Virtual CFO Services for Startups & SMEs
Get a senior finance head for a fraction of a full-time CFO's salary. We turn your books into monthly MIS, track cash and runway, build budgets and forecasts, get you investor- and bank-ready, and keep GST, TDS and ROC compliance on track, so you make decisions on numbers, not guesses.
- Monthly MIS and review meeting
- 13-week cash flow and runway tracking
- Financial model for investors and banks
- One team for books, tax and compliance
What is a virtual CFO?
A virtual CFO (vCFO) is an experienced finance leader who works with your business part-time and remotely, for a fixed monthly fee. They do what a chief financial officer does, such as reporting, cash planning, budgeting, fundraising and compliance oversight, without the cost of a full-time senior hire.
Most growing businesses have an accountant who records entries and files returns, but nobody who looks ahead: how much cash will we have in 6 months, which product actually makes money, can we afford two more hires, what will an investor ask? That's the gap a virtual CFO fills.
Because IBACT also runs bookkeeping, GST, TDS and ROC filings, your CFO works from books we know are reconciled, and compliance doesn't fall through the cracks between different vendors.
Signs your business needs a virtual CFO
If two or more of these sound familiar, you'll get value from a CFO's time.
- 1You don't know your runwayCash surprises you at month-end, or you can't say how many months the bank balance will last.
- 2Profit isn't showing up as cashSales are growing but money is stuck in receivables, stock or GST credit.
- 3You're raising moneyInvestors or banks want a financial model, MIS, projections and a clean data room.
- 4Decisions are made on gut feelPricing, hiring and marketing spend aren't checked against margins and budgets.
- 5Compliance is reactiveNotices, late fees or missed filings keep coming up, and nobody owns the calendar.
- 6You've outgrown your accountantYour accountant records entries well, but nobody turns them into insights.
What our virtual CFO does for you
Eight areas we take ownership of, scaled to your plan.
MIS & dashboards
A monthly management pack: revenue, gross margin, expenses, profit, cash and key metrics against last month and budget.
Cash flow & runway
A rolling 13-week cash flow, runway tracking and early warnings before cash gets tight.
Budgets & forecasts
Annual budget, quarterly reforecast and scenario planning for hiring, pricing and expansion.
Fundraising support
Financial model, projections, unit economics, data room and investor due diligence support.
Compliance oversight
One calendar for GST, TDS, advance tax, ROC and audits, with filings done or checked on time.
Pricing & profitability
Product, customer and channel margins, so you know where you actually make money.
Banking & loans
Working capital and term loan proposals, CMA data and lender reporting.
Board & investor reporting
Board decks and investor updates every month or quarter, in a consistent format.
Cash runway calculator
See how many months your cash will last, and when you'd break even, based on your current numbers and growth.
Use cash actually received and paid, including salaries, rent, GST and loan EMIs.
Your cash runway
—
Estimate only, projected month by month for up to 36 months with steady growth rates. Real cash flow also depends on collections, GST, one-off costs and funding.
Virtual CFO plans
A fixed monthly retainer. Start with a 3-month engagement, then continue month to month.
Lite
For early-stage startups and small businesses that need clear numbers.
₹14,999+ GST / month · 3-month minimum
- Monthly MIS: P&L, cash and key metrics
- 13-week cash flow forecast and runway alerts
- Annual budget and monthly budget vs actual
- Compliance calendar: GST, TDS, ROC, income tax
- Monthly 1-hour review call
- WhatsApp access to your CFO
- Investor and board reporting
- Financial model for fundraising
Growth
For funded startups and growing SMEs.
₹29,999+ GST / month · 3-month minimum
- Everything in Lite, plus:
- Unit economics: CAC, LTV, margins, burn multiple
- 3-year financial model, updated quarterly
- Monthly investor update and quarterly board pack
- Pricing, cost and working capital reviews
- Bank, NBFC and credit line support
- Fortnightly review calls
Strategic
For companies raising capital or scaling fast.
