Bridges Docs: services, pricing, and engagement terms

What does Bridges do?

Bridges builds and runs the finance work behind your decisions: financial visibility, forecasts, operating plans, payments economics, and board and investor reporting. Separately priced controller services provide the financial foundation. Tier 3 CFO Leadership includes Strategic Finance and fractional CFO; fractional CFO is not a standalone service or an add-on.

Who is Bridges built for?

Bridges is built for vertical SaaS, fintech, and B2B platforms with subscription, payments, or usage-based revenue. The work is especially relevant when billing, Stripe transactions, customer usage, and the ledger must be connected to understand revenue, margin, and cash.

Does Bridges only work with SaaS companies?

No. Bridges' focus includes fintech and B2B platforms that process payments. A subscription-only lens can miss the economics of transactions, processing fees, and platform revenue.

Can Bridges help a business with both SaaS and payments revenue?

Yes. Strategic finance covers unit economics by revenue stream. Financial models are built around contracts, transactions, and usage rather than treating every dollar of revenue as the same.

Does Bridges work with usage-based billing?

Yes. Usage is part of how Bridges builds financial models and connects billing data to reporting. The scope depends on your billing setup and where the underlying business context lives.

Who leads the engagement?

Tim Salikhov oversees all three monthly tiers, with controllers, financial analysts, and engineers supporting the work. The tiers change the depth of work and cadence. Fractional CFO is included in Tier 3 CFO Leadership only, not marketed as a standalone service or an add-on.

What experience does Bridges bring?

Bridges has managed $951M of P&L for 31 vertical SaaS, fintech, and B2B payments companies. Tim Salikhov is a former growth equity investor and former VP Finance at vertical SaaS companies. Controllers, financial analysts, and engineers support the finance work.

Is Bridges a Stripe partner?

Yes. Bridges is an official Stripe partner. Bridges' work includes Stripe, Stripe Connect, billing automation, and embedded-payments profitability.

How do we decide whether Bridges fits?

Start with your ARR, financing stage, reporting responsibilities, and the state of your books. Tier 1 Financial Planning is best for companies below $3M ARR preparing to raise Series A. Tier 2 Strategic Finance is best for companies above $3M ARR. Tier 3 CFO Leadership fits companies accountable to a board after Series A. These are best-fit descriptions, not a published rule for exactly $3M ARR.

Can a bootstrapped SaaS business work with Bridges without planning a fundraise?

Yes. Finance support covers cash, runway, operating performance, and growth decisions as well as fundraising. The best-fit positioning is Financial Planning below $3M ARR and preparing Series A, Strategic Finance above $3M ARR, and CFO Leadership for post-Series A board accountability. Discuss the responsibilities you need rather than assuming every company must fundraise.

What is the difference between bookkeeping, a controller, FP&A, and a CFO?

Bookkeeping records financial activity. Controller work produces reliable financial statements and revenue schedules. Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) turns those numbers into forecasts, budgets, and scenarios. CFO leadership uses that foundation for board, investor, fundraising, and transaction decisions. Bridges connects these responsibilities while pricing controller services separately.

What is Financial Planning?

Financial Planning is Tier 1, from $5,000/month, best below $3M ARR when preparing for Series A. It covers cash flow, runway, metrics, unit economics, benchmarks, flux analysis, and annual planning. Detailed department budgets and deeper scenarios begin in Strategic Finance.

What is Strategic Finance?

Tier 2 Strategic Finance includes everything in Tier 1 Financial Planning and goes deeper with operating models, scenarios, department budgets, and sales capacity and quota planning. The wider service scope includes revenue, profit, and cash forecasts; unit economics; customer profitability; and revenue and marketing analysis. Tier 2 Strategic Finance starts from $10,000 USD per month for deeper analysis, with the exact work agreed for the client.

What is CFO Leadership?

