Fractional CFO for Startups — Financial Clarity That Fuels Your Next Big Move
For founders ready to scale fast — we build investor-ready models, streamlined systems, and the financial story that wins capital and drives growth.
Johnson Strategic Advisory is a fractional CFO firm for tech startups and growth-stage businesses. Whether you need affordable fractional CFO services, financial consulting for your startup, or a seasoned finance partner to get you raise-ready — we bring the strategic firepower of a full-time CFO at a fraction of the cost. Based in New York, serving founders nationwide and across Latin America.
We've Been Where You Are.
Most CFOs advise from the sidelines. We've built companies from the ground up — multiple times. We've worn every hat, navigated every stage, and exited successfully.
Now we help other founders do the same — with the financial clarity, discipline, and strategic firepower that only comes from having lived it.
"Every founder deserves a CFO who's been on their side of the table."
Bryan J. Johnson
Founder & Principal Advisor
Meet the Founder- ✓ Preparing for a seed or Series A raise
- ✓ Revenue growing but the back office can't keep up
- ✓ Outgrown DIY bookkeeping and spreadsheets
- ✓ Bootstrapped and optimizing for exit or acquisition
- ✓ Expanding into the U.S. or Latin America
Built by a Founder, for Founders
We didn't learn business from a textbook. We learned it by building companies from scratch — wearing every hat, making payroll, closing deals, and navigating the chaos that comes before the clarity. After multiple successful exits, we turned that experience into a mission: helping other founders build with the financial backbone we wish we'd had from day one. Led by Bryan Johnson, a serial founder turned strategic advisor.
We've Sat in Your Chair
We've been the founder staring at a messy P&L at midnight. That firsthand experience means we don't just advise — we anticipate, because we've lived every stage you're going through.
Operators First, Advisors Second
Sales, ops, product, finance — we've run every function inside a company. That cross-functional fluency means our financial strategy actually maps to how your business works, not just how spreadsheets say it should.
Built to Exit, Wired to Scale
We've taken companies from zero to exit — more than once. Every model we build, every system we implement, is designed with the endgame in mind: a business that's fundable, scalable, and ready for what's next.
Founder-Led
Built and exited real companies — we bring operator instincts to every engagement
Operator Speed
No corporate lag or billable-hour games — we move at startup pace with flat-rate pricing
Full-Stack Thinking
Finance that connects to sales, ops, and product — not siloed spreadsheets
Skin in the Game
Your success is our reputation — we treat your business like it's ours
Fully Insured
General, cyber, and professional liability — your data and operations are protected
Bilingual Support
Fluent in English and Spanish — we work with founders across borders
We Partner With Founders Who Are Ready to Build It Right
Whether you're pre-revenue or scaling past eight figures, if you're serious about building something lasting — we're your people.
Early-Stage Founders
You've got traction and a vision, but the financial side is held together with duct tape. You need clean books, a real model, and a plan that investors will take seriously.
- ✓ Pre-seed to Series A
- ✓ Getting investor-ready
- ✓ First-time and repeat founders
Growth-Stage Companies
Revenue is moving but the back office can't keep up. You're hiring fast, burning cash, and need financial leadership that can scale with you — without the full-time price tag.
- ✓ $1M–$50M in revenue
- ✓ Series A through Series B
- ✓ Building finance infrastructure to scale
Bootstrapped Operators
You've built something profitable on your own terms. Now you want sharper financial systems, smarter cash management, and a strategic partner who respects the grind.
- ✓ Profitable and self-funded
- ✓ Optimizing margins and cash flow
- ✓ Positioning for exit or acquisition
Build, Scale, and Raise With Confidence
Choose a path that fits your stage — or mix and match to fit your roadmap.
Fractional CFO Plans
- Ad-Hoc: $250/hour for one-off projects
- Half-Time: $12,500/mo (~$156/hr, 20 hrs/wk)
- Full-Time: $20,000/mo (~$125/hr, 40 hrs/wk)
- Save 5% with 6+ month commitment
Raise-Ready Sprint
- Custom model + scenario planning
- Cap table cleanup
- Pitch support + data room setup
- Finance SOPs + async support
Lean Finance Stack Setup
- QuickBooks/Xero setup
- Ramp/Gusto implementation
- ROAS, CAC, burn dashboards
- Finance SOPs + async support
Scale-Ready Finance Partner
- Weekly performance reports
- Channel-level P&Ls
- Live dashboards + investor support
- Real-time Slack + biweekly calls
LATAM Market Entry
- Full market entry strategy + roadmap
- Entity formation + legal introductions
- Cross-border banking + tax compliance
- On-the-ground vendor + partner network
U.S. Entry Advisory
- Entity formation (LLC, C-Corp, etc.)
