Are Fractional CFOs a Grift?

This podcast episode focuses on the challenges and opportunities within the fractional CFO market. The host, CJ, discusses the frequent requests for fractional CFO recommendations and complaints about existing setups. He explains why many startups don't need a full-time CFO early on, advocating for a different type of finance hire who understands the business model. CJ critiques the fractional CFO market, highlighting issues like inflated titles, labor arbitrage, and mismatched expectations. He then offers advice on choosing a good fractional CFO, emphasizing the importance of verifying their experience and understanding their approach to financial modeling and client communication. The episode concludes with a checklist of questions to ask potential fractional CFO providers. A sponsored segment for Campfire, an AI-first ERP, is also included.