Most providers hide their pricing. We publish ours. A transparent breakdown of what fractional CFO services cost in the UK — by stage, provider type, and engagement model.
Most fractional CFO providers hide their pricing behind a "contact us" button. We think that's a mistake. Founders managing cash tightly need to know what things cost before they pick up the phone — not after a 30-minute sales call.
This page gives you the real numbers: what the UK market charges, what drives the cost, and how AccTek's integrated model compares.
| Provider Type | Monthly Cost | Includes Accounting? | Billing Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFO placement firm FD Capital, The CFO Centre |
£3,000–£7,000 | No — separate accountant needed | Day rate (£600–£1,400/day) |
| Standalone fractional CFO Individual practitioners |
£2,000–£5,000 | No — separate accountant needed | Monthly retainer or day rate |
| SaaS-specialist fractional CFO ScaleWithCFO, SaaS Fractional CFO |
£2,500–£6,000 | No — separate accountant needed | Fixed monthly retainer |
| Integrated accounting + CFO AccTek and similar firms |
£1,500–£6,000 | Yes — accounting included | Fixed monthly retainer |
| Full-time CFO hire | £16,500–£21,500 | No — separate accountant needed | Salary + NI + pension |
The critical column is "Includes Accounting?" — most fractional CFO providers don't do compliance. You still need a bookkeeper (£200–£500/month) and an accountant (£150–£300/month) on top. That's £350–£800 of additional cost that integrated providers include in their fee.
Every tier includes full accounting and tax compliance as standard. The CFO layer builds on top — same team, same data, one fee.
Not all fractional CFO engagements cost the same. Here's what moves the price up or down:
A SaaS startup with cohort-level MRR analysis costs more than a simple services business with one revenue stream.
Active fundraise periods (model building, data room, due diligence support) require more CFO time than steady-state months.
More employees means more complex payroll, EMI scheme administration, and hiring plan modelling.
UK + US subsidiary, intercompany transactions, or international payroll adds complexity and cost.
Quarterly calls vs monthly calls vs weekly half-days. More access = higher retainer.
SEIS/EIS structuring, R&D claims, and EMI schemes each add specialist work.
| Factor | Day Rate | Monthly Retainer |
|---|---|---|
| Cost predictability | Variable — depends on hours used | Fixed — same fee every month |
| Founder behaviour | Hesitate to call (it costs money) | Call whenever needed (it's included) |
| CFO engagement | Transactional — deliverable per day | Embedded — ongoing relationship |
| Async access | Rarely included | Usually included (Slack/email) |
| Cash management | Harder to forecast | One predictable line item |
| Best for | One-off projects (model build) | Ongoing CFO relationship |
AccTek uses fixed monthly retainers exclusively. No day rates, no hourly billing, no surprise invoices. The same approach we apply to accounting — predictable pricing so founders can budget with confidence.
Book a free 30-minute call. We'll assess your needs and give you a fixed monthly price — no surprises.
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