Fractional CFO Services for UK Startups & Scale-Ups
Make smarter financial decisions with a CFO who understands startups. From managing cash flow to preparing for investment, we provide the strategic support you need to scale.
CFO support without the full-time cost
Scaling a startup comes with big financial decisions – from managing cash flow to securing investment, expanding and exiting. But hiring a full-time CFO isn’t always feasible.
With our fractional CFO service, you get expert financial leadership when you need it, without the full-time cost. We provide strategic guidance, investor-ready financials and hands-on support to help you grow sustainably.
- Strategic financial advice
- Investor-ready financials
- Scenario planning & forecasting
- Expand globally
- SEIS/EIS & R&D tax ready
- No lock-ins, no hidden fees
Choose the CFO package that fits your stage
Grow
- ✓Monthly P&L, accounts payable & receivable
- ✓Monthly performance review
- ✓Monthly reporting pack incl. forward cash flows
- ✓Monthly CFO meeting on forward cash flows
- ✓Updating of forecasts
- ✓Fortnightly check-in
- ✓4 hrs/month CFO support
Grow+
- ✓Monthly P&L, accounts payable & receivable
- ✓Monthly performance review
- ✓Monthly reporting pack incl. forward cash flows
- ✓Monthly CFO meeting on forward cash flows
- ✓Updating of forecasts
- ✓Weekly check-in
- ✓8 hrs/month CFO support
Partner
- ✓Everything in Grow+
- ✓Rolling 12-month cash flow forecast
- ✓Monthly analysis of actuals against budget for board reports
- ✓Key metric and KPI reporting
- ✓Min. half day/week with your team
Startup founders ♥ Standard Ledger
Building a startup is hard. Figuring out your finances shouldn’t be. From capital raising to exits, we’ve helped founders make the right moves – faster and with less stress.
“Closing our £2.5m round with Octopus Ventures was a huge milestone for HealsGood AI. Standard Ledger were instrumental throughout the process – helping us stay investor-ready, manage due diligence and present a clear financial story. They brought real structure and focus, which made a complex raise feel controlled and achievable. Having that level of financial leadership on our side gave us the confidence to move fast and negotiate from a position of strength.”
Jack Henderson
“Standard Ledger’s fractional CFO services identified KPIs driving operational improvements, making us an attractive acquisition target. Strategic exit planning structured our finances to maximise returns, and negotiating the complexities of the sale process secured us a deal that recognised our full value.”
Peter Neal
“Standard Ledger saved us from trouble during our UK setup. They turned around crucial work in 48 hours, preventing fines. Having the support you can trust, who knows what they’re doing, means less stress and frees up a lot of mental space.”
Peter Cole
“Standard Ledger was incredibly helpful in reviewing and modelling our finances. Thanks to their support, we reshaped our strategy and identified areas for growth. We are now ready for expansion into new sports and markets.”
Iggy Jovanovic
“We didn’t hesitate to outsource our company set up to Standard Ledger. Knowing that they’ll let us know what’s needed, where to sign and what to do is a huge weight off our shoulders. Our bank even commented on how well set up our documentation was!”
Gemma Clancy
“Having Standard Ledger manage bookkeeping has freed up a lot of time. It means I spend less time worrying about money and more time thinking about the bigger picture.”
Jock Lawrence
What startups really get with a Fractional CFO
It’s not just forecasts and reports – it’s strategic support to help you raise, grow and make smarter decisions at every stage.
Deep Dive
We get under the hood of your startup – your vision, your challenges, your ambitions – and align our expertise to match.
Right Tools
From financial models to KPI tracking, we equip you with the right tools and a clear roadmap – whatever your stage.
Hands On Deck
Professionalising your systems, streamlining operations, building for global scale – we roll up our sleeves and do it with you.
Eyes Forward
Real-time insights, practical advice, and a steady hand through every pivot – so you stay on the path to growth.
Need fractional CFO support for a specific project?
Sometimes, your startup needs financial expertise on demand – it’s for raising capital or tackling a unique challenge. Our deep experience in angel investing, venture capital, and the startup ecosystem means we know exactly what investors are looking for and how to get you ready:
- Reporting Systems: We’ll set up clear and actionable financial reporting.
