Best virtual CFO services

Hiring a full-time chief financial officer (CFO) can be prohibitively expensive, especially for growing startups and small businesses with limited runway. 

Virtual CFO services can help you bridge that gap, providing top-tier financial expertise on demand, so you only pay for what you need.

Let’s review seven of the best virtual CFO services to consider in 2025.

1. Zeni fractional CFO services

Zeni is a comprehensive financial management platform that offers bookkeeping, tax, payroll, and fractional CFO services. Clients also gain access to a full suite of financial products, including bill payment software and a business credit card.

All offerings are accessible through a single integrated dashboard that leverages AI to streamline workflows. Our new AI agents make this more intuitive than ever, like our AI CFO agent, which can automate processes as complex as scenario planning.

Our platform specializes in helping startups scale, whether you’re still in the seed stage or already navigating priced rounds. As a result, our professionals have deep expertise in industries like e-commerce, consulting, and SaaS.

Zeni’s fractional CFO service can help you navigate complex financial decisions on your path to growth. Some of our primary advisory services include:

• Business planning and structuring
• Financial modeling and forecasting
• Budgeting and cash flow management
• Financial reporting and compliance
• Strategic planning and risk management
• Fundraising and investor relations
• Mergers and acquisitions (M&A)

Our CFO Starter plan includes annual budgeting, budget vs. actual analysis, and a 12-month cash flow forecast for $1,500 per month ($1,350 billed annually) and a one-time $2,000 setup fee.

The CFO Growth tier adds financial modeling, scenario planning, and KPI tracking for $2,900 per month ($2,610 billed annually) and a $6,000 setup fee. For additional services, we offer custom plans via our CFO Enterprise package.

2. Pilot

Pilot is a financial service provider that offers bookkeeping, tax, COO, and virtual CFO services. It offers a tech-forward experience, boasting an AI chatbot and integrations with over 250 popular finance tools.

The firm specializes in serving startups and small businesses across various industries. More specifically, they call out consumer goods, professional services, medical technology, consultancies, and law firms.

At the start of each engagement, Pilot’s remote CFO services build a customized model for your business, which includes:

• Foundational financial statements
• Budgets vs. actuals variance analysis
• Industry-specific KPI dashboard
• Headcount and compensation plans
• Scenario planning (base, bull, and bear cases)

After building the model, your CFO will meet with you to review the company’s financial health on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. 

That involves updating your model, analyzing the variances between budgeted and actual results, and giving personalized strategic guidance.

The frequency of your meetings and the scope of your CFO’s efforts depend on your plan. Pilot offers three different subscription options: 

• Basic: Starts at $1,750 per month, billed annually or $2,000 per month billed quarterly. Includes monthly calls.
• Essentials: Starts at $3,150 per month billed annually or $3,600 per month billed quarterly. Includes bi-weekly calls and expanded services, like fundraising and M&A support.
• Custom: Starts at $5,250 per month, billed annually or $6,000 per month billed quarterly. Includes weekly calls and even more potential services, such as compensation planning and 13-week cash flow analysis.

3. inDinero

inDinero is a financial management company that provides a wide variety of services. Its offerings include accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, business tax, tech implementation, and outsourced CFO services.

The firm’s interim CFO department works with everything from small business owners to enterprise-level organizations, specializing in the tech, professional services, nonprofit, e-commerce, and healthcare industries.

It organizes its services into the following categories:

• Interim CFO: Strategic financial leadership to guide you through challenging periods with financial planning and analysis, cash flow optimization, and more.
• Financial modeling: Custom financial models to help inform decision-making, as well as services like financial forecasting, budgeting, and profitability analysis.
• Business exit strategy: Assistance in navigating the complexities of business exits, including succession planning, business valuation, and tax strategy.
• Investor relations: Keep stakeholders informed with customized investor reporting, crisis management, and performance analysis.
• Fundraising support: Navigate the fundraising process with pitch deck preparation, term sheet negotiation, and investment structuring.
• Mergers and acquisitions: Handle M&A complexity with due diligence support, valuation services, and deal negotiation and structuring assistance.

Unfortunately, inDinero doesn’t publicly disclose its pricing, but you can call for a quote based on your unique business needs. For context, its virtual bookkeeping services range from $750 to $1,250 per month.

4. Paro

Paro is a financial services marketplace that uses AI to match your business with an expert from its talent pool. Its algorithms connect you with the professional who has the skills and experience best suited to your unique business needs.

The platform’s consultants include elite fractional CFOs, primarily from Fortune 500 companies and top CPA firms, like the Big Four. Their professionals have an average of 15 years of experience and are based entirely in the U.S.