₹49,999+ GST / month · 3-month minimum
- Everything in Growth, plus:
- Fundraise support: model, data room, due diligence
- Cap table, ESOP pool and term sheet review
- Board meeting attendance (up to 4 a year)
- Finance team hiring and process setup
- Audit and statutory audit coordination
- Weekly calls and priority response
GST at 18% applies. Bookkeeping is priced separately by volume, or bundled at 15% off with any CFO plan; see accounting & bookkeeping. Statutory audits are done by an independent chartered accountant you appoint. Valuation reports, legal work and fundraising success fees are not included.
Virtual CFO vs full-time CFO vs accountant
A virtual CFO gives you senior finance judgement without a senior salary, and more than an accountant alone.
| What matters | IBACT virtual CFO | Full-time CFO | Accountant only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From ₹14,999 + GST | Often ₹2 lakh or more, plus benefits | Salary or fees for bookkeeping only |
| Reporting | Monthly MIS and review meeting | Yes | Ledgers and returns |
| Cash and runway planning | 13-week cash flow and alerts | Yes | Rarely |
| Fundraising and banks | Model, data room, due diligence | Yes | No |
| Commitment | 3 months, then monthly | Full-time hire, notice period | Varies |
| Best for | Startups and SMEs up to about ₹100 crore turnover | Large or listed companies | Very small businesses |
What you get every month
One pack and one meeting, by the 15th of every month.
Performance
- Profit and loss vs budget and last month
- Gross margin by product or service
- Key metrics: CAC, LTV, burn, payback
- Top expense movements explained
Cash
- Cash position and 13-week forecast
- Runway in months, with alerts
- Receivables ageing and collection plan
- Payables, including MSME dues
Compliance & actions
- Filing status: GST, TDS, advance tax, ROC
- Upcoming deadlines for the next 60 days
- Risks and notices, with next steps
- 3 to 5 recommended actions
Your first 90 days with a virtual CFO
A clear plan from the first call, then a steady monthly rhythm.
Finance health checkWeek 1
We review your books, cash, compliance status, contracts and current reporting, and agree priorities.
Clean-up & set upWeeks 2–4
Chart of accounts, reconciliations, cost centres and a compliance calendar, so the numbers can be trusted.
First MIS & cash flowMonth 1
Your first monthly pack and 13-week cash flow, reviewed together in a meeting.
Budget & forecastMonth 2
Annual budget and forecast with scenarios for hiring, pricing and growth.
Fix the leaksMonth 3
Collections, pricing, cost and working-capital improvements put into action.
Monthly rhythmOngoing
MIS by the 15th, a monthly review meeting, quarterly reforecasts and board or investor updates.
Fundraising and bank loan support
Investors and lenders fund numbers they can trust. We prepare them before you start the conversation.
- Before you pitchFinancial model and projectionsA 3 to 5 year model with assumptions, unit economics and use of funds that hold up to questions.
- During talksData room and due diligenceFinancials, MIS, compliance records, cap table and contracts organised, with answers to investor queries.
- ValuationValuation report where requiredWe coordinate with a registered valuer or merchant banker, for example where foreign investment rules need one. Angel tax on share premium was abolished from FY 2024-25.
- Bank loansWorking capital and term loansProjections, CMA data and lender documents prepared, and covenants and stock statements tracked after sanction.
- After fundingInvestor reporting and complianceMonthly or quarterly investor updates, and the ROC and FEMA filings that follow a share allotment.
More than a CFO: Start, Build and Grow with one team
Books, compliance and growth from one team, with your CFO keeping it all on plan.
Stay compliant
Bookkeeping, GST, TDS, ITR and ROC filings by the team your CFO works with every day.
