Fractional CFO & Strategy
A fractional CFO is a part-time chief financial officer who gives your business CFO-level planning, forecasting, and decision support without the cost of a full-time executive. Corvus Accounting serves as the fractional CFO for plumbers, electricians, HVAC companies, contractors, landscapers, and other trades and service businesses.
Your bookkeeper records what happened. Your CPA files your return. A fractional CFO tells you what the numbers mean and what to do next.
By Suzanne Leonard, Founder, Corvus Accounting · Last reviewed November 2026
Free, no-obligation consultation. Serving small businesses nationwide.
Sound Familiar?
The P&L says you made money, but the bank account tells a different story.
Every spring brings a number you didn’t plan for.
You can’t say which jobs, crews, or service lines make the most money.
You pay yourself last, if anything is left at all.
Monthly reports arrive weeks late and never drive a decision.
Hiring, trucks, equipment, or a second location, decided without a forecast.
What's Included
Revenue, margin, cash, and tax owed on one page every month.
See shortfalls before they happen. Cash Flow Forecasting
Know what you owe all year. Tax Liability Advisory
Find which work actually pays. Job & Project Costing
Set owner pay, tax, and profit allocations up front.
Monthly decisions, not just reports, plus systems your team is trained to use.
How It Works
We learn your business, your goals, and what keeps you up at night.
We review your books, systems, and current reporting.
We set up your forecast, scorecard, and tax tracking in your current software or a new Zoho system.
We meet monthly to review results and plan your next moves.
Know the Difference
| Bookkeeper | CPA / Tax Preparer | Fractional CFO (Corvus) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main job | Records transactions | Files returns, compliance | Plans, forecasts, advises |
| Looks at | The past month | The past year | The next 13–52 weeks |
| Answers | What did we spend? | What do we owe? | What should we do next? |
Most businesses need all three. Corvus provides the strategy layer, offers bookkeeping as an add-on, and works alongside your CPA. When a return needs filing, our dedicated tax partner handles it.
FAQ
A fractional CFO turns your financial data into decisions. That means building cash flow forecasts, tracking tax liability, measuring job profitability, setting owner pay, and meeting with you regularly to plan. You get the strategic thinking of a CFO for a fraction of a full-time salary, scaled to the size of your business.
A bookkeeper records and categorizes transactions so your books are accurate. A fractional CFO uses those books to forecast cash, plan taxes, and guide decisions. Accurate books are the foundation; CFO work is what you build on top of them. Corvus offers both, so the strategy and the data stay connected.
Usually when revenue is growing but cash, taxes, or profit feel unpredictable. Common triggers are a surprise tax bill, a cash crunch during a busy season, a big equipment or hiring decision, or not knowing which jobs make money. If you’re making decisions on gut feel, it’s time.
No. We can work in the system you already use, or design and build a new one. As a Certified Zoho Advisor, we often implement Zoho Books, CRM, and Projects for clients who want everything connected, but switching is never required.
Fractional CFO engagements are scoped and quoted after your free consultation, based on your business size, the condition of your books, and how often you want to meet. Our packages are starting points, not fixed price tiers.
Related: Cash Flow Forecasting · Tax Liability Advisory · Job & Project Costing · Zoho Implementation
Beyond the Numbers
Book a free, no-obligation consultation and we’ll walk through where your money is going and what a CFO-level plan would look like for your business. Based in Sugar Tree, TN, west of Nashville, serving trades and service businesses nationwide.
Stuck on one specific problem? Book a free problem solving session →
