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Fractional controller services for businesses at $500K–$5M in revenue.

Strategic financial oversight, payroll management, and polished reporting for businesses at $500K–$5M in revenue, at a fraction of what a full-time controller costs.

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Custom-scoped to your business · Month-to-month engagement

What does a fractional controller do?

A fractional controller provides the financial oversight a growing business needs without a full-time hire: monthly review of the books, payroll management, accounts payable and receivable, financial reporting with KPI dashboards, internal controls and approval workflows, and forecasting or preparation for loans and investors.

Poised Books offers this for businesses at roughly $500K to $5M in revenue as a monthly retainer scoped to your business after an initial assessment. Most engagements run $1,500 to $4,000 per month, month to month, with no surprise charges. You still keep your CPA for taxes.

What’s included.

Everything a controller does, without the overhead.

Financial oversight & review

Monthly review of your books for accuracy, consistency, and completeness.

Payroll management

Processing payroll runs, managing tax withholdings, and keeping your team paid correctly and on time.

Accounts payable & receivable

Tracking vendor bills, managing payment schedules, and following up on outstanding invoices.

Financial reporting & analysis

P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, plus custom KPI dashboards delivered on time every month.

Policy & process development

Expense approval workflows, purchase order processes, and internal controls that protect your business as it scales.

Strategic financial guidance

Budget vs. actual analysis, cash flow forecasting, and preparation for loans, investors, or major decisions.

Fractional versus full-time controller cost.

A full-time controller costs $115K–$195K per year when you factor in salary, benefits, and overhead.

Full-time controller

Base salary
$80K – $120K/year
Benefits & taxes
$20K – $35K/year
Office & overhead
$5K – $15K/year
Recruiting costs
$10K – $25K one-time
Total annual cost
$115K – $195K

Fractional controller

Monthly retainer
$1,500 – $4,000/mo
Benefits & taxes
$0
Office & overhead
$0
Recruiting costs
$0
Total annual cost
$18K – $48K

Save $97K – $147K per year

with the same level of financial oversight.

Frequently asked.

A bookkeeper records and categorizes transactions. A controller provides financial oversight, analysis, and strategy on top of that foundation. Our fractional controller service includes both the execution and the strategic thinking.

Yes. A fractional controller handles day-to-day and month-to-month financial operations, but you still need a CPA for tax preparation and annual filings. The good news: your CPA gets clean, organized financials on time, which typically reduces their fees.

Fractional controller services are priced as a monthly retainer based on scope. After an initial assessment, we provide a clear monthly rate with no surprise charges. Most engagements range from $1,500 to $4,000 per month.

Typically businesses between about $500K and $5M in annual revenue: large enough that payroll, payables, receivables, and monthly reporting have outgrown what an owner can handle on the side, but not yet large enough to justify a full-time controller with salary, benefits, and overhead. If your books are still messy or behind, a one-time cleanup comes first so the controller work starts from an accurate baseline.

No. Fractional controller engagements run month to month. The scope and the monthly rate are agreed in writing after the initial assessment, and the scope can be adjusted as the business changes. The work lives in your own QuickBooks or Xero file, so it stays yours whatever you decide later.

Related pages

A fractional controller starts with a free call.

Request a free consultation to discuss how a fractional controller can free you to focus on growth.

Request a free consultation

Month-to-month engagement. No long-term contracts required.