CFO Leadership is Tier 3, best for companies accountable to a board after closing Series A. Tier 3 CFO Leadership includes Strategic Finance and adds board and investor reporting, data-room readiness, and board preparation and participation. Tier 3 CFO Leadership starts from $15,000 USD per month. Fractional CFO is included in Tier 3 CFO Leadership, never sold standalone or as an add-on.

Can we buy CFO Leadership without strategic finance?

No. CFO Leadership is cumulative Tier 3 and includes Strategic Finance. Fractional CFO is included in Tier 3, never sold as a standalone service or as an add-on. Board and investor work depends on reliable financials, forecasts, and analysis.

What do controller services cover?

Controller services offer cash books from $1,750/month or accrual books from $2,750/month. Accrual books are preferable when you are preparing a fundraise or have closed an institutional round, when your board or investors expect accrual reporting, or when you have deferred revenue, annual contracts billed upfront, or usage-based billing. Accrual scope includes revenue recognition, Stripe reconciliation, financial statements, and driver commentary. Monthly financials arrive by the 10th business day.

What is a financial modeling project?

Bridges offers a one-time build of a three-year Excel operating model with scenarios. The model is built around your contracts, transactions, and usage. The project starts from $10,000 and runs over 2-4 weeks.

What is a data room readiness engagement (financial diligence)?

Bridges offers a one-off data room readiness engagement, also called financial diligence. The project can cover financial cleanup, an investor-grade model, the growth narrative, data-room preparation, and diligence support within the agreed scope. The project starts from $10,000 USD one-time and runs over 2-4 weeks. Tier 3 CFO Leadership includes ongoing data-room readiness; the tactical project is a separate engagement.

Does Bridges replace our bookkeeper or finance hire?

Not necessarily. You can keep an outside accountant. Strategic finance and CFO leadership can work alongside your finance team. The engagement should identify who owns the books, forecasts, reporting, and decisions so the work does not fall between providers.

Does finance support include taking over HR, legal, or the whole operations function?

Bridges' scope covers finance, accounting, planning, and CFO responsibilities. It does not promise an outsourced HR, legal, or general operations team. Any work outside that scope needs a separate discussion.

How does Bridges work with RevOps rather than replace it?

Strategic Finance covers sales capacity, quotas, commissions, marketing funnel analysis, and revenue operations analysis. Scope those responsibilities alongside your RevOps owner. Finance support does not automatically include CRM administration or running your sales team.

How much does monthly finance support cost at Bridges?

Monthly finance support starts from $5,000 per month for Tier 1 Financial Planning and from $10,000 per month for Tier 2 Strategic Finance, which includes everything in Financial Planning and goes deeper. Tier 3 CFO Leadership starts from $15,000 per month and includes Strategic Finance and fractional CFO. Fractional CFO is never standalone or an add-on. Tim Salikhov oversees every engagement. Controller services are separate: from $1,750 per month for cash books or from $2,750 per month for accrual books. Accrual books are preferable when you are preparing a fundraise or have closed an institutional round, when your board or investors expect accrual reporting, or when you have deferred revenue, annual contracts billed upfront, or usage-based billing. Prices are in USD.

What does Tier 1 Financial Planning include and cost?

Financial Planning starts from $5,000/month, excluding controller services. It covers cash and runway modeling, metrics, unit economics, benchmarks, flux analysis, and annual planning. It is best below $3M ARR before Series A. Cadence is monthly. Cash books start from $1,750/month and accrual books from $2,750/month, separately priced.

What does Tier 2 Strategic Finance include and cost?

Monthly fee: from $10,000 USD per month for deeper analysis, excluding controller services.

Scope: Everything in Financial Planning, plus a 12-month forecast updated monthly, department P&L and operating KPIs, headcount and sales capacity planning. The tier includes annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, scenarios, and quota planning.

Fit: Companies with ARR above $3M that need strategic finance support.

Cadence: Bi-weekly, with async Slack access.