Paro’s main fractional CFO services include:

• Business process consulting: Enhance operational efficiency with a consultant whose actionable insights can help you identify opportunities to cut costs, improve cash flow, and refine workflows.
• Growth strategy support: Get a comprehensive growth roadmap from an experienced financial expert, whether you’re working on your go-to-market strategy or defining long-term milestones.
• Startup fundraising assistance: Streamline your debt or equity financing efforts with reporting guidance, financial insight, and analytical support from professionals with direct startup experience.
• Transaction advisory services: Get financial operations support that can help you secure potential deals, perform buy-side due diligence, and increase your negotiation power.

Because Paro is more of an intermediary than a direct CFO service provider, it doesn’t have subscription plans like some of the others on this list. Instead, it lets you negotiate pricing directly with the consultant you decide to hire.

5. Preferred CFO

Preferred CFO is an outsourced CFO advisory and human resources (HR) firm that provides business consulting services exclusively in those areas. It can help with one-time projects or long-term financial leadership, depending on your needs.

The firm’s CFO advisory services are primarily aimed at small businesses and startups, with a focus on SaaS. Some of its specialities include:

• Financial controller: Get accurate financial reports, cash flow management, and forward-looking projections to help you make informed business decisions.
• Financial strategy: Access a range of customizable financial services, including profitability analysis, short- and long-term forecasting, and vendor negotiation.
• Systems implementation: Transform disparate financial workflows into a cohesive system that can facilitate your growth goals efficiently.
• Raising capital: Gain access to a network of lenders and investors, plus personalized guidance in securing fundraising for your business.

Preferred CFO may be a good fit for SaaS businesses, especially if you’re also interested in the firm’s outsourced HR services, which include recruiting, benefits administration, and payroll management. Contact the firm for pricing details.

6. CFO Hub

CFO Hub is an outsourced CFO service, controller, and consulting firm. In addition to its fractional CFO and controller services, it offers back-office support, DCAA compliance, audit and due diligence readiness, R&D tax credit filing, and HR services.

It has offices across the country, including several throughout California, as well as one apiece in New York, Texas, and Washington D.C. This can make it an attractive option if you prefer face-to-face interaction and do business nearby.

CFO Hub’s main fractional CFO services include:

• Strategic financial planning: Develop strategic roadmaps designed to help you capitalize on growth opportunities, achieve your business objectives, and track your financial performance along the way.
• Budgeting and forecasting: Build sophisticated forecasting models, budget frameworks for individual departments, and scenario planning tools to help you prepare for a range of potential outcomes.
• Capital raise support: Help businesses develop compelling brand narratives rooted in hard data. This includes developing investor presentations, financial statements, and due diligence materials.
• Risk management: Design and implement robust internal controls to help minimize financial risks, allowing you to pursue growth without worrying about regulatory compliance issues.
• Exit strategies and M&A: End-to-end transaction support that helps maximize valuations, as well as professional guidance through initial public offerings (IPO), M&A arrangements, and succession planning.

To get pricing details, you have to schedule a free consultation. The CFO Hub team will review your needs so they can develop a scope of work for your engagement and provide you with a reasonable estimate.

7. airCFO

airCFO is a financial and operations service provider that aims to provide comprehensive internal infrastructure support for your back office. Its core offerings include finance, taxes, HR, and accounting services.

Across all four, airCFO specializes in serving startups. In fact, it structures its offerings around the following stages of development: pre-seed stage, seed stage, Series A stage, and Series B+ stage.

Here’s what airCFO’s finance services include:

• Fractional CFO support: This includes cash flow management, vendor negotiations, and advanced reporting and analysis.
• Full-cycle fundraise advisory: Get expert financial guidance in securing venture capital financing, including board reporting, investor relations, and cap table management.
• Financial planning and analysis: This includes financial modeling, budgeting, metric tracking, and transaction advisory services. 

The pricing structure for airCFO’s finance services varies depending on your stage of development. Pre-seed startups with less than $2M raised, less than $50K in monthly expenses, and less than $25K in monthly revenue pay $400 per hour.

For those beyond that stage of development, the monthly pricing starts at:

• $1,600: For seed startups with $2M to $10M raised, $50K to $200K in monthly expenses, and $25K to $100K in monthly revenue.
• $2,500: For Series A startups with $10M to $30M raised, $200K to $500K in monthly expenses, and $100K to $300K in monthly revenue.
• $4,200: For Series B+ startups with $30M+ raised, $500K+ in monthly expenses, and $300K+ in monthly revenue.

The Takeaway

Virtual CFO services provide the strategic financial guidance your business needs to grow—without the high price tag of a traditional CFO. 

The model lets you dial hours up during critical transition periods or cut them back when you want to save by reducing your fractional CFO cost.

Fortunately, there are many great providers to choose from, with options tailored to every kind of business. For example, startups should consider a virtual CFO firm like Zeni, Paro, or airCFO.

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