Last updated: November 2026. Source: the 2026 Fractional CFO Study, run by Layerz in October 2026.
The median fractional CFO day rate was $1,105 in October 2026, across 67 rates given by practitioners in the 2026 Fractional CFO Study. The middle half of rates sat between $864 and $1,404. European respondents, the largest group, had a median of $1,188.
Public day-rate data for fractional CFOs is scarce: most figures online come from firms selling fractional services or from marketplaces' own listings. The figures below come from practitioners themselves, asked for their usual day rate in a survey of 173 fractional CFOs from 40 countries.
The overall day rate
$1,105 median day rate. Middle half (25th to 75th percentile) $864 to $1,404. 67 usable rates out of 78 amounts given; 57 respondents preferred not to say. (The 2026 Fractional CFO Study)
Day rates by region
| Region | Median | Middle half | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | $1,105 | $864 to $1,404 | 67 |
| Europe | $1,188 | $1,080 to $1,495 | 39 |
| Middle East & Africa | $1,200 | $600 to $1,250 | 7 |
| North America | $1,050 | $500 to $1,825 | 6 |
| Asia-Pacific | $990 | $600 to $1,600 | 7 |
| Latin America | $500 | $412 to $1,075 | 8 |
Europe is the only region with a robust sample. With 6 to 8 rates each, the other regional medians are indicative only: a single answer moves them. The wide North American range ($500 to $1,825) reflects that.
Day rates by setup and AI use
| Group | Median | Middle half | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent (solo or within a network) | $1,100 | $702 to $1,512 | 47 |
| In a firm (employed CFO or partner) | $1,194 | $977 to $1,296 | 20 |
| Does fundraising or M&A work | $1,155 | $875 to $1,506 | 33 |
| No fundraising or M&A work | $1,102 | $824 to $1,322 | 34 |
| AI level: Exploring | $945 | $575 to $1,099 | 8 |
| AI level: Using | $1,069 | $700 to $1,495 | 12 |
| AI level: AI-ready | $1,188 | $990 to $1,495 | 47 |
The most advanced AI users had the highest median day rate, $1,188 against $945 for those still exploring. AI-ready means using AI weekly or more, on numbers, inside the spreadsheet or connected to it. The exploring group counts 8 rates: read the gap as a direction, not a measure, and as correlation, not cause. (The 2026 Fractional CFO Study)
Method and limits
- Question. "What is your usual day rate?", with an amount and a currency, or "prefer not to say".
- Conversion. To US dollars at approximate rates: EUR 1.08, GBP 1.30, CHF 1.20, AUD 0.66, AED 0.27, CAD 0.73, INR 0.012.
- Exclusions. 11 amounts below $300 were read as hourly rates or misunderstandings and left out.
- Anonymity. No figure is shown for a group of fewer than 5 rates, and no individual rate is published.
- Sample. Self-selected, reached through LinkedIn and peer sharing, weighted toward Europe (53% of all respondents, 20% in France). Not a market average: a picture of practitioners who answer a survey about their own work.
- Day rate, not income. Respondents did not report days billed per month, so these figures say nothing about annual earnings.
FAQ
How much does a fractional CFO charge per day? In the 2026 Fractional CFO Study, the median day rate was $1,105 (67 rates), with the middle half between $864 and $1,404.
How much does a fractional CFO charge in Europe? The European median was $1,188 a day (about €1,100), on 39 rates, with the middle half between $1,080 and $1,495.
Do fractional CFOs who use AI charge more? In this sample, AI-ready respondents had a median of $1,188 a day against $945 for those exploring AI. The exploring group is small (8 rates) and the link is a correlation.
Sources
- Layerz, The 2026 Fractional CFO Study, online questionnaire, October 2026, 173 responses from 40 countries, 67 usable day rates. Report: The AI-native fractional CFO. Aggregated data (CSV, CC BY 4.0): Hugging Face.
Changelog
- November 2026: first edition (extraction of 2 November 2026).
Compiled by Layerz from its 2026 Fractional CFO Study.