Best Fractional CFOs for Small Businesses

Best Fractional CFOs for Small Businesses

Fractional CFO Services for Small Businesses
Running a small business today is no small feat. From navigating unpredictable markets to managing growth, entrepreneurs wear many hats, but one of the hardest to juggle is the finance hat. That’s where Fractional CFOs for Small Businesses step in.
These professionals are changing the way founders think about financial leadership. They’re not just accountants for hire; they’re strategic partners who bring enterprise-level financial insight to small teams at a fraction of the cost of a full-time executive.
Across industries, from tech startups to family-owned shops, Fractional CFOs are driving smarter decisions, sustainable growth, and better cash management. And in today’s economy, where agility often defines success, this new model of on-demand financial leadership is exactly what small businesses need.
This curated list from Digital Reference showcases some of the most accomplished and trusted Fractional CFOs serving small businesses around the world. Some are independent consultants, others lead their own firms, and many collaborate with broader teams. But they all share one goal: to help small businesses thrive through smarter financial strategy.
Our Methodology: How We Selected the Best Fractional CFOs for Small Businesses
Finding the right financial partner for a small business takes more than browsing LinkedIn. At Digital Reference, we dive deep. Our evaluation process involves research, interviews, portfolio reviews, and client feedback so that every name on our list represents true impact.
We looked at:
- Proven results in helping small businesses grow profitably
- Expertise in cash flow management, forecasting, and strategic planning
- Client testimonials highlighting clarity, collaboration, and trust
- The ability to scale systems and processes efficiently
- A clear philosophy of service tailored for small business realities
What makes our list unique is its diversity; we’ve included CFOs who work independently, lead niche consultancies, or contribute to established firms. They operate across industries and borders but share a unified mission: to empower business owners with confidence and control.
🌟 Meet the Leading Fractional CFOs for Small Businesses
🔴 Matthew Roberts
Fractional CFO, Financial Strategy Consultant and Founder at Spear Capital Strategy
Matthew Roberts is known for his precision and foresight in helping small and mid-sized businesses gain financial control. With decades of experience spanning financial modeling, forecasting, and strategic planning, Matthew transforms financial confusion into clarity.
He’s particularly skilled at guiding companies through periods of scaling and change, ensuring they stay grounded in data-backed decisions. Entrepreneurs describe him as approachable, sharp, and deeply invested in their success.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Strategic forecasting and data analysis
🌟 Business scaling through process-driven finance
🔎 Financial visibility and performance optimization
🏷️ Calm, communicative leadership for growing teams
🔴 Jason Hope
Fractional CFO, Bookkeeping for Small Businesses and Founder of Hope Financial Consulting, LLC
Jason Hope has built his reputation helping small business owners not just survive but thrive. His expertise lies in optimizing cash flow and boosting profitability, particularly for owner-managed enterprises.
What sets Jason apart is his ability to simplify complex financial situations. He delivers actionable strategies that make sense to entrepreneurs without finance backgrounds. Clients say Jason doesn’t just hand over reports he teaches them how to use numbers to make smarter choices.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Cash flow and profitability optimization
🌟 Strategic business planning for small enterprises
🔎 Financial clarity and communication
🏷️ Empowering owners through financial education
🔴 Gireaud Joseph, EA, MST
Fractional CFO & Tax Advisor for Small Businesses and Startups | Founder & CEO at BCS Advisory Group
With a blend of tax expertise and financial management, Gireaud Joseph has become a go-to advisor for small business owners across industries. As the founder of BATS LLC, Gireaud has built a firm known for helping clients navigate tax complexity while building stronger financial systems.
He combines entrepreneurial understanding with deep technical knowledge whether he’s optimizing cash flow, managing compliance, or structuring long-term growth strategies. Clients value his transparency and his ability to break down sophisticated financial topics into clear, manageable insights.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Tax strategy and compliance for small businesses
🌟 Cash flow management and budget optimization
🔎 Long-term planning and capital structuring
🏷️ Holistic guidance across finance and taxation
🔴 Shane Bender
Fractional CFO, Business Advisor and Founder, Bender CFO Services
🔗 LinkedIn
Shane Bender’s mission is simple: help small businesses scale sustainably. Through Bender CFO Services, he delivers fractional CFO and consulting support that blends analytics, forecasting, and real-world business sense.
Shane’s background in corporate finance and accounting gives him a solid technical foundation, but his biggest strength lies in his ability to relate to entrepreneurs. He understands the pressure of managing payroll, forecasting growth, and balancing expansion with stability — and his advice reflects that understanding.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Forecasting and long-term financial planning
🌟 Profitability tracking and growth modeling
🔎 Cloud-based finance solutions for modern teams
🏷️ Financial storytelling that guides decision-making
🔴 David Carr
Fractional CFO, Advisor to Funds and Small businesses and Compliance Officer at Collective Equity
With extensive experience supporting startups and small business operations, David Carr has earned a reputation for clarity and precision. He specializes in helping organizations build reliable financial frameworks that support growth and resilience.