Accounting & bookkeepingVirtual CFO: frequently asked questions
What is a virtual CFO?+
A virtual CFO is an experienced finance professional who works for your business part-time and remotely, doing the work of a chief financial officer: reporting, cash flow, budgets, fundraising, bank relationships and finance controls, for a fixed monthly fee instead of a full-time salary.
How much do virtual CFO services cost?+
Our plans are ₹14,999, ₹29,999 and ₹49,999 a month + GST, depending on how much reporting, investor work and fundraising support you need. Every plan starts with a 3-month engagement.
When does a business need a virtual CFO?+
Common signs are: you don't know your monthly burn or runway, you are planning to raise funds or take a loan, investors want regular reports, margins are falling as you grow, or month-end numbers arrive too late to act on.
What is the difference between an accountant and a virtual CFO?+
An accountant records transactions and files returns. A virtual CFO uses those numbers to plan: forecasting cash, setting budgets, tracking unit economics, preparing investor reports and advising on pricing, costs and funding.
Do you also do the bookkeeping?+
Bookkeeping is a separate service priced by transaction volume. If you take it with a CFO plan, you get 15% off the bookkeeping fee and one team handles both. If you already have an accountant, we work with them.
Will my virtual CFO be a chartered accountant?+
Your engagement is led by a qualified finance professional, typically a chartered accountant or MBA (Finance) with startup and SME experience, supported by our finance and compliance team.
What is a cash runway and how is it calculated?+
Runway is how many months your cash will last at your current net burn (cash paid out minus cash collected each month). Cash in bank divided by monthly burn gives a simple runway; our calculator also applies revenue and expense growth.
How much runway should a startup have?+
Many founders aim for at least 12 to 18 months of runway, and start fundraising when around 6 to 9 months remain, because a funding round in India often takes 3 to 6 months to close.
What is an MIS report?+
A monthly management information report: revenue, gross margin, expenses by category, EBITDA, cash balance, burn, receivables and payables, compared with budget and earlier months, with a short note on what changed.
Do you help with fundraising?+
Yes. On the Strategic plan we build the financial model, set up the data room, prepare for due diligence and review term sheets with you. We don't charge a success fee, and we don't act as an investment banker or broker.
Can you help us get a bank loan or working capital limit?+
Yes. We prepare projections, a CMA data report where needed, and the documents banks and NBFCs ask for, and help you compare offers. The loan decision rests with the lender.
Do you prepare investor updates and board packs?+
Yes, on the Growth and Strategic plans. You get a monthly investor update and a quarterly board pack with financials, KPIs, cash runway and key decisions.
Do you handle compliance as well?+
Every plan includes a compliance calendar and tracking of GST, TDS, income tax and ROC deadlines. Filing itself can be done by our compliance team at a combined price.
Will you attend our board meetings?+
On the Strategic plan, your CFO attends up to 4 board meetings a year to present the financials. On other plans, we prepare the pack and brief you before the meeting.
Which software and reporting tools do you use?+
We work with Tally Prime, Zoho Books, QuickBooks and similar software, and build reports in Google Sheets, Excel or dashboards. Your data and logins stay in your name.
How do you keep our financial data confidential?+
We sign an NDA before we see your numbers, use named logins you control, and limit access to the people working on your account. You can remove our access at any time.
What happens in the first month?+
We review your books, bank statements and compliance status, fix gaps in the chart of accounts, and deliver your first MIS and 13-week cash flow forecast, usually within 30 days.
Can we cancel after the first 3 months?+
Yes. After the first 3 months the plan runs month to month and you can stop with 30 days' notice. We hand over all reports, models and files.
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Know your numbers before you make the next big decision
Book a free 30-minute finance health check. We'll show you where your cash, margins and compliance stand today.
IBACT Digital (IBACT Innovations Pvt Ltd) is a private consultancy, not a government body. Our virtual CFO service is advisory and management support; it does not replace the statutory audit, which is done by an independent chartered accountant appointed by you, and we do not guarantee funding or loan approval. The runway calculator is an estimate only.