Fractional CFO Services for SaaS Companies

I’m Ben Murray — CPA (active), MBA, and fractional SaaS CFO with 25+ years in finance and accounting and 10+ years working as a CFO at SaaS companies. I provide retained fractional CFO services for SaaS startups and growth-stage B2B SaaS companies, giving your business CFO-level financial leadership without the cost of a full-time hire.

Some founders search for an outsourced CFO, a virtual CFO, or fractional CFO consulting — whatever you call it, the engagement works the same way: you get a senior finance partner embedded in your business on a part-time basis, focused entirely on moving your SaaS company forward.

I rose through the ranks of FP&A to the CFO seat at both founder-owned and private equity-backed SaaS businesses. I’ve done the debits and credits, passed audits, presented at Board meetings, been grilled by potential acquirers, supported debt raises, and guided companies through PE exits. Whatever your SaaS company is facing financially, my team and I have likely been through it before.

Why Work With Me

Most fractional CFO consulting services are generalists. I built my entire career inside SaaS companies — not as an outside advisor, but as the person responsible for the numbers. Here’s what that means for you:

Who This Is For

My fractional CFO for startups and growth-stage SaaS companies is built for founders and operators who need senior finance leadership but aren’t ready — or aren’t yet at the scale — for a full-time CFO hire. You’re a good fit if:

• Your B2B SaaS company has recurring revenue between $5M and $30M ARR and you don’t have a dedicated finance leader in place.
• You’re spending more than 20% of your time as a founder or CEO answering financial questions instead of focusing on product and growth.
• You’re preparing for a fundraising round, debt raise, or private equity process and need investor-ready financial reporting and models.
• Your investors or board are asking for SaaS metrics benchmarking, monthly reporting packages, or detailed financial forecasts — and you don’t have them yet.
• You have basic accounting in place but no strategic financial modeling, no SaaS metrics dashboard, and no forward-looking cash runway analysis.
• You’re navigating an M&A process, a due diligence request, or an exit — and need a fractional CFO consultant who has been through it before.

SaaS CFO Services: What’s Included

My team and I offer retained fractional CFO services for SaaS companies on a monthly basis. All engagements are scoped to your stage and priorities — here’s what we cover:

SaaS Metrics Build-Out

I build out your complete SaaS metrics stack — both historical and forecasted. This includes MRR, ARR, Net Revenue Retention, Gross Revenue Retention, Customer Churn Rate, CAC, CAC Payback Period, Customer Lifetime Value (LTV), LTV/CAC ratio, Gross Margin, and the Rule of 40. I benchmark your metrics against industry peers, so you know exactly where you stand relative to your stage and growth rate.

Financial Forecasting and Budgeting

I build and maintain 12–36 month financial models covering revenue, headcount planning, operating expense forecasts, and cash runway analysis. Models are built in Excel and designed to be board-ready and investor-ready from day one. I update the model monthly as actuals come in and assumptions evolve.

Monthly Financial and Performance Reporting

Every month, your leadership team receives a complete SaaS financial and performance reporting package from my team. This includes an income statement with SaaS-specific line items, a key metrics dashboard, variance analysis versus plan, and a written CFO commentary. No more scrambling before board meetings or investor calls — your reporting is ready.

Fundraising and Exit Support

My team and I have supported SaaS companies through debt raises, Series A and B rounds, private equity processes, and strategic acquisitions. We prepare the financial data room, support management presentation preparation, answer due diligence questions, and manage the finance workstream so you can focus on the deal.

Strategic Finance Advisory

I answer the questions that keep founders up at night: How much runway do I have? When can I afford to hire my next VP? What do my metrics look like to an investor? What does my burn rate need to be to hit Series A targets? This ongoing advisory is included in every retainer engagement — not billed by the hour.

Accounting and Tech Stack Assessment

I assess your current accounting setup, monthly close process, and finance and operations technology stack. I identify gaps, inefficiencies, and risks — then recommend improvements to people, process, and tooling so your finance function can scale with the business.

How It Works

Starting a fractional CFO engagement is straightforward.

Is a Fractional CFO Worth It?

Yes — and in my experience working with fractional CFO for SaaS companies engagements between $5M and $30M ARR, the return is clear and measurable within 60–90 days.

A full-time SaaS CFO costs $250,000–$400,000 per year in base salary, plus equity, benefits, and recruiting fees. My retained fractional CFO consulting engagement delivers the same strategic finance leadership at a fraction of that cost, scaled precisely to the hours your company actually needs.

The real cost of not having a CFO is harder to see: financial models built on wrong assumptions, SaaS metrics calculated incorrectly, missed fundraising timelines, and investors who lose confidence because the numbers don’t hold up under scrutiny. That’s exactly what I help you avoid.

Client Results

ContactMonkey — B2B SaaS, Debt Raise + PE Exit

I served as fractional SaaS CFO for ContactMonkey during two defining moments in their growth: a debt financing raise and an eventual exit to private equity. During the debt raise, I built the financial model, prepared the investor data room, and managed the finance workstream throughout the diligence process. For the PE exit, I worked directly with the acquirer’s finance team, prepared the management presentation financial section, and ensured every metric and forecast could be defended in detail.

