This Fractional CFO ROI calculator compares the true cost of hiring a full-time CFO versus a fractional CFO for Australian SMEs.
See cost breakdowns, savings analysis, and ROI metrics to make an informed decision about financial leadership.
Compare the cost and value of a Full-Time CFO vs Fractional CFO for your Australian business
Our Fractional CFO packages start from just $3,000/month with no lock-in contracts. Get the strategic expertise you need, exactly when you need it.
This calculator provides estimates based on industry averages for Australian SMEs. Full-time CFO costs include base salary plus on-costs (super, leave, recruitment). Fractional CFO pricing shown is indicative; actual costs vary based on your specific needs. Learn more about Scale Suite's services.
Purpose:
Designed for Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), founders, and business owners, this calculator demonstrates the financial and strategic benefits of fractional CFO services versus hiring a full-time Chief Financial Officer. Input your revenue, current finance spend, and financial visibility rating to receive a comprehensive cost comparison, savings analysis, and ROI projection. Ideal for businesses considering strategic financial leadership but unsure whether to hire full-time or engage fractional expertise.
Tips for Ongoing Use:
Bookmark this page (Ctrl+D or Cmd+D) and revisit it as your business grows, particularly when crossing revenue milestones like $2M, $5M, or $10M where financial complexity increases significantly. Use the calculator to justify fractional CFO investment to co-founders, boards, or investors by showing concrete ROI. Recalculate annually to assess whether your needs have evolved to warrant a full-time CFO (typically at $20M+ revenue with complex operations).
Understanding CFO Services Basics:
Most Australian SMEs between $1M-20M revenue need strategic financial guidance but don't require a full-time CFO's 40-hour-per-week commitment. A full-time CFO costs $150,000-250,000+ in salary alone, plus on-costs (superannuation, leave, payroll tax, workers compensation, recruitment fees, benefits, training). Total employment costs typically reach $195,000-350,000 annually. Meanwhile, the actual CFO-level work in a $5M business might only require 8-15 hours per week. A fractional CFO provides senior-level strategic financial leadership on a part-time or project basis, typically at $3,000-6,000/month depending on your needs and complexity.
Key CFO Services:
1. Strategic financial planning and multi-year modelling
2. Cash flow management and 13-week rolling forecasts
3. Financial reporting, KPI dashboards, and board reporting
4. Budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis
5. Profitability analysis and pricing strategy
6. Systems improvement and financial controls
7. Risk management and scenario planning
Benefits for SMEs:
Fractional CFO services typically save 70-85% of full-time CFO costs while delivering 80%+ of strategic value. For a $5M revenue business, that's $150,000+ in annual savings reinvestable in growth. You gain immediate access to senior expertise without 3-6 month recruitment, avoid hiring risk (wrong person costs 2-3x salary to fix), and maintain flexibility to scale up or down.
Additional Resources:
Explore Scale Suite’s resources for additional insights.
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