David’s approach emphasizes collaboration — he works closely with founders to align financial insights with overall business goals. His ability to forecast accurately and identify key financial levers makes him a trusted partner for leaders seeking control and confidence.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Budgeting and forecasting expertise
🌟 Financial systems setup and optimization
🔎 Strategic analysis and profitability improvement
🏷️ Founder-focused communication and clarity
🔴 Daniel Graham, CPA
Fractional CFO | Certified Public Accountant
🔗 LinkedIn
Daniel Graham has supported countless small businesses through complex financial transitions from startup growth to restructuring. As a CPA, he blends technical accuracy with big-picture vision, helping owners turn financial data into strategic advantage.
Daniel’s work is especially recognized for his meticulous attention to detail. Whether guiding clients through tax audits or cash flow crises, he offers grounded, actionable support that earns long-term trust.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Accounting accuracy and compliance assurance
🌟 Strategic decision support and growth forecasting
🔎 Budget restructuring and optimization
🏷️ Trusted financial partnership for small business owners
🔴 Erik Friedmann
Fractional CFO for start-ups and small businesses / Founder at Nuli Financial
🔗 LinkedIn
As the founder of Nüli Financial, Erik Friedmann represents a new generation of fractional CFOs data-driven, technology-savvy, and deeply aligned with business growth. His firm focuses on helping small and mid-sized businesses modernize their finance systems and scale confidently.
Erik’s clients praise his ability to combine operational insight with financial foresight. From automation to analytics, he integrates tools and strategies that save time and enhance visibility.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Automation and tech-driven financial processes
🌟 Forecasting and model-building for growth
🔎 System optimization and efficiency
🏷️ Collaborative leadership across finance and operations
🔴 Casey Holt
Fractional CFO | Financial Consultant
🔗 LinkedIn
Casey Holt thrives on helping small businesses get their financial footing right from the start. His background spans accounting, strategic finance, and small business development, giving him a unique understanding of what makes small companies succeed.
Casey is known for building customized financial models that give business owners clarity about their current and future financial positions. His clients describe him as practical, insightful, and refreshingly transparent.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Financial modeling for clarity and growth
🌟 Business process improvement and scalability
🔎 Budget management and forecasting
🏷️ Real-world strategies tailored to entrepreneurs
🔴 Jade (Demoss) Badger
Fractional CFO, Bookkeeper and Founder at Badger’s Financial Services
🔗 LinkedIn
Jade Badger is the kind of fractional CFO small business owners dream of having on their side: approachable, insightful, and deeply rooted in hands-on business management. As the founder of Badger’s Financial Services, she focuses on helping small businesses build healthy cash flow habits, tighten their bookkeeping systems, and prepare their financial data for confident decision-making.
She doesn’t just balance spreadsheets she helps owners balance their business and lifestyle goals. With her background in small enterprise finance and operations, Jade’s expertise bridges both strategic and tactical needs.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Cash flow planning and financial clarity for owner-operated businesses
🌟 Empowering small business owners through financial literacy
🔎 Streamlining accounting systems for more transparent reporting
🏷️ Personalized financial strategy that scales as the business grows
🔴 Casey Ford
Fractional CFO, Foudner and CDEO at Guided Accounting
🔗 LinkedIn
Casey Ford approaches small business finance with one goal: to guide entrepreneurs toward smarter, data-backed decisions. Through his firm, Guided Accounting, he’s built a reputation for translating complex numbers into actionable business stories. His calm, clear approach makes him a trusted partner for small business founders who feel overwhelmed by the financial side of growth.
With years of experience advising startups, local service providers, and small-scale manufacturers, Casey offers flexible financial leadership without the heavy full-time price tag.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Growth-focused planning and forecasting
🌟 Budget optimization for lean, high-efficiency teams
🔎 Simplified reporting and analytics dashboards
🏷️ CFO guidance for early-stage businesses transitioning into maturity
🔴 Judy Brinegar
Fractional CFO Consultant
🔗 LinkedIn
Judy Brinegar is a long-time finance leader with a passion for helping small business owners understand not just what their numbers mean, but why they matter. Her experience spans multiple sectors, giving her a uniquely flexible and seasoned perspective when helping clients stabilize cash flow and plan for steady, manageable growth.