- Pitch Deck Financials: We’ll make your financials investor-ready.
- Financial Memorandums: We’ll prepare or review detailed financial documents.
- Valuations: We’ll conduct valuations for early-stage funding.
- Cap Tables: We’ll create and prepare comprehensive cap tables.
- Due Diligence Prep: We’ll get you ready for investor scrutiny.
Transparent pricing, always.
Wherever possible, we provide a fixed-fee proposal upfront – so you know exactly what you’re paying and what you’re getting.
More than a CFO - a whole finance team
You get a senior fractional CFO leading the way, backed by specialists in modelling, forecasting and analysis. All the finance firepower of an in-house team, without the headcount.
Michael
Co-founder + CFO
Mike brings together the rigour of big-firm accounting with genuine startup instinct. A CFO founders lean on across the whole journey – from getting raise-ready to scaling internationally – with the kind of deep expertise that’s carried countless teams through their biggest financial moments.
Remco
Co-founder + CFO
Remco has spent 18+ years as a CFO and virtual CFO to startups and scale-ups, following 14 years in VC and consulting. It’s a breadth few finance leaders bring – operator, adviser and investor – and it means he knows what a raise needs and what a board wants to hear.
Polly
Senior Financial Analyst
A Chartered Accountant with an FP&A background across global financial services, Polly makes your numbers make sense. She’s strong on the forecasting and budgeting behind every confident decision – and explains it in a way you’ll actually follow.
Anne
Senior Financial Analyst
Anne is who you want building your forecasts. She turns messy data into clear visibility on runway, burn and the numbers you’ll be asked about – and if there’s a question buried in your finances, she’ll find the answer.
Kirsten
Financial Analyst
Kirsten is a financial all-rounder with experience in audit and capital markets and a passion for using numbers to drive growth and shake up the status quo. She’s the analyst who doesn’t just report what happened, but flags what it means for your next move.
Caicy
Team Lead
Behind every smoothly run client account is Caicy. She leads our back-office support team and works across bookkeeping, tax, accounting and CFO services – making sure nothing slips through the cracks and everything runs exactly as it should.
Get the CFO support your startup needs
Whether you’re approaching your first raise, managing post-investment burn, or preparing for board scrutiny – we’ll give you the CFO support you need to move forward with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fractional CFO and why would my startup need one?
A fractional CFO is a financial expert who works with your startup part-time, giving you senior-level financial leadership without the full-time salary. You get the strategic support you need – like managing cash flow, preparing for investment rounds, and building financial models – but on a flexible basis that fits your budget and stage of growth.
How is a fractional CFO different from a bookkeeper or accountant?
Bookkeepers handle the day-to-day recording of transactions, whilst accountants prepare your annual accounts and tax returns. A fractional CFO operates at a strategic level – they help you make smarter financial decisions, plan for growth, prepare for fundraising, and give you the insight and confidence to scale your business.
How much does fractional CFO support cost for a UK startup?
Standard Ledger offers three main packages: Grow starts at £1,500/month for early-stage startups, Grow+ is £2,200/month for those who’ve raised and need deeper support, and Partner starts from £3,100/month for VC-backed companies needing regular hands-on involvement. All of our pricing is transparent with no hidden fees, and you can scale up or down as your needs change.
Can a fractional CFO help me prepare for investment in the UK?
Absolutely. Fractional CFOs specialise in getting startups investor-ready by creating pitch-perfect financial models, preparing detailed financial memorandums, conducting valuations, building cap tables and helping you through due diligence. They understand what UK investors expect and can position your financials to give you the best chance of securing funding.
What's included in the monthly CFO packages at Standard Ledger?
Each package includes monthly P&L reporting, accounts payable and receivable, performance reviews, forward cash flow forecasts, and regular CFO meetings. The Grow package includes 4 hours of CFO support per month with fortnightly check-ins, Grow+ includes 8 hours with weekly check-ins, and Partner includes at least half a day per week with comprehensive board-level reporting and KPI tracking.