How Fractional CFOs Help Small Businesses Grow Smarter

Many small business owners know they need better financial leadership—but don’t need (or can’t justify) a full-time CFO.

In this episode of the Empowering Healthy Business, Cal Wilder sits down with Dave Hartley, who leads the client advisory and fractional CFO practice at Ander CPA, to break down how fractional (virtual) CFO services really work—and how to use them successfully.

This conversation is designed for small businesses under $20M in revenue that need strategic financial guidance without the cost or complexity of a full-time CFO.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What a fractional CFO actually does (and doesn’t do)

Signs your business is ready for a fractional CFO

The difference between bookkeeping, controller, and CFO work

Fractional CFO vs full-time CFO: key tradeoffs

How onboarding works and how fast value should show up

What business owners should expect (and still own)

Common expectation mismatches that cause failed engagements

Pricing models: hourly vs fixed vs access-based

How to evaluate providers and avoid low-value solutions

When it’s time to “graduate” from fractional to full-time CFO

How fractional CFOs help with forecasting, margins, KPIs, and decision-making

Why trust, transparency, and partnership matter more than reports

This episode is especially valuable if you’re frustrated with backward-looking financial reports and want forward-looking insight to help you grow profitably.

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