A Fractional CFO in the UK typically costs somewhere between £600 and £1,500 a day, although published ranges vary widely. For an owner-managed business the more useful figure is the monthly cost. At Secantor's day rates of £1,000 to £1,200 plus VAT, two to four days a month costs between £2,000 and £4,800, a fraction of what a full-time appointment would cost.
This guide explains what drives the price, how to compare the options and how to judge whether the fee is worth paying. It is written for Managing Directors and owners running businesses with £3m to £50m turnover who need board-level financial leadership but not a full-time Chief Financial Officer.
Published UK day rates for Fractional CFOs range from roughly £600 to £1,500, depending on background, sector expertise and the complexity of the work. Some sources quote £1,800 or more for the most senior specialists. Where an advisor sits in that range depends on their track record, the sector and what you need them to deliver.
Secantor's day rates for Fractional CFO and Finance Director support typically sit between £1,000 and £1,200, plus VAT and out-of-pocket expenses. Fees are invoiced monthly for the days worked, and the number of days can be adjusted as the business changes.
Treat any single headline figure with caution. A lower day rate is not a lower cost if the advisor needs twice as many days to reach the same result.
Most owner-managed businesses buy a small number of days each month rather than a fixed weekly commitment. The table shows what that looks like at a day rate of £1,000 to £1,200 plus VAT.
| Days per month | Monthly cost | Annual cost | Typically suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £1,000 to £1,200 | £12,000 to £14,400 | A regular sense check and board-level challenge |
| 2 | £2,000 to £2,400 | £24,000 to £28,800 | Monthly reporting, forecasting and a steady management rhythm |
| 4 | £4,000 to £4,800 | £48,000 to £57,600 | Funding, acquisitions, exit preparation or a change programme |
| 8 | £8,000 to £9,600 | £96,000 to £115,200 | An intensive project or a finance function being rebuilt |
Published UK sources put typical monthly costs between £2,000 and £10,000 or more, depending on the days required and the scope. That is consistent with the table above.
A Fractional CFO is usually far cheaper than a full-time appointment because you buy the capability without paying for the capacity. Base salaries for a full-time CFO commonly run from £120,000 to £200,000 or more, and employer's National Insurance, pension, bonus and benefits typically add a further 30% to 40%. On those figures the true annual cost is roughly £156,000 to £280,000. Four days a month at Secantor's rates costs between £48,000 and £57,600 a year.
The cost gap matters less than the capacity question. A business turning over £10m rarely has a full-time CFO's worth of work to do. The more common problem is that the founder is carrying the forecasting, funding conversations and board reporting alone. In our experience, businesses of this size rarely need both a Finance Director and a CFO, so one experienced advisor usually covers both roles. If you are unsure which role you need, our guide to when an SME needs a CFO is a good starting point.
Five factors move the fee up or down.
Experience and track record are the largest. An advisor who has led a funding round, an acquisition or a business sale will charge more than one whose background is mainly reporting and control, and for the right situation they are worth it.
Scope matters next. Rebuilding forecasting and management information takes more days at the start than steady board support does later. Complex work such as funding, M&A or exit planning also commands a premium.
The number of days affects the effective rate. A larger monthly commitment often reduces the cost per day, while very small commitments cost more per day.
Urgency and duration play a part too. Cover for a leadership gap or a defined project is an interim arrangement, and one UK provider reports that interim day rates typically run 10% to 15% above the equivalent fractional rate. If that is your situation, see our Interim CFO service and the benefits of an Interim CFO.
Finally, sector complexity matters. A regulated or acquisitive business needs more specialist judgement than a straightforward trading company.
A day rate means you pay only for the days used, which suits businesses whose needs change from month to month. A retainer gives you a fixed number of days and a predictable monthly cost, which suits businesses that want a regular rhythm of reporting and board support. If you are still deciding between the models, our guide to Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO explains how they differ.
Whichever you choose, agree in writing what is included. Attendance at board meetings, monthly reporting reviews, lender and investor conversations and response times between meetings all affect how much value you receive for the same fee.
Judge the fee against the outcome, not the day rate. Consider an illustrative business with £10m turnover. Two days a month at £1,000 to £1,200 costs £24,000 to £28,800 a year, which is under 0.3% of turnover. If a pricing and margin review lifts gross margin by one percentage point, that is £100,000 of additional gross profit. Our article on pricing for profit shows how that kind of improvement is found.
The reverse also applies. A cheap engagement that produces a monthly report nobody acts on is poor value at any price. Before you appoint anyone, ask:
The headline day rate rarely tells the whole story. Check whether VAT, travel and other expenses are quoted separately, whether there is a minimum monthly commitment and how many days the first few months are likely to need while the advisor gets up to speed. Also ask about any systems or software the advisor expects you to buy. A fair proposal should let you estimate the total cost for the first twelve months.
There are two situations where it pays to think again.
The first is when the work becomes more than a few days a week for a sustained period. At that point a full-time appointment, or an Interim CFO to bridge the gap while you recruit (see Fractional vs Part-Time vs Interim CFO), will usually cost less per day of work delivered.
The second is when the reporting basics are missing. A Fractional CFO uses management information for strategy and funding, so they need numbers worth using. Management Accountants build and produce the reporting, Finance Directors interpret it and embed it into control, and CFOs apply it to strategy and funding. If your monthly figures are late or unreliable, start with a Part-Time Management Accountant and add Fractional CFO leadership once the foundations are in place. Our Strategic Business Review research points to the same gap, with KPIs frequently absent entirely rather than poorly chosen.
Yes, in most cases. You pay only for the days you need, with no employer's National Insurance, pension, bonus or recruitment costs. The saving is largest for businesses that need senior financial leadership but not five days a week of it.
It depends on the scope of work. A sensible starting point for many owner-managed businesses is two to four days a month, adjusted as priorities change. Funding, acquisitions and exit preparation usually need more.
Where the advisor's firm is VAT registered, yes. Secantor quotes fees plus VAT and out-of-pocket expenses so the full cost is clear from the outset.
Yes. Flexibility is one of the main benefits of the Fractional model, and the level of support can be increased or reduced as your business needs change.
Usually, yes. Interim arrangements tend to involve more days over a shorter period, and published rates run higher. See our Interim CFO page for how the two compare.
If you are weighing up the cost, start with the problem you need to solve. Our Free Business Review is a practical first conversation with no obligation, and our Fractional CFO page explains how the service works in practice.