90 days look like
Days 1–30: Get the facts straight
Review the books, the close process, systems, controls, debt agreements and the forecast, if there is one. Build a 13-week cash flow so leadership can see what's coming. Identify the three or four issues that matter most.
Days 31–60: Fix the foundation
Tighten the monthly close so statements are reliable and on time. Set up a KPI scorecard. Build margin analysis by SKU, customer or crop. Start a regular rhythm with your lender or board.
Days 61–90: Look ahead
Build the annual budget and rolling forecast. Lay out a financing or capital plan. Present a clear picture of where the business is headed, and what it needs to get there, to owners, lenders and investors.
Why industry experience matters. Food, agriculture and beverage businesses have their own financial traps: co-packer economics, trade spend and retailer deductions, inventory costing, seasonal working capital, commodity exposure and ag lending structures. A CFO who has worked through them before gets to the real issues faster.
How to choose a fractional CFO
- Industry fit. Ask what companies like yours they've worked with, and what they found.
- Hands-on operating experience. Look for someone who has run finance inside a company, not only advised from outside.
- Lender and investor credibility. Your CFO will sit across the table from banks and investors, so ask about financings and raises they've led.
- Clear scope and pricing. You should know what you're getting each month and what it costs.
- A team behind them. Ask who handles bookkeeping and controllership, so you're not paying CFO rates for routine accounting.
Not sure what you need yet?
A 30-minute call is usually enough to tell whether you need a fractional CFO, a controller, or just better bookkeeping. No obligation.
Schedule an introductory call