15 Best Outsourced CFO Services for Startups

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Alexander Williamson

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Alexander uses data analysis to provideclients with actionable financial insights forbetter decision-making.

Terence Papadacos

COO & Manager of Accounting
Alexander uses data analysis to provideclients with actionable financial insights forbetter decision-making.

If you're a startup founder juggling product development, sales, and operations, handling complex finances can feel overwhelming. That’s where outsourced CFO services come in. These expert providers offer strategic insights, accurate financial projections, and hands-on support—without the cost of a full-time CFO. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the 15 best outsourced CFO services for startups, helping you make a smart choice that powers your growth. Whether you need budgeting help or fundraising guidance, these CFO services are built for scale.

Why Startups Are Turning to Outsourced CFO Services

Hiring a full-time CFO can cost upwards of $250,000 annually. For startups, this isn't always feasible. Enter outsourced CFO services—on-demand, flexible, and cost-effective financial leadership.

What Do CFO Services Typically Include?

  • Financial projections & forecasting
  • Budgeting & cash flow management
  • Fundraising support and investor reporting
  • Financial strategy & growth planning
  • Compliance & audit readiness
  • SaaS metrics and KPI tracking

With an outsourced CFO, you’re not just getting numbers—you’re getting insights to scale confidently.

How to Choose the Right CFO Service for Your Startup

Before diving into the list, here’s what to look for in quality CFO services:

Criteria Why It Matters
Startup Experience Understand rapid growth & burn rate
Flexible Pricing Aligns with your budget & stage
Proven Track Record Validated by reviews & case studies
Scalable Support From seed to Series C and beyond
Strategic Insight Goes beyond bookkeeping to guide growth

 

The 15 Best Outsourced CFO Services for Startups

AquiferCFO

Best for strategic, data-driven finance management
AquiferCFO specializes in outsourced CFO services for startups, offering high-level financial projections, modeling, and fundraising strategy. From budgeting to investor updates, they’re your all-in-one CFO solution.

Explore their CFO plans on AquiferCFO’s Pricing Page

Read: What’s the Cost of a Virtual CFO in 2025?

Zeni.ai

AI-powered real-time finance dashboard
Zeni blends AI tools with human CFO insight to offer real-time bookkeeping, financial projections, and strategic guidance for SaaS companies.

Invedus

Global financial outsourcing for startups
Invedus offers cost-efficient CFO services with robust support in cash flow management, forecasting, and regulatory compliance.

CFOshare

Best for small business financial leadership
CFOshare offers hands-on forecasting, KPI tracking, and strategic planning. Ideal for scaling startups needing actionable insight.

Burkland

Trusted by VC-backed startups
Burkland offers outsourced CFO services designed for funded startups. Their team helps with investor reporting, financial projections, and fundraising strategies.

Kruze Consulting

Built for tech & SaaS companies
Kruze delivers monthly financials, investor-ready projections, and board-level finance guidance. They also specialize in R&D tax credits.

AirCFO

Perfect for early-stage startups
AirCFO focuses on pre-seed to Series A startups, offering cash flow forecasting, revenue modeling, and custom financial projections.

Pilot

Full-service finance for startups
From bookkeeping to CFO strategy, Pilot helps startups manage finances with precision and clarity, tailored for fast growth.

ScaleFactor

Automation meets strategic finance
Combines automation tools with outsourced CFO services, perfect for startups needing real-time visibility and low manual effort.

SaaS CFO by SaaS CEO

Industry-specific CFO services
Perfect for subscription-based companies looking for in-depth financial projections, cohort analysis, and churn modeling.

NowCFO

Interim and project-based CFOs
Great for startups needing part-time or project-based CFO services, like M&A readiness or restructuring.

Ignite Spot

CFO + Bookkeeping under one roof
Get access to detailed financial projections, P&Ls, and financial strategy sessions with experienced finance pros.

Preferred CFO

For complex financial needs
This team handles technical financial projections, CapEx modeling, and scenario planning for VC-backed ventures.

Acuity

Financial operations for founders
From payroll to CFO services, Acuity helps founders focus on building while they handle the numbers.

Analytix Solutions

Affordable CFO support for startups
Offers budget-friendly outsourced CFO services and specializes in preparing startups for investor pitches and growth funding.

Quick Comparison Table

Company Best For Key Features
AquiferCFO Strategic scaling FP&A, projections, startup finance
Zeni.ai AI-driven finance Automation + human CFO
Kruze SaaS & VC-backed R&D tax, forecasts
AirCFO Pre-seed to Series A Fundraising models
Pilot End-to-end finance Bookkeeping + CFO
Burkland High-growth startups KPI dashboards, board pr

 

Benefits of Using Outsourced CFO Services

Using outsourced CFO services means more than saving money. It gives you access to:

  • Real-time financial projections for smarter decisions
  • Cash flow insights that prevent surprises
  • Professional investor pitch support
  • Data-driven planning for hiring, expansion, and pricing
  • Strategic input without hiring a full-time exec

Final Thoughts

When you're running lean, the right CFO service can be a startup’s secret weapon. The firms listed above aren’t just finance pros—they’re growth enablers. From financial projections to VC meetings, they take the heavy lifting off your plate so you can scale with confidence. Don’t let finance slow you down—choose an outsourced CFO service that matches your vision and stage. 

Our Clients

Rich and the aquifer team helped us significantly improve our financial infrastructure. This allows us to focus on scaling faster, while feeling confident we have the right financial systems in place."
Cody Ruberto
Founder & CEO of URIDE
The Aquifer team has been incredibly insightful in approaching our finance stack, making them an invaluable partner for our business. They work with us rather than around us and continue to lend their expertise in the world of web3 accounting."
Justin Ho
CFO of Mojito
Aquifer was instrumental in helping GDA scale by providing financial infrastructure & processes, financial advisory seed + Series A rounds, corporate accounting & tax support, and any other ad-hoc projects. The team brought a strong sense of co-founder ownership."
Micheal Gord
Founder & CEO of GDA

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