What is a Fractional CFO?
You Don't Need a Full Time CFO. You Need the Right Financial Leader at the Right Time.
Here's what that actually means - and why it matters for your manufacturing business.
The Basics
Your bookkeeper records what happened. Your accountant files the paperwork. A Fractional CFO tells you what to do next - and holds you accountable for doing it.
A Fractional CFO is a senior financial executive who works with your business on a part-time or fractional basis. You get the strategic leadership of a CFO without the $200,000+ salary, benefits package, and full-time commitment. For manufacturers between $3M and $30M, it's often the highest-ROI hire you can make.
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But Not All Fractional CFOs Are the Same
Most fractional CFOs come from accounting or finance backgrounds. They understand the numbers - but they've never stood on a plant floor, managed a supplier relationship, or figured out why a job that looked profitable on paper came in at a loss.
At Bracket Management, the financial and operational sides of your business are never treated as separate problems. Because in manufacturing, they never are. A late supplier, a production bottleneck, a job quoted at the wrong margin - every one of those is a financial problem before it ever shows up on a report. We understand both sides because we've managed both sides - simultaneously, at senior levels, across industries including aerospace and defense.
That's not common. In fact, most people in this industry will tell you it's rare.
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What a Fractional CFO Actually Does For Your Business
Builds your financial roadmap - Where you are, where you're going, and exactly how to get there.
Creates budgets and forecasts you can actually use - Not spreadsheets that sit in a drawer. Forward-looking financial models that drive real decisions.
Fixes cash flow problems - Identifies where cash is leaking and builds systems to stop it.
Develops KPIs tied to your operation - Metrics that connect what's happening on the floor to what's showing up on the P&L.
Sits at the leadership table - Not as an outside advisor, but as an embedded member of your team accountable for results.
Prepares your business for what's next - Whether that's growth, a capital raise, or a sale on your terms.
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Who This is For
Bracket Management works exclusively with manufacturers between $3M and $30M in revenue. You're likely a fit if:
You're generating revenue but cash is always tighter than it should be
You don't fully trust your numbers or know what they're telling you
Your business is growing but the financial infrastructure hasn't kept up
You're thinking about selling and need clean financials and a clear story
You're in a turnaround situation and need experienced leadership now
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What It Costs
A full time CFO runs $150,000 - $250,000 per year in salary alone - before benefits, bonuses, and overhead. A Fractional CFO gives you the same caliber of leadership at a fraction of that cost, scaled to what your business actually needs.
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Ready to Find Out if This is Right For You?
Book a free Executive Clarity Call. We'll get into your business, identify the gaps, and tell you straight whether a Fractional CFO is the right move - and what it would look like for your specific situation.