Controller option: Accrual books start from $2,750 per month and cash books from $1,750 per month. Accrual books are preferable when you are preparing a fundraise or have closed an institutional round, when your board or investors expect accrual reporting, or when you have deferred revenue, annual contracts billed upfront, or usage-based billing. Controller services are separate; outside accountants are allowed.

What does Tier 3 CFO Leadership include and cost?

• Starting fee: $15,000 USD per month, excluding accounting.

• Scope: Everything in Strategic Finance, plus fractional CFO, data-room readiness, investor and board reporting, and board meeting preparation and participation. Quarterly board deck preparation and investor updates are included. Fractional CFO is not a standalone service or an add-on.

• Fit: Post-Series A teams accountable to a board. There is no fixed ARR threshold for this responsibility.

• Cadence: Weekly, with async Slack access.

• Controller option: Accrual books are recommended for Tier 3, from $2,750 per month. Controller services are separate; you can keep an outside accountant.

Which tier should we choose?

Choose Tier 1 Financial Planning if you are below $3M ARR and preparing Series A. Choose Tier 2 Strategic Finance if you are above $3M ARR and need operating analysis. Choose Tier 3 CFO Leadership when post-Series A board and investor responsibilities need ongoing ownership. Tier 3 includes fractional CFO and Strategic Finance; it is not a standalone CFO service or an add-on.

Does each tier include accounting?

No. Controller services are separate: from $1,750/month for cash books and from $2,750/month for accrual books. Accrual books are preferable when you are preparing a fundraise or have closed an institutional round, when your board or investors expect accrual reporting, or when you have deferred revenue, annual contracts billed upfront, or usage-based billing. You can use Bridges or keep an outside accountant.

What does strategic finance plus Bridges accounting cost?

Tier 1 Financial Planning from $5,000 USD per month plus cash books from $1,750 USD per month starts from $6,750 USD per month. Tier 2 Strategic Finance from $10,000 USD per month plus accrual books from $2,750 USD per month starts from $12,750 USD per month. Tier 3 CFO Leadership from $15,000 USD per month plus accrual books from $2,750 USD per month starts from $17,750 USD per month. These are arithmetic combinations, not separate bundled plans. A scoped quote may be higher.

Why does the price say "starting from"?

Financial Planning starts from $5,000/month and Strategic Finance starts from $10,000/month. CFO Leadership starts from $15,000/month. One-off financial modeling and data room readiness each start from $10,000. The proposal defines the agreed work and fee.

What can make the fee higher?

More systems to connect, more complex operations, and business context spread across spreadsheets or internal dashboards. Bridges automates data ingestion and reporting where possible. The effort depends on how the underlying information is stored and how much work is needed to make it usable.

Are prices based only on ARR?

ARR frames best fit rather than setting every fee. Financial Planning is best below $3M ARR while preparing Series A; Strategic Finance is best above $3M ARR. CFO Leadership fits post-Series A board accountability. Operations, systems, and reporting responsibilities still affect scope. The exact $3M boundary is not specified.

Are we paying only for more meetings in higher tiers?

No. The scope changes as well as the cadence. Detailed modeling and department planning distinguish Strategic Finance. Board, investor, and data-room responsibilities distinguish CFO Leadership.

Can we buy a project rather than a monthly retainer?

Yes. One-off tactical engagements cover financial modeling and data room readiness, also called financial diligence. The financial modeling and data room readiness projects each start from $10,000 one-time. A project suits a defined build or readiness outcome. A retainer covers ongoing finance work and includes an initial model build. Fractional CFO is not a one-off or standalone offer; it is included in Tier 3.

What if we need finance judgment, not another person producing spreadsheets?

Choose the scope by the decisions and responsibilities you need covered. Strategic Finance combines models with operating analysis. CFO Leadership adds board, investor, and data-room responsibilities. Tim Salikhov oversees every tier.

What if our existing model is good but our business decisions are still unclear?

