# Fractional CFO

Concept · [Talent and hiring](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/talent)

Also called: fractional chief financial officer, part-time CFO, virtual CFO, outsourced CFO, CFO as a service

A part-time chief financial officer. They handle the money side a bookkeeper does not: forecasts, budgets, [cash runway](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/runway), pricing, and preparing for a fundraise or a sale.

**For example:** Before raising a [seed round](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/seed), a [founder](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/founder) brings in a fractional CFO to build a financial model and answer investors' questions about [burn rate](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/burn-rate) and [runway](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/runway).

## Connects to (5)

- [Fractional executive](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/fractional-executive): An experienced leader who works for several companies at once, each for part of the week, usually for a monthly fee.
- [Burn rate](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/burn-rate): How fast your company is using up its cash, usually counted per month.
- [Runway](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/runway): How many months your company can keep going before the money in the bank runs out, if spending stays the same.
- [Unit economics](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/unit-economics): Whether you make or lose money on one customer or one sale, once you count what it cost to win and serve them.
- [Due diligence](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/due-diligence): The checking an investor or buyer does before committing money: reviewing your finances, legal documents, product and the claims you have…

> This glossary is plain-language orientation, not legal or financial advice. Before you decide on a company structure, a contract, taxes or a fundraising deal, talk with a lawyer or an accountant.

Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/fractional-cfo