As a business grows, the question shifts from “are my books accurate?” to “what should I do with what they’re telling me?” That’s the line between outsourced accounting and a fractional CFO. Knowing which you need — and when — keeps you from overpaying for strategy you’re not ready for, or under-serving decisions that need it.
📞 (801) 927-1337 | Schedule a free consultation →
Outsourced Accounting: The Foundation
Outsourced accounting keeps the engine running — bookkeeping, payroll, tax prep, and accurate monthly financials. It answers what happened: here’s your profit, your cash position, your tax picture. Every business needs this, and for most Kaysville small businesses it’s the right and sufficient level of service.
Fractional CFO: The Strategy Layer
A fractional CFO sits on top of clean accounting and answers what to do next: cash flow forecasting, pricing and margin analysis, financing decisions, growth planning, and the financial modeling behind big moves. It’s CFO-level expertise on a part-time basis — without a full-time CFO’s salary.
Which Do You Need?
| If you… | You need… |
|---|---|
| Need accurate books, payroll, and taxes | Outsourced accounting |
| Always know what happened but not what to do | Add a fractional CFO |
| Are planning growth, financing, or a sale | Fractional CFO |
| Are early-stage and cost-focused | Outsourced accounting (add CFO later) |
The good news: you don’t pick one firm for each. FJ & Associates provides outsourced accounting and can layer in fractional CFO and controller support as your business grows — so the strategy is built on books the same team already knows.
When It’s Time to Add a CFO
Common triggers: you’re making seven-figure decisions on gut feel, cash flow is unpredictable despite profitability, you’re considering financing or acquisition, or you simply can’t see far enough ahead. If you have accurate books but no one helping you act on them, that’s the signal.
What Kaysville Clients Say
“Missy understood the direction I wanted to take my company and gave me viable solutions.” — Matthew H., verified Google review
“They’ve been instrumental as I’ve continued to grow in my career.” — Chris S., verified Google review
Read all 90+ five-star reviews on Google →
FAQs
What’s the difference between a CFO and an accountant? An accountant keeps your financials accurate (what happened); a CFO uses them to guide strategy (what to do next). A fractional CFO provides that strategy part-time.
How much does a fractional CFO cost? Far less than a full-time CFO. FJ scopes CFO and controller support to your needs — controller work starts around $225/hr, with CFO engagements scoped to the project.
Can one firm do both my accounting and CFO work? Yes — and that’s ideal, because the strategy is built on books the same team already maintains.
Get the Right Level of Financial Support
Start with solid accounting, add CFO-level strategy when you’re ready — from one team.
📞 (801) 927-1337 ✉️ admin@cpaone.net 📍 612 N Kays Dr Suite 120, Kaysville, UT 84037
Schedule a Free Consultation → · Serving Kaysville, Layton, Farmington, and Davis County.
Missy Dennis, CPA | Partner, FJ & Associates, PLLC — Kaysville, UT. Licensed CPA with 20+ years in public accounting, specializing in advisory and business strategy.
