Fractional CFO Services in San Francisco & the Bay Area
CFO-level guidance, without the full-time hire.
Need high-level financial guidance but not a full-time CFO salary? Luminara LLC plugs in as your part-time finance partner. We help you understand your numbers, plan the next 12 to 24 months, and stay ahead of cash flow. We work with startups and small businesses across San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose and the Peninsula, and with clients nationwide.
Signs you’re ready for a fractional CFO
When financial questions start slowing you down, expert guidance helps you move faster, with a roadmap, clean data and sharp insights.
“How many months of cash do we really have?”
You check the bank balance to decide, but bills, payroll and receivables are moving targets.
“We’re growing, but cash is always tight.”
Revenue is up, yet margins are thin and you can’t see which customers or products actually make money.
“The bank or investors want numbers we don’t have.”
A loan application, a Series A or a buyer is asking for forecasts, KPIs and clean financials.
“My bookkeeper records the past. I need a plan.”
Your books are done, but no one is turning them into budgets, forecasts and decisions.
Fractional CFO services for growing businesses
Strategic financial insight at a fraction of the cost of a full-time CFO. Pick what you need now and add more as you grow.
Strategic planning & budgeting
- Annual budget and 12 to 24 month plan
- Hiring and pricing decisions modeled before you commit
- Runway planning so you seize opportunities
Cash flow forecasting & management
- 13-week cash flow forecast, updated as things change
- Receivables, payables and payroll timing planned ahead
- Early warning before cash gets tight
KPIs & monthly CFO review
- A simple dashboard of the numbers that matter: margin, burn, runway
- A monthly meeting to review results and next moves
- Plain-English answers, on call between meetings
Investor & lender readiness
- Investor-ready financials and forecasts for a Series A or B
- Loan-ready package for banks and SBA lenders
- Audit preparation and due-diligence support for an M&A deal or exit
Financial systems & automation
- The right tools, from QuickBooks to Xero, Ramp and Bill.com
- Reporting simplified and workflows automated
- AI does the routine work, and a person checks every number
Works with your bookkeeper
- We don’t replace your bookkeeper. We guide them with CFO-level insight
- No bookkeeper? We can catch up your books and keep them current
- More support as you grow, without full-time overhead
Fractional CFO vs. a full-time hire
- Six-figure salary, plus benefits and often equity
- Months to recruit and onboard
- A full-time cost even in quiet months
- Usually more than an early-stage or small business needs
- A monthly retainer sized to what you actually need
- Starts within weeks, not months
- Scales up for a raise or loan, and back down after
- CFO-level guidance from day one
Built for companies at a turning point
A fractional CFO who knows the Bay Area
Running a business in San Francisco and the Bay Area comes with its own costs and rules. Your plan should account for them:
- California costs: the $800 minimum franchise tax, state payroll rules and some of the highest salaries in the country
- Startup expectations: burn, runway and the metrics Bay Area investors ask for
- Banking and lending: loan-ready financials for local banks, SBA lenders and venture debt
We coordinate with your CPA on tax filings, or can refer you to one.
We meet by video and phone, and we serve clients nationwide too.
How our fractional CFO service works
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Step 01
Free consultation
A 20-minute call about your goals, your cash position and the decisions ahead.
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Step 02
Financial health check
We review your books, cash flow and current reports, and flag what needs attention first.
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Step 03
Your plan and estimate
A written scope and monthly estimate. Nothing starts until you approve it.
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Step 04
Ongoing CFO support
Monthly reviews, updated forecasts and answers when you need them.
Why business owners choose Luminara LLC
A real person, every time
One advisor who knows your business and your numbers.
AI-powered, human-checked
Automation does the routine work faster, and a person reviews every number before it reaches you.
Upfront estimates
You see a written estimate before we start, and we ask before doing any extra work.
Bookkeeping to CFO, one team
Bookkeeping, payroll, tax support and CFO advice that all work from the same numbers.
Fractional CFO FAQ
What does a fractional CFO do?
A fractional CFO gives you chief financial officer guidance part-time. That means budgets, cash flow forecasts, KPIs, pricing and hiring decisions, and preparing for investors, lenders or a sale. You get CFO-level advice for a share of the time and cost of a full-time hire.
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
It depends on what you need: how often we meet, how complex your business is, and whether you’re raising money or applying for a loan. After a free consultation we give you a written monthly estimate, and you can scale up or down as your needs change.
When does a small business need a fractional CFO?
Common triggers are cash that always feels tight, fast growth, a planned raise or loan, a possible sale, or simply wanting a budget and forecast you can trust. If your bookkeeping is done but no one is planning ahead, it’s usually time.
What’s the difference between a fractional CFO, a controller and a bookkeeper?
A bookkeeper records transactions and keeps the books current. A controller makes sure the books and reports are accurate. A CFO uses those numbers to plan, forecast and guide decisions. We work alongside your bookkeeper, or provide bookkeeping too.
Do you work with startups and small businesses in San Francisco and the Bay Area?
Yes. We’re based in the San Francisco Bay Area and work with startups and small businesses in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, the Peninsula and the East Bay, plus clients nationwide.
Can you help us get ready for a bank loan or an investor raise?
Yes. We prepare investor-ready financials and forecasts, KPI reports and loan-ready packages, and we support due diligence so you can answer questions quickly.
Get a CFO’s view of your numbers
Start with a free 20-minute consultation. You’ll leave with a clearer picture of your cash, your runway and what to tackle first.
- Phone
- 510-306-4016
- inquiries@luminarallc.com
- Hours
- Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm PT
- Location
- San Francisco Bay Area · Serving clients nationwide
- Your cash position and runway
- The big decisions coming up
- What a fractional CFO would focus on first
- An estimate for monthly support