Small business owners praise Judy for her ability to bring calm and order to chaotic books. Whether she’s refining budgets or developing more disciplined forecasting, Judy’s work transforms data into clarity and confidence.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Business financial strategy for sustainability
🌟 Process improvement and financial controls
🔎 Practical advice for non-financial founders
🏷️ Long-term mentorship for small business finance teams
🔴 Robert Maietta, MBA
Fractional CFO, Founder & President at Survival CFO LLC
🔗 LinkedIn
With an MBA and years of executive-level financial leadership, Robert Maietta combines academic rigor with a hands-on understanding of how small companies thrive. He helps founders craft solid financial structures that not only ensure day-to-day performance but also prepare for growth and potential exits.
Robert’s expertise lies in helping businesses adopt the mindset and systems of larger companies without losing their agility. His clients consistently note how his blend of data analytics and leadership mentoring helps them think like CFOs themselves.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Financial modeling for long-term business scalability
🌟 Financial leadership and team alignment
🔎 KPI development and goal tracking
🏷️ Data-informed decision frameworks for entrepreneurs
🔴 Scott Emerson
Fractional CFO for Small & Mid Sized Businesses at FocusCFO
🔗 LinkedIn
Scott Emerson brings more than just technical expertise he brings an entrepreneur’s empathy. Having worked with a range of small companies and start-ups, Scott knows firsthand the pressure of managing finances while trying to grow a business.
He excels at helping business owners understand their numbers without financial jargon, implementing forecasting tools that reveal opportunities for better profitability. Scott’s holistic approach focuses on connecting financial health with operational success.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Hands-on business coaching and financial strategy
🌟 Building scalable systems that grow with the company
🔎 Profitability analysis and cost efficiency improvements
🏷️ Simplifying financial operations for non-accountants
🔴 Alfraz Nathoo (Raz)
CEO & Founder | Fractional CFO at Ventiga
🔗 LinkedIn
Known to most as Raz, Alfraz Nathoo is a high-energy fractional CFO who thrives at the intersection of technology and small business finance. At Ventiga, he leads organizations through digital transformation in accounting and reporting ensuring even small teams have access to enterprise-level insights.
Raz’s work reflects his deep understanding that today’s small businesses need agility, transparency, and tech-savvy guidance. He’s also an educator at heart, helping clients implement systems that they can manage confidently post-engagement.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Cloud-based financial management
🌟 Tech integration and automation for small business finance
🔎 Modern accounting solutions for lean teams
🏷️ CFO consulting for small tech-enabled firms
🔴 Adam Bent, MBA
Fractional CFO & Finance Executive
🔗 LinkedIn
With a strong background in corporate finance and business transformation, Adam Bent helps small businesses achieve a level of financial discipline typically reserved for larger firms. His MBA-trained analytical approach blends seamlessly with his entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to design strategies that balance ambition with reality.
Adam’s style is practical, data-driven, and growth-minded. He helps clients define measurable success metrics, manage resources effectively, and prepare for strategic scaling — all while keeping the founder’s vision intact.
💡 Key strengths:
🧭 Strategic planning and budget optimization
🌟 Leadership through data-driven insights
🔎 Business restructuring and capital management
🏷️ Scalable financial frameworks for growing enterprises
How Fractional CFOs Empower Small Businesses Everywhere
The professionals above show that fractional CFOs are no longer reserved for enterprise-scale firms; they’re the backbone of modern small business success. These consultants bring high-level expertise to companies that can’t yet justify a full-time CFO, giving them the chance to think strategically about money, growth, and sustainability.
Whether it’s cash flow forecasting, profit optimization, or financial system automation, fractional CFOs give small businesses access to big-league insights. They provide clarity, structure, and confidence, the three pillars of lasting growth.
At Digital Reference, we’re not just building lists; we’re connecting business leaders with proven experts. Our methodology involves:
- Deep research on professional performance and client impact
- Reviewing leadership philosophies and service styles
- Evaluating transparency, communication, and adaptability across industries
Every consultant we feature has been evaluated for their impact, clarity, and fit with small business needs. We prioritize professionals who help business owners understand their finances, not just outsource them.
The Recap: Small Business Finance, Reimagined
Fractional CFOs give small businesses access to strategic financial leadership without the full-time cost, but beyond that, they give owners something even more valuable: financial confidence.
From Jade Badger’s empowering guidance to Adam Bent’s strategic frameworks, each of these experts proves that great financial direction isn’t about size; it’s about mindset.
In today’s competitive world, the right fractional CFO isn’t just a partner; they’re a growth catalyst.
At Digital Reference, we believe in empowering businesses through expertise. Whether you’re a small business owner, a start-up founder, or a growing enterprise, the right fractional CFO can reshape your financial future.
Our mission is simple: build a more efficient talent ecosystem leveraging data, transparency, and authenticity.
You can explore even more curated lists and insights on Digital Reference:
🏷️ Best Fractional CFOs in Columbus
🏷️ Best Fractional CFOs in Sydney
🏷️ Best Fractional CFOs in London
Because when it comes to scaling your small business, having the right fractional CFO isn’t just an advantage; it’s your next big move.
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