An initial model is not the whole engagement. Strategic Finance also covers scenarios, customer profitability, revenue operations, and growth planning. Review which decisions need help before commissioning another standalone model.

What is the difference between cash and accrual accounting?

Cash books show when money comes in and goes out. Accrual books show business performance through recognized revenue, expenses, and supporting schedules. Controller services start from $1,750 per month for cash books and from $2,750 per month for accrual books. Accrual books are preferable when you are preparing a fundraise or have closed an institutional round, when your board or investors expect accrual reporting, or when you have deferred revenue, annual contracts billed upfront, or usage-based billing.

When do we need accrual accounting?

Accrual books are preferable when you are preparing a fundraise or have closed an institutional round, when your board or investors expect accrual reporting, or when you have deferred revenue, annual contracts billed upfront, or usage-based billing. Bridges accrual controller services start from $2,750 per month, or you can keep your outside accountant. The tier positioning does not make Bridges accounting mandatory.

Can we keep our existing accountant?

Yes. Bridges' preference is to own accounting because strategic finance depends on the quality and timing of the financials. Bridges' commitment is to deliver faster financials and ensure accuracy. You are not required to replace your accountant to work with Bridges.

Why does Bridges prefer to own the books?

Forecasts and analysis depend on reliable financials. Keeping accounting and strategic finance connected lets Bridges build the reporting foundation the analysis needs. This is a preference, not a requirement to buy Bridges accounting.

Is the chart of accounts rebuild included?

Yes. The initial chart of accounts work is included in the retainer under the three-month commitment. Ongoing accounting remains a separately priced service.

Is rebuilding the books to accrual standards included?

Yes. Initial rebuilding to accrual standards is included in the retainer under the three-month commitment. That initial work is different from buying ongoing monthly bookkeeping. The engagement should define the periods and records involved.

How quickly do controller financials arrive?

Controller services deliver financials by the 10th business day. This is the recurring service target, not a promise that any historical backlog can be rebuilt in ten days. Bridges' initial target is working numbers within 30 days of the first call.

How does Stripe reconciliation relate to financial reporting?

Controller scope includes Stripe reconciliation. Strategic finance connects payments activity to revenue streams, unit economics, and cash forecasts. Bank deposits alone do not explain all the activity behind the reported numbers.

Does Bridges support ASC 606 revenue recognition?

Yes. ASC 606 revenue recognition is part of controller services, alongside accrual-basis financials and Stripe reconciliation. Your contracts and billing setup determine the schedules the work needs.

Will cash bookkeeping be enough for an institutional fundraise?

Discuss the fundraise reporting and diligence requirements before choosing cash books. Accrual books are preferable when you are preparing a fundraise or have closed an institutional round, when your board or investors expect accrual reporting, or when you have deferred revenue, annual contracts billed upfront, or usage-based billing. Cash controller services start from $1,750 per month and accrual services from $2,750 per month; your outside accountant can also prepare the books.

Why can payment volume stay flat while our payments revenue or margin changes?

Volume alone does not explain the economics. Bridges' payments work connects reconciled activity to unit economics by revenue stream. Strategic Finance helps investigate the drivers; it does not assume that steady volume means steady margin.

Can you help when Stripe totals do not explain what is in our internal billing system?

Yes. Stripe reconciliation and read-only access to billing and financial accounts are part of Bridges' approach. Internal dashboards or spreadsheets may contain context that Stripe does not. The engagement must account for those sources rather than treat Stripe alone as the full business record.

Does a Stripe deposit tell us which product or revenue stream earned the money?

Not by itself when the product or contract context sits elsewhere. Bridges connects billing, Stripe, financial accounts, and business context for reporting. Strategic Finance covers unit economics by revenue stream.

Can you help with deferred revenue from subscriptions paid before delivery?

Accrual controller support includes ASC 606 revenue recognition. Review the contracts, billing records, and delivery context to define the schedules needed. A Stripe payment alone does not establish the full revenue-recognition treatment.

