You run budgeting, forecasting and board reporting part time for a software company, so the founder can plan hiring and spending against ARR figures they trust.
Software companies make hiring and spending decisions against forecasts built in a founder’s spreadsheet. Metrics such as ARR, churn, CAC payback and deferred revenue get calculated differently each month, and board decks take days to assemble.
Around $1M to $3M in ARR the planning work becomes steady, yet a full-time CFO can run $400,000 a year once salary, equity and benefits are counted. The founder keeps rebuilding the model, and forecast misses surface only when cash gets short.
You review the current model and metrics and point out 3 gaps that affect cash planning or board reporting.
You rebuild the operating model with ARR drivers, a headcount plan and scenarios for a fixed fee.
You move to a retainer covering budget versus actuals, rolling forecasts and the board pack.
They present to the board and need a forecast they can stand behind when they ask for more capital.
After a seed or Series A round, investors expect a budget and monthly reporting, which frees money for finance help.
What buyers pay: $3,000 to $12,000 per month, or $5,000 to $15,000 for a model build
A first outside board seat, budget-based hiring and the $3M ARR mark are common points where planning outgrows the founder.
There are 4 places to start, in the order most people find their first buyers.
Tell former colleagues, CFOs and founders you know that you take on part-time FP&A for software companies.
CFOs who need analyst capacity and accounting firms without FP&A staff can pass work to you.
Join SaaS founder groups, Pavilion or SaaStr events and VC portfolio finance sessions.
Post short explainers on net revenue retention, CAC payback and burn multiple using public company examples.
Every idea has weak spots. These are the ones to test before you spend money.
Define the scope in writing and price fundraising and board advisory as add-ons.
Require a monthly close by a set day before forecast work starts, or refer a controller.
Sell a 6 to 12 month engagement tied to the budget year.
Stagger reporting dates and cap your roster at the hours you can deliver.
Starts from this career
Start-up cost and time to first offer are our estimates. Prices come from the sources above and change over time, so check them before you set yours.
You bring your career history. You leave with 3 candidate directions of your own and the 4 tests that cut them down to one.
Questions about the toolkits, Plan A, mentorship, or whether any of this fits where you are right now. Send it here and a real person answers, usually within a day.