About Me

I’m a fractional SaaS CFO, CPA (active), and MBA. I’ve spent 25+ years in finance and accounting, including 10+ years in the CFO seat at SaaS companies. I built my career inside founder-owned and private equity-backed SaaS businesses — not as an outside fractional CFO consultant, but as the person responsible for the numbers day in and day out.

I started The SaaS CFO to share everything I’ve learned with SaaS founders and operators: frameworks for SaaS metrics, financial modeling templates, and direct advisory work for companies that need a CFO in their corner. My content is used by thousands of SaaS operators around the world.

When you work with me, you get someone who has sat in the seat, done the work, and navigated the same situations your company is facing — fundraising pressure, board scrutiny, cash runway anxiety, and growth-stage scaling decisions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What fractional CFO services do you offer for SaaS companies?

My fractional CFO services for SaaS companies cover SaaS metrics build-out, financial forecasting and budgeting, monthly performance reporting, fundraising and exit support, strategic finance advisory, and accounting and tech stack assessment. All services are delivered on a retained monthly basis, scoped to your company’s stage and specific needs. I also offer standalone one-time projects such as a SaaS Metrics Assessment if you want to start there before committing to a retainer.

Q: What is fractional CFO consulting and how is it different from hiring a full-time CFO?

Fractional CFO consulting means hiring a senior finance executive on a part-time, retained basis instead of as a full-time employee. You get CFO-level strategic finance — forecasting, SaaS metrics, investor reporting, fundraising support — without the $250,000–$400,000 annual salary, equity, and benefits of a full-time hire. For most SaaS companies under $20M ARR, this is the right model.

Q: What is the difference between a fractional CFO, an outsourced CFO, a virtual CFO, and an interim CFO?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there are subtle differences. A fractional CFO and an outsourced CFO are essentially the same thing — a senior finance executive working part-time on a retained basis. A virtual CFO is the same role delivered entirely remotely. A SaaS interim CFO is typically a full-time, short-term engagement — for example, covering a gap between two full-time CFOs or managing a specific transaction. My engagements are fractional and remote, operating as an ongoing part-time CFO for your SaaS business.

Q: Is a fractional CFO for SaaS companies worth the cost?

In my experience, yes — for most SaaS companies between $5M and $30M ARR, a fractional CFO engagement delivers measurable ROI within 60–90 days. The cost of a retained engagement is significantly lower than a full-time CFO hire ($250,000–$400,000 per year in base salary alone), while delivering the same level of strategic finance expertise for investor reporting, cash management, and growth planning.

Q: How do I find and choose the right fractional CFO for my SaaS company?

Start by looking for SaaS-specific experience — not just a generalist finance background applied to software companies. Ask whether the candidate has actually held the CFO seat at a SaaS business, or only worked as an external advisor. Verify their familiarity with SaaS revenue recognition, MRR/ARR modeling, and investor reporting standards. Check references from SaaS companies specifically. The right fractional CFO for a SaaS business should be able to calculate your key metrics, critique your model, and speak the language of your investors from day one — without a ramp-up period.

Q: How much does a fractional CFO for a SaaS startup cost?

My retained fractional CFO engagements for SaaS startups are priced based on scope and hours required per month. Because every SaaS company is different in complexity, stage, and finance needs, I don’t publish a fixed monthly rate. Book a free intro call and we’ll discuss your specific requirements — I’ll put together a tailored proposal based on what you actually need.

Q: Fractional CFO vs full-time CFO — which is right for a SaaS startup?

A fractional CFO is the right choice for most SaaS companies under $20M ARR that need CFO-level strategic finance but can’t justify or afford a full-time hire. A full-time CFO typically may become the right move at $15M+ ARR, when preparing for a Series B or later round, or when the volume of finance work requires dedicated full-time capacity. Until then, a fractional engagement gives you the expertise without the overhead.

Q: Do you work with bootstrapped companies or only venture-backed startups?

I work with both. Whether you’re bootstrapped, angel-funded, or venture-backed, the need for disciplined financial leadership is the same. Fundraising support is one part of what I do — it’s not a requirement for working together.

Q: Is this a long-term contract or a month-to-month engagement?

All of my retained fractional CFO engagements are month-to-month. There’s no long-term contract or minimum commitment. I earn continued engagement by delivering value every month.

Q: What SaaS metrics does a fractional SaaS CFO track and report?

As a fractional SaaS CFO, I track and report the full metrics stack: Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), MRR Growth Rate, Gross Revenue Retention, Net Revenue Retention, Customer Churn Rate, Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), CAC Payback Period, Customer Lifetime Value (LTV), LTV/CAC Ratio, Gross Margin, and the Rule of 40. I report both historical actuals and forward-looking forecasted metrics, benchmarked against your peer cohort.

Q: Can we start with a one-time project before committing to a monthly retainer?

Yes. I offer a standalone SaaS Metrics Assessment as a starting point — a one-time engagement where I assess the health of your SaaS finance data and calculate your key metrics. Many clients start there and move to a retained engagement after seeing the output.