What if invoices are still open even though the customer paid outside Stripe?

Raise this in the initial review. Bridges' work includes Stripe reconciliation and connections to financial accounts, so reporting must account for payments held outside one system. Detailed collections workflows and responsibility for changing invoice status must be agreed in the scope.

Does billing automation remove the need for reconciliation and controller review?

Bridges controller service still includes reconciliation and financial reporting. Automating ingestion is a way to support that work, not a promise that the billing system alone produces complete financials.

Can you explain what changed in the numbers, rather than just deliver statements?

Yes. Controller services include driver commentary. Bridges includes flux analysis in every finance tier. Strategic Finance adds department P&L and operating KPIs.

Is the initial operating model included in the retainer?

Yes. The initial model build is included because monthly engagements have a three-month commitment. There is no onboarding fee. This does not turn every future rebuild or unrelated project into included work.

Why buy a standalone model if a model is included in the retainer?

A standalone project gives you a defined model build without a monthly finance engagement. A retainer combines the initial model with ongoing finance support. Choose by whether you need a build or an ongoing finance function.

What is in the standalone financial model?

The Bridges standalone financial model is a three-year Excel operating model with scenarios, built around contracts, transactions, and usage. The work includes sales capacity, quotas, and commission structure, tailored to the business. The project starts from $10,000 one-time.

How long does a model project take?

The standalone model build runs over 2-4 weeks. Week 1 covers founder and team interviews. Weeks 2-3 cover the model, drivers, scenarios, and reporting. Weeks 3-4 cover presentation to the team, strategy feedback, and the final version. These are overlapping stages, not separate consecutive blocks.

Does the model cover subscriptions, payments, and usage?

Yes. The model follows how your business earns revenue: contracts, transactions, and usage. Strategic finance also covers unit economics by revenue stream so subscription revenue and payments economics can be understood separately.

Can Bridges model sales capacity, quotas, and commissions?

Yes. Sales capacity and quota planning are part of Strategic Finance and carry into CFO Leadership. Financial modeling also covers quotas and commission structure. The plan connects hiring and sales assumptions to the operating model.

Can Bridges help with customer profitability?

Yes. Strategic finance covers customer profitability, retention, and expansion, alongside unit economics by revenue stream. The analysis is scoped to the information and decisions your business needs.

Can Bridges help with marketing and revenue operations?

Yes. Strategic Finance includes marketing funnel, channel, and revenue-operations analysis. The exact analysis belongs in the engagement scope rather than being assumed in every starting-price tier.

Does Bridges work on embedded-payments profitability?

Yes. Embedded-payments profitability is part of Bridges' Stripe partner work. The work belongs with the broader analysis of revenue streams, unit economics, and payments activity.

Is every model update or rebuild included?

The initial model build is included in the retainer. Ongoing work follows the agreed tier and scope. A new project or materially different model should be scoped rather than assumed to be included in the starting monthly fee.

Can you connect our growth plan to how much cash we can afford to spend?

Yes. Cash and runway modeling are in Financial Planning. Strategic Finance adds monthly-updated forecasts, scenarios, department budgets, headcount, and sales capacity planning. Use those together to compare growth plans with the available cash.

Can you help decide how many salespeople we need for a revenue target?

Yes. Strategic Finance includes sales capacity and quota planning. Financial modeling also covers quotas and commission structure. The work connects the sales plan to the operating model rather than assuming hiring alone delivers the target.

Can we compare investing in engineering with investing in go-to-market?

Strategic Finance covers department budgets, scenarios, revenue planning, and cash forecasts. That scope can support a comparison of investment options. It does not promise a universal split between engineering and go-to-market.

Can you model a path to profitability as well as a growth plan?

Yes. Strategic Finance covers revenue, profit, and cash forecasts with scenarios. The assumptions and timing should reflect your business rather than a guaranteed profitability date.

Can you help us understand retention and expansion instead of focusing only on new sales?

