Who we help
This is built for a specific kind of business.
If that's not you, we'll say so.
You're a fit if
- You're doing $50,000/month or more in revenue
- You sell physical products — DTC, Amazon, or multi-channel
- You're growing, and the growth is making cash tighter instead of easier
- You can't confidently say which of your products are most profitable
- Inventory decisions feel like guesses with real money attached
- You have a bookkeeper, but nobody is telling you what the numbers mean
You're not a fit if
- You're under $50K/month — the engagement won't pay for itself yet
- You only need bookkeeping or tax filing — that's a different service. That said, many owners are dissatisfied with their bookkeeper or their CPA. We can help you find someone who will make you happy.
- You want someone to confirm decisions you've already made
Why the revenue floor.
Below roughly $50,000 a month, the problems a CFO solves haven't gotten expensive enough to justify the fee. You're better served by a good bookkeeper and a clean spreadsheet. We'd rather tell you that than take the engagement.
Based in Houston, Texas. Working remotely with e-commerce brands throughout the United States.
FAQ
Common questions
When should an e-commerce business hire a fractional CFO?
When monthly revenue passes roughly $50,000 and you can no longer tell which products are actually making money. Below that, the problems a CFO solves haven't gotten expensive enough to justify the fee — a good bookkeeper and a spreadsheet will do. Above it, the cost of guessing compounds every month.
What's the difference between a bookkeeper, an accountant, and a fractional CFO?
A bookkeeper records what happened, an accountant reports and files on it, and a CFO decides what to do next. Bookkeeping and tax work are backward-looking and compliance-driven. A fractional CFO uses those same statements to make forward decisions: what to buy, when, at what price, and what to stop spending on.
Can a fractional CFO do my bookkeeping and taxes?
Tax work, no — this practice gives no tax advice and files no returns, without exception. Bookkeeping isn't the CFO role either; a CFO reads the statements rather than producing them. What we do care about is whether the numbers underneath can be trusted, and if they can't, that comes up in the assessment.
Do I need to replace my bookkeeper or CPA to work with you?
No. If they're doing good work, we work alongside them and they keep doing it. A fractional CFO uses what your bookkeeper produces and defers to your CPA on anything tax-related. The only time it comes up is when the work isn't serving you, and in that case you'll be told plainly.
Do you work with businesses outside Houston?
Yes. Vanderbilt CFO Partners is based in Houston, Texas and works remotely with e-commerce brands anywhere in the United States. The work runs on your financial statements and video calls, so location makes no practical difference.
How much does a fractional CFO cost?
Fractional CFO retainers vary widely by scope, business complexity, and how much of the work is analysis versus execution. This practice doesn't quote a number before seeing your actual statements, because a price given without your numbers is a guess.