Question 1

What exactly does Finative do?

Accepted Answer

Finative provides a complete outsourced finance function for startups and founder-led companies. Instead of hiring multiple providers - a bookkeeper, an FP&A consultant, and a fractional CFO - Finative integrates these roles into a single finance capability. This ensures your accounting, financial planning, and strategic finance decisions are always connected.

Question 2

How is Finative different from a traditional accounting firm?

Accepted Answer

Traditional accounting firms focus primarily on historical reporting and compliance. Finative combines three layers of finance support: Accounting - accurate financial records and reporting FP&A - forward-looking financial planning and insights Fractional CFO - strategic financial leadership Because these layers work together, financial context is never lost between providers.

Question 3

Is Finative a software platform or a services firm?

Accepted Answer

Finative is a finance partner that combines technology with experienced finance professionals. We use modern finance tools and automation to improve efficiency, but the real value comes from interpretation, judgment, and strategic thinking.

Question 4

What types of companies do you typically work with?

Accepted Answer

Finative typically works with startups and founder-led companies that need a strong finance function but don't yet have the scale to hire a full internal team. Many of our clients fall between $500K and $20M in revenue.

Question 5

Do you work with startups?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Early-stage companies often need help building the financial infrastructure required to scale. We support startups with clean accounting, forecasting models, investor-ready reporting, and strategic financial guidance.

Question 6

Do you work with companies that already have a CFO?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many companies work with Finative alongside an existing CFO. In these cases we often support operational finance execution, reporting, and FP&A work while the CFO focuses on strategy and leadership.

Question 7

What is a fractional CFO?

Accepted Answer

A fractional CFO is an experienced finance executive who works with your company on a part-time, ongoing basis. They own the same scope a full-time CFO would (strategy, forecasting, fundraising, board reporting, cash management) at a fraction of the cost and commitment.

Question 8

What services does a fractional CFO provide?

Accepted Answer

A fractional CFO typically owns: Financial modeling and scenario planning Cash management and rolling 13-week forecasts Fundraise preparation, data room, and investor narrative Board and investor reporting Pricing, unit economics, and contribution margin analysis Cap table, 409A, and option pool modeling See our full guide to fractional CFO services .

Question 9

What is included in fractional CFO service packages at Finative?

Accepted Answer

Standard packages include monthly board reporting on a fixed delivery date, weekly cash flow updates, an always-on financial model that ties to actuals, direct CFO availability (not a junior intermediary), quarterly strategic planning, and fundraise support when relevant. Scope and cadence scale with your stage.

Question 10

How to choose a fractional CFO service?

Accepted Answer

Five things to evaluate, in order: Stage-relevant experience (matches your stage, not just biggest logo) Integrated accounting and FP&A capability so the CFO has clean data Defined monthly deliverables, not "X hours per week" billing Direct CFO access Sector experience (SaaS, e-commerce, services)

Question 11

What is the month-end close process?

Accepted Answer

Month-end close is the structured process of finalizing financial records for a given month: reconciling bank and credit card accounts, recognizing revenue, accruing expenses, reviewing variance, and producing the P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. A well-run startup closes in 5 to 10 business days. See our month-end close playbook for a day-by-day walkthrough.

Question 12

How can we speed up our month-end close process?

Accepted Answer

The unlock is moving work earlier in the month: daily bank feed review, weekly AP processing, real-time invoicing, and a documented close calendar. The close itself should be verification, not excavation. Holding the AP cutoff line for three consecutive months eliminates the largest source of close delay.

Question 13

How do you build a 13-week cash flow forecast?

Accepted Answer

Start with your current cash balance, then layer week-by-week: expected collections from AR, scheduled vendor payments, payroll, recurring SaaS, taxes, and any known one-offs. Update weekly with actuals. We provide a free 13-week cash flow forecast template .

Question 14

What is SaaS accounting and how is it different?

Accepted Answer

SaaS accounting differs from general accounting in three places: deferred revenue (cash received before service is delivered), revenue recognition under ASC 606 (recognized ratably over the contract term), and SaaS-specific metrics (ARR, MRR, net revenue retention, fully-loaded CAC). Done correctly, your books produce investor-grade SaaS metrics as a byproduct of the close, not as a separate exercise.

Question 15

Do I need an accountant for my ecommerce business?

Accepted Answer

Once you have inventory, marketplace fees (Amazon, Shopify, Stripe), returns, and multi-channel revenue, the answer is yes. Generic bookkeeping misses COGS allocation, channel-level margin, and inventory valuation, the three things that determine whether your ecommerce business is actually profitable.

Question 16

Do you use AI in your finance work?

Accepted Answer

Yes - but thoughtfully. We use modern finance tools and automation to improve efficiency, accuracy, and reporting speed. However, technology alone does not replace financial judgment. Our model combines technology with experienced finance professionals who interpret the data and guide decisions.

Question 17

Do we need to change our existing finance tools?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. We can often work within your current financial stack. If improvements are needed, we help implement tools that improve reporting, automation, and operational visibility.

Question 18

How quickly can we start working together?

Accepted Answer

Most engagements begin with a discovery conversation. Once the scope is defined, onboarding usually takes two to four weeks depending on the complexity of the company's financial systems.

Question 19

How do you price your services?

Accepted Answer

Pricing depends on company size, complexity, and the level of finance support required. The goal is to deliver a full finance capability that is more efficient and flexible than building a comparable internal team.

Frequently Asked Questions About Outsourced Finance

About Finative

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Fractional CFO Services

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