Yes. The Strategic Finance scope includes customer profitability, retention, and expansion alongside marketing and revenue operations analysis. The depth depends on the available data and agreed scope.

How does customer profitability relate to SaaS and payments revenue?

Strategic Finance covers customer profitability and unit economics by revenue stream. A customer can contribute subscription revenue, payments revenue, and usage revenue. The analysis should reflect that mix rather than judge the account by one blended revenue figure.

Can you help us test a commission plan against the financial model?

Yes. Sales capacity and commission plans are part of Strategic Finance. Standalone financial modeling includes quota and commission structure. Agree the design work and inputs in the scope; a standard commission percentage is not promised.

Can you help forecast when revenue will turn into cash?

Yes. Financial Planning covers cash flow and runway. Strategic Finance adds revenue, profit, and cash forecasts. Billing and financial accounts provide the inputs; the work must reflect the timing relevant to your business.

Do we need a CFO before Series A?

The funding round alone does not determine the Bridges engagement scope. If you need a model and fundraising preparation, a project may fit. If you need ongoing forecasts and finance support, consider a retainer. Board and investor responsibilities point toward CFO Leadership alongside strategic finance.

What changes after Series A?

Bridges' CFO Leadership tier is built for post-Series A teams accountable to a board. It covers board reporting, investor reporting, and data-room readiness alongside strategic finance. Accrual books are recommended for Tier 2 and Tier 3, whether Bridges or an outside accountant prepares them.

Does CFO Leadership cover board and investor reporting?

Yes. Board and investor reporting are explicit parts of CFO Leadership. The service scope includes board preparation and participation, fundraising readiness, and diligence support. Agree the specific responsibilities and calendar in the engagement scope.

Can Bridges prepare a data room?

Yes. Ongoing data-room readiness is part of Tier 3 CFO Leadership. Bridges also offers a one-off tactical engagement for data room readiness, also called financial diligence. A defined project and ongoing board/investor readiness are different engagement shapes.

Can Bridges help prepare for an exit?

Yes. Tier 3 CFO Leadership includes exit and transaction readiness. CFO Leadership adds data-room readiness for a fundraise or exit alongside strategic finance. Specific transaction work should be named in the scope.

Does Bridges guarantee a fundraising result?

The work covers financial cleanup, models, growth narrative, readiness, and diligence. A funding outcome is not promised in Bridges' service scope. The engagement defines the work Bridges will deliver.

Does a data room readiness engagement (financial diligence) have the same 2-4 week timeline as a model build?

Yes. Bridges offers 2-4 weeks for both the operating model build and the data room readiness engagement (financial diligence). Each starts from $10,000 one-time. Confirm the project calendar and deliverables for your scope.

Can the financial model support operating decisions and the fundraising story?

Yes. The financial model uses scenarios built around the business. Strategic Finance supports operating forecasts and plans. A data room readiness engagement (financial diligence) connects an investor-grade model with the growth narrative and diligence preparation.

What if we are considering either a fundraise or a sale?

Tier 3 CFO Leadership covers fundraising readiness and exit and transaction readiness. CFO Leadership includes data-room readiness alongside strategic finance. Agree which process and responsibilities the engagement needs to support; choosing one outcome is not required to discuss readiness.

Will Bridges select equity, debt, or a particular investor for us?

Fundraising strategy and readiness are within Bridges' scope. A specific financing instrument, investor introduction, brokerage service, or funding result is not promised in the starting fee. Define the capital-raising work in the engagement.

How does an engagement start?

Discuss the decisions and responsibilities you need covered. Review the books, billing, Stripe setup, and other financial systems. Agree the scope, starting work, cadence, and fee. Monthly engagements begin with a three-month commitment that includes the initial model, chart of accounts work, and accrual rebuilding.

What access does Bridges need?

