The short answer
A fractional CFO is a part time chief financial officer. At AZ Easy CFO, Chris Badulescu, CPA, works with Arizona business owners on a monthly schedule to review results, build and update budgets, forecast cash, track a short list of KPIs, think through pricing and hiring, and prepare for lender or investor conversations.
What does a fractional CFO do for a growing business?
A fractional CFO turns accurate books into decisions. Instead of only reporting what happened last month, we plan what happens next: how much cash you will have, which work earns the most, when you can afford to hire and what a lender will want to see before you ask.
Most owners reach a point where clean books are not enough. The reports exist, but questions about hiring, pricing, a second location or a new truck still come down to gut feel. A fractional CFO fills that gap for a fraction of what a full time CFO costs.
Chris works the way an in house finance leader would, on a schedule that fits a small or midsize business. You get a CPA who knows your numbers, asks good questions and lays out the tradeoffs before you commit.
- Monthly strategy sessions to review results and set priorities
- An annual budget, updated when plans change
- A rolling cash flow forecast so tight weeks are visible early
- A short list of KPIs that match how your business makes money
- Pricing, margin and hiring conversations backed by the numbers
- Preparation for lender, investor and partner conversations
How is a fractional CFO different from a bookkeeper or a full time CFO?
A bookkeeper records and reconciles what already happened. A full time CFO leads finance every day and usually costs a six figure salary plus benefits. A fractional CFO sits in between: senior planning and decision support, delivered a few hours a month, built on top of accurate books.
| Role | Main focus | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeper | Recording, categorizing and reconciling transactions | Every business |
| Controller | Month end close, accuracy and internal process | Larger teams with complex books |
| Fractional CFO | Planning, forecasting, KPIs and decisions | Growing businesses, often around $1M in revenue and up |
| Full time CFO | Leading the finance function every day | Companies large enough to carry the salary |
If your books need work first, our sister firm handles that. See monthly bookkeeping at AZ Easy CPA so the CFO work starts from numbers you can trust.
What happens in a monthly CFO session?
Each month Chris walks through your financial statements, compares results to budget, updates the cash forecast, reviews your KPIs and helps you choose two or three actions. You leave knowing where the business stands and what to focus on before the next session.
- Review last month. Profit and loss, balance sheet and cash, compared to budget and to the same month last year when the history exists.
- Look ahead. Update the rolling forecast and flag any weeks or months that look tight.
- Check the KPIs. The handful of numbers you agreed matter most, such as gross margin, cash runway or revenue per employee.
- Decide. Agree on a few action items, like adjusting a price, chasing older receivables or waiting a month on a purchase.
Sessions happen by video, phone or in person at our Chandler office. You get a short written recap afterward so decisions do not get lost.
"I have worked with Chris Badulescu for the last year and would highly recommend him not only for bookkeeping/accounting services, but as a fractional CFO." (Chris P., Google review)
When is the right time to bring in a fractional CFO?
The usual signals are growth that feels harder to manage, cash that surprises you, a big decision on the horizon (a hire, a location, a loan or an exit) or a lender asking for more than your bookkeeper can provide. If two or more of those sound familiar, it is worth a conversation.
- Revenue is growing but cash in the bank does not seem to follow
- You are weighing a hire, expansion or major purchase and want to see the impact first
- A bank, landlord, bonding company or investor is asking for projections
- You have reports but no clear sense of which numbers to watch
- Your team or partners want more visibility into the financials
Read more in our post on when a small business needs a fractional CFO.
Which KPIs will we track together?
We pick three to six numbers that tie directly to your goals and how you make money. A dental practice might watch production per provider and collections rate. A contractor might watch job margin and backlog. Every business watches cash runway and receivables.
- Gross margin by service line, product, location or job type
- Cash runway: how many months of expenses your cash covers
- Accounts receivable aging: who owes you and for how long
- Labor cost as a share of revenue
- Owner pay and draws compared to what the business can support
- Industry measures, like revenue per chair or job costing (see industries we serve)
KPIs show up in your monthly financial reporting package, so you see the same numbers in the same place every month.
What does fractional CFO service cost?
Pricing depends on how often we meet, the size and complexity of the business and how much forecasting and reporting you need. We quote it after a free consultation, in writing, so you know exactly what is included before any work begins.
Most fractional CFO engagements are a flat monthly fee rather than hourly billing, which keeps the cost predictable and means you never hesitate to call with a question. Some owners start with a one time project, such as a budget or a lender package, then move to monthly sessions.
For a broader look at how firms price this work, see our post on what a fractional CFO costs in Arizona.
How do we get started?
Free consultation
Tell Chris about your business, goals and what is keeping you up at night. No pressure and no obligation.
Review the numbers
Chris looks at your current financials to see whether they are ready for planning or need cleanup first.
Written proposal
You receive a defined scope and monthly fee before work starts.
Build the foundation
We set up your budget, cash forecast and KPI list.
Monthly sessions
Each month we review results, update the forecast and agree on next steps.
Fractional CFO questions
What is a fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO is a part time chief financial officer who provides planning, forecasting and decision support on a monthly schedule, without the cost of a full time hire.
Do I need to use AZ Easy CPA for bookkeeping?
No. You need reliable books, but they do not have to come from us. Many owners do pair the two, because it means Chris already knows the numbers before every session.
How long is the commitment?
Engagements are month to month after the initial setup. Most owners stay because the forecast and KPIs get more useful as history builds.
Can we meet in person?
Yes. Sessions can be at our Chandler office on S. Alma School Road, or by video or phone. Clients across Arizona and in other states meet with us remotely.
Do you prepare tax returns?
No. We focus on planning and financial guidance and coordinate with your tax preparer on items like estimated payments and entity questions.
How soon will I see useful reports?
If your books are current, your first budget and cash forecast are usually ready within the first month or two. If the books need cleanup, that comes first.
Will you tell me what to charge or who to hire?
You make the decisions. Chris shows you the math behind each option, explains the tradeoffs and gives his honest opinion when you ask for it.
