Services / Fractional Controller
Fractional controller services
A fractional controller owns your month-end close, internal controls, and financial accuracy on a part-time basis — typically $2,000–$6,000/month versus $130K+ for a full-time hire. It's the right role when your books exist but you can't fully trust them, or your close drags past 15 days.
The missing middle of your finance team
Most growing businesses jump from "we have a bookkeeper" straight to "maybe we need a CFO" — and skip the role that actually fixes their problem. A controller is the layer between recording transactions and setting strategy: the person who makes the numbers right, on time, and trustworthy. Until that layer exists, a CFO would be building forecasts on sand.
What your fractional controller owns
- The month-end close — a day-by-day close calendar, run to a deadline, every month
- GAAP-compliant financials — accrual accounting, revenue recognition, financials a bank or investor will accept
- Internal controls — approval workflows, segregation of duties, fraud-resistant processes
- Bookkeeper management — reviewing and directing your existing bookkeeping (in-house or ours)
- Audit & diligence prep — clean schedules and support when the auditors or acquirers show up
- Reporting cadence — monthly financial statements delivered on a date you can put in your calendar
Signs you need a controller now
Your close takes more than 15 days
By the time you see January's numbers it's March, and every decision in between was a guess.
Your CPA keeps finding errors
Tax season becomes an archaeology project. Restated numbers erode every stakeholder's trust — including yours.
An audit or due diligence is coming
A lender, investor, or acquirer is about to look hard at your books. Controllers exist for exactly this moment.
What it costs
| Role | Hourly | Monthly engagement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fractional Controller | $75 – $125/hr | $2,000 – $6,000/mo | Owns month-end close, controls, GAAP financials |
Typical 2026 market ranges. Your exact quote depends on scope, seniority, and industry — we confirm pricing in your intro call, before any commitment. Last verified: August 2026.
Compare that to a full-time controller at $130K–$180K plus benefits and a months-long search. For a deeper breakdown, our pricing page covers every role we place.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between a controller and a CFO?
A controller ensures your numbers are right and on time — the close, the controls, the compliance. A CFO uses those numbers to drive strategy — forecasting, fundraising, board work. If your financials aren't reliable yet, the controller comes first.
What’s the difference between a controller and a senior accountant?
A senior accountant executes accounting work under direction. A controller owns the outcome: they run the close calendar, review everyone else's work, design the controls, and sign off that the financials are right.
How much does a fractional controller cost?
Typically $2,000–$6,000 per month, or $75–$125 per hour — versus $130K–$180K plus benefits for a full-time controller. Full ranges are on our pricing page.
Can a controller really work part-time?
Yes — for most businesses under about $25M revenue, the close, review, and controls work is genuinely part-time once the process is set up. The first month or two usually runs heavier while the controller fixes the close process itself.
How fast should our month-end close be?
A healthy close for a small-to-mid-size business is 5–10 business days. If yours takes 15 or more, that's usually a process-ownership gap — exactly what a controller fixes first.
Get a close you can set your watch to
One intro call: we'll look at your current close, tell you what a controller would change in the first 90 days, and quote it exactly.
Book an intro callPrefer email? Use the contact form instead.