Bridges needs read-only developer application programming interface (API) access to billing, Stripe, and financial accounts to automate data ingestion and reporting. The exact sources depend on your systems. Spreadsheets and internal dashboards may hold business context that those systems do not contain.

Why read-only API access?

Bridges requests read-only API access to connect financial information to reporting and analysis. The requested developer application programming interface (API) access is read-only. It should not be treated as permission to move money or change your billing settings.

What if our data lives in several systems?

More systems mean more connections and more context to reconcile. This affects complexity and can affect the fee. The initial review should identify the financial sources and the business knowledge held outside them.

What if key information is in spreadsheets or dashboards?

Bridges needs that context as well as system data. A connector cannot explain every business rule. Bridges builds automation and a repository so the finance work retains the knowledge behind bookkeeping, forecasts, and reporting.

Does Bridges build automation?

Yes. Bridges automates ingestion and reporting as much as possible and builds a repository of business and financial context. The purpose is useful, repeatable finance work that your company can retain.

Will we have to change our systems?

There is no universal system-change promise in Bridges' scope. The review should identify what can be connected, what needs clarification, and whether changes are needed. Any system implementation beyond the agreed work should be scoped explicitly.

How fast will we see working numbers?

Bridges' initial target is working numbers within 30 days of the first call. This is not a guarantee that every cleanup, model, or transaction task is finished in 30 days. Standalone financial model projects have a separate 2-4 week build window.

What if our engineering team limits API access or needs to approve the connection?

Bridges' access request is read-only developer application programming interface (API) access to billing, Stripe, and financial accounts. Identify the allowed sources and permissions before agreeing the setup. An alternative data-transfer method and its reporting limits must be agreed rather than assumed.

Can Bridges work with a homegrown billing system?

Bridges' approach connects billing data to financial reporting. A custom billing system adds setup and business context that must be reviewed. More systems or context outside them can increase complexity and the fee. A specific connector or implementation is not automatically promised.

Who from our team should join the initial review?

Include the people who can explain the books, billing, revenue model, and business rules. That may involve finance, operations, or engineering as well as the founder. The exact participants depend on where your context lives.

Can you give us clearer reporting without immediately rebuilding our billing product?

Discuss that as a scope requirement. Reporting and strategic finance are not a blanket commitment to replace your billing system. The review should distinguish data connections and analysis from a new software implementation.

When does Bridges bill?

Bridges bills monthly on the first day of the month. Monthly finance support and accounting have separate prices. Your agreed scope sets the fee.

What is the initial commitment?

Bridges monthly engagements have a three-month initial commitment. The initial model build, chart of accounts work, and rebuilding books to accrual standards are included under that commitment. After the initial term, the engagement continues month to month.

Is there an onboarding fee?

No. There is no separate onboarding fee. The initial model and accounting foundation work are included in the retainer under the three-month commitment. Ongoing accounting is still priced separately.

Can we cancel?

Monthly engagements have a three-month initial commitment. After that, cancellation requires 30 days' notice. The initial commitment still applies.

Can we scale up or down?

Yes, with 30 days' notice. Change the scope as the responsibilities change. The three-month initial commitment remains in place.

Does Bridges take equity or require employee benefits?

No. Bridges' engagement terms are no equity and no benefits. Monthly services are paid through the agreed fees.

Are one-time projects part of the monthly starting price?

One-off financial modeling and data room readiness (financial diligence) are separate tactical engagements. Their project starting price is $10,000 one-time. The initial model in a retainer is included; a separately purchased project is a different engagement. Fractional CFO is included only in Tier 3, not a standalone project or an add-on.

Who owns the business context and financial knowledge?

The client owns the business context and financial knowledge. Bridges builds automation and a repository so the client retains the context behind monthly bookkeeping, strategic finance, and forecasting. The goal is a finance function the client can carry forward, not knowledge trapped with a provider.

Why does context ownership matter?

Changing controllers or hiring a VP of Finance can force a company to start over when the business knowledge leaves with the prior provider. Bridges builds the work so the client keeps the context and financial knowledge.