- EIN, U.S. banking + tax compliance
- Legal + accounting introductions
- Ongoing advisory + operational support
Already have a CFO? We also partner with growth-stage finance teams on complex fundraising engagements. Let's talk →
Tools We Know Inside and Out
We’ve worked hands-on with the platforms that power modern startups. Whatever your stack looks like, we can plug in and hit the ground running.
Banking & Spend
Accounting & ERP
Payroll & HR
Cap Table & Fundraising
FP&A & Dashboards
Automation & Custom
This is a snapshot of our most-used platforms — not an exhaustive list. If you use it, we probably know it.
Built for Founders. Free to Use.
No signup, no paywall — just sharp tools designed to give you instant financial clarity.
Professional CFO Toolkit
The financial calculators every founder needs — built for speed, clarity, and real decision-making.
- ✓ Burn Rate & Runway
- ✓ Break-Even Analysis
- ✓ Unit Economics (CAC/LTV)
- ✓ Cash Flow Forecasting
- ✓ Financial Health Scorecard
Fundraising Readiness Scorecard
Find out where you stand before you pitch — a data-driven readiness check across six critical dimensions.
- ✓ 18-Question Assessment
- ✓ Stage-Weighted Scoring
- ✓ Category Benchmarks
- ✓ Priority Action Plan
- ✓ Exportable PDF Report
From First Call to Full Momentum
Free Discovery Call
A 30-minute conversation to understand your business, your challenges, and what you actually need — no pitch, just clarity.
Custom Proposal
Based on what we learn, we send a tailored proposal with scope, deliverables, and transparent pricing. Our flat-fee packages are starting estimates — your proposal reflects your actual needs.
Onboarding & Access
Once agreements and NDAs are signed, we get embedded into your systems and bring our team up to speed — typically within a week depending on complexity.
Full Diagnostic & Execution
With full access in place, we run a comprehensive financial diagnostic and audit — then move straight into building the systems, models, and strategy to drive your business forward.
Fractional CFO FAQ
Answers to the questions founders ask most before hiring a fractional CFO.
What is a fractional CFO?
A fractional CFO is an experienced chief financial officer who works with your company on a part-time or project basis instead of full-time. This model gives startups and growth-stage businesses access to senior-level financial strategy, fundraising support, and financial modeling without the $300K+ commitment of a full-time hire. Fractional CFOs typically work with multiple clients, bringing cross-industry insight to every engagement.
How much do fractional CFO services cost for a startup?
Fractional CFO pricing varies based on scope and engagement type. At Johnson Strategic Advisory, our ad-hoc rate starts at $250/hour, with half-time and full-time monthly packages available for ongoing engagements. Project-based work like our Raise-Ready Sprint is a $10,000 flat fee, and our Lean Finance Stack Setup starts at $5,000. This makes fractional CFO services significantly more affordable than hiring a full-time CFO.
What are the benefits of hiring a fractional CFO for a startup?
The key benefits of hiring a fractional CFO include: getting investor-ready financial models and clean books without a full-time salary, strategic guidance from someone who has been through fundraising and exits, improved cash flow management and burn rate optimization, and credibility with investors who expect professional financial infrastructure. For tech startups especially, a fractional CFO bridges the gap between scrappy bookkeeping and the financial rigor that Series A+ investors demand.
What's the difference between a fractional CFO and a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper records transactions and keeps your books accurate. A fractional CFO uses that financial data to drive strategy — building financial models, managing cash flow forecasting, preparing for fundraising, negotiating with investors, and advising on business decisions. Think of it this way: your bookkeeper tells you where the money went, your fractional CFO tells you where it should go next.
When should a tech startup hire a fractional CFO?
Most tech startups benefit from fractional CFO services once they've found product-market fit and are preparing to raise capital, scale operations, or need to professionalize their financial systems. Common triggers include: preparing for a seed or Series A raise, outgrowing DIY bookkeeping, needing board-ready financial reporting, or planning to expand into new markets. If you're spending more time wrestling with spreadsheets than building your product, it's time to bring in a fractional CFO.
Ready to Clean Up the Chaos?
Tell us what you're building — and we'll help back it with clarity, control, and clean financial infrastructure.