What does a fractional or outsourced CFO actually cost?
Short answer: most South African fractional/outsourced CFO arrangements fall in the R15,000-R60,000/month range, depending on hours and scope. One provider we've verified (SMTAX) publishes R15,000/month for 10 hours as their entry rate — a real, current data point, not an industry-wide average.
What actually drives the price
- Hours per month — a few hours of high-level input costs far less than 15-20 hours of hands-on involvement
- Scope — pure strategic advice vs. hands-on forecasting, reporting, and team leadership
- Business complexity — multiple revenue lines, entities, or a fundraising process all add real time
- Seniority — someone with 20+ years and named corporate experience typically commands a higher rate than a newer practitioner
Fractional CFO vs full-time CFO cost
| Typical cost | |
|---|---|
| Fractional / outsourced CFO | R15,000-R60,000/month |
| Full-time CFO (salary + benefits) | R800,000-R1,500,000/year (≈ R66,000-R125,000/month) |
For most businesses under roughly 100 employees, the fractional model gets you the same strategic capability at a fraction of the full-time cost — which is exactly why it's become the more common starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there such a wide price range?+
Because scope varies enormously — a few hours a month of strategic input costs very differently to 15-20 hours a month of hands-on forecasting, reporting and board involvement. Business size and complexity matter more than the title.
Is it cheaper to just hire a full-time CFO?+
For most SMEs, no. A full-time CFO in South Africa typically costs R800,000-R1,500,000/year including benefits and overhead — multiples of what a fractional arrangement costs for most businesses that don't yet need someone full-time.
Do providers charge a setup or onboarding fee?+
It varies by provider. Ask directly when you get matched — we don't add any fee of our own on top of what the provider charges.
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