What happens when we bring finance in-house?

Your company retains the business context and financial knowledge built through the engagement. A new controller or VP of Finance should not need to rediscover how your business works from scratch. The specific transfer process and access arrangements should be agreed for your setup.

Can Bridges work alongside a VP of Finance?

Yes. Tier 2 Strategic Finance is best for companies above $3M ARR and can be scoped around an existing finance owner. Keep responsibility for books, forecasts, and board reporting explicit. Ongoing fractional CFO and board accountability belong in cumulative Tier 3 CFO Leadership.

Does owning the context mean a specific software platform is promised?

Bridges does not promise a specific software platform. The commitment is to build automation and a repository that lets the client retain business context and financial knowledge. The system and access arrangements depend on the setup.

Can we keep using a founder-built spreadsheet while getting finance support?

You can retain ownership of your model and business context. Bridges includes an initial model build in the retainer and offers ongoing finance support by tier. Review the existing spreadsheet and agree what to maintain, rebuild, or connect; no particular spreadsheet integration is promised.

How do we avoid starting over when a controller or provider leaves?

Bridges' commitment is to build automation and a repository so the client retains the business context and financial knowledge. That includes the knowledge behind bookkeeping, strategic finance, and forecasting. Agree the access and transfer arrangements for your setup.

What should finance cost at $3M, $10M, or $30M ARR?

Bridges does not state a universal finance-cost percentage. Tier 1 Financial Planning starts from $5,000 USD per month, Tier 2 Strategic Finance starts from $10,000 USD per month, and Tier 3 CFO Leadership starts from $15,000 USD per month, excluding controller services. Tier 1 is best below $3M ARR while preparing Series A. Tier 2 is best above $3M ARR. Tier 3 fits post-Series A board accountability. Investor responsibilities and operational complexity can matter more than ARR.

We're under $3M ARR. Are we excluded?

No. Companies below $3M ARR preparing Series A are the best fit for Tier 1 Financial Planning. A defined tactical modeling or financial-diligence project is another engagement shape. Bridges has supported pre-revenue financial modeling and fundraising work.

We're post-Series A but below $10M ARR. Which tier fits?

Tier 3 CFO Leadership fits companies accountable to a board after closing Series A. It includes Strategic Finance and fractional CFO, with ongoing board, investor, and data-room responsibilities. A lower ARR does not remove the board responsibility.

We're over $30M ARR. Do we automatically need a full-time CFO?

There is no hard hiring threshold in this reference. Review the responsibilities that need a dedicated internal owner and the work external support can cover. Bridges pricing is based on scope, not an automatic ARR cutoff.

We only need a forecast and model. Do we need a retainer?

Not necessarily. A standalone financial model starts from $10,000 one-time and runs over 2-4 weeks. A retainer fits ongoing planning, analysis, or CFO responsibilities and includes the initial model build.

We already have clean books. What can Bridges add?

Forecasts, scenarios, department budgets, sales capacity, unit economics, and customer profitability through strategic finance. CFO Leadership adds board and investor responsibilities. You can keep your outside accountant.

We have books but no reliable forecast. Where should we start?

Start with the decisions the forecast must support. Financial Planning covers cash, runway, metrics, and annual planning. Strategic Finance covers deeper operating models, department budgets, and scenarios. A standalone model is another option if the need is a defined build.

We process payments and our margin is unclear. Which service fits?

Strategic Finance covers unit economics by revenue stream and customer profitability. Bridges' payments work includes Stripe Connect and embedded-payments profitability. Controller support provides the reconciled financial foundation where needed.

How do we get a scoped recommendation?

Tell Bridges your ARR, financing stage, revenue model, books, systems, and the decisions or reporting you need covered. Bridges can discuss Financial Planning, Strategic Finance, CFO Leadership with included fractional CFO, separately priced controller services, or a one-off financial modeling or data room readiness engagement.