The Fractional Finance Playbook

The way startups approach finance is changing.

We’re seeing more businesses benefitting from the power of fractional finance support and more founders wanting to understand how this flexible approach can help them scale their startup effectively.

Fractional finance leaders can provide high-level strategic guidance without the full-time cost. But when businesses start exploring this model, the most common questions we get are:

• When is the right time to seek fractional expertise?

• What level of support does my business actually need right now?

• How do I structure an engagement that delivers real value?

• What should I expect in terms of impact and ROI?

If you've been wrestling with any of these questions, our roadmap to fractional finance will help you.

What have we included?

Our Fractional Finance Playbook is your comprehensive guide to building a finance function that scales with your business, from early finance health checks to working with a fractional CFO to drive strategic growth.

Understand your options - Explore the crucial differences between basic financial health checks and strategic fractional CFOs, and which level of support aligns with your current stage and goals.

Know when to hire - Discover the key indicators that signal it's time to bring in fractional finance expertise, whether you're pre-seed or preparing for Series A and beyond.

Structure your engagement - Get practical frameworks for defining scope, setting expectations, and structuring engagements that deliver maximum value from day one.

Measure real impact - Learn how to track and measure the tangible impact of your fractional finance support on fundraising readiness, investor confidence, and operational efficiency.

Avoid common pitfalls - Understand the mistakes founders make when working with fractional finance leaders and how to avoid them.

Who is this playbook for?

Over the past six years, we've supported hundreds of startups through the transition from founder-led finance to professional financial leadership. We've seen what works, what doesn't, and the critical moments when the right finance support can transform a business trajectory.

This playbook distills everything we've learned into a practical, actionable guide, whether you're:

• A founder currently managing finance yourself and wondering when to delegate

• Running a pre-seed or seed-stage company exploring your first finance hire

• Leading a Series A business preparing to bring on senior financial expertise

• Simply curious about building a more strategic approach to financial management

Whatever stage you're at, this playbook will give you the clarity and confidence to make the right decision for your business.

Get your free copy & gain access to:

✅ Practical Decision-Making Checklist – Make confident hiring decisions with our step-by-step evaluation framework

✅ Onboarding Framework Template – Set your fractional finance expert up for success from day one

✅ VC & Client Insights – Learn from the experiences of startup leaders who have successfully used flexible finance models to prepare for fundraising, strengthen investor relationships, and scale efficiently.

The smartest founders know that building a strong finance function isn't about hiring the biggest team, it's about bringing in the right expertise at the right time.

Take the first step toward building a stronger, smarter finance function today.

Interested in learning more?

Email Lorna and book a free finance assessment to understand how Zanda could support your startup with this project.

You can also learn more about our process here: Hire Fractional CFOs | Flexible Finance Support for Startups | Zanda