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5 Costly Mistakes I Made As A Fractional FD…And How To Avoid Them

FRACTIONAL FD

Stepping into the world of fractional Finance Director (FD) work was one of the best career moves I made—but it wasn’t without its missteps. If you’re starting out, here are five mistakes I made (so you don’t have to!)

1. Rushing the Legal & Professional Setup 🚦

In my eagerness to get going, I skimmed over the essentials. Big mistake.

✔ Set up your limited company correctly, including proper articles of association.
✔ Secure professional indemnity insurance—it’s non-negotiable.
✔ Get your practising certificate sorted ASAP. Lead times can be long!
✔ Understand anti-money laundering regulations and have a client onboarding process in place.

Sorting these early saves you a world of stress later.

2. Undervaluing My Personal Brand 🎭

I thought my experience spoke for itself. Turns out, clients need to see who you are and how you can help.

✔ Define your values and build a brand that feels authentic.
✔ Ditch the corporate façade—your ideal clients want to connect with you.
✔ Get clear on who you want to work with and tailor your messaging accordingly.

Your personal brand isn’t just a ‘nice to have’—it’s what attracts the right clients.

3. Treating LinkedIn Like a CV Instead of a Business Tool 📢

I was guilty of lurking, posting sporadically, and not making the most of LinkedIn’s power.

✔ Optimise your profile to clearly showcase your expertise.
✔ Add a compelling call-to-action in your ‘About’ section.
✔ Post valuable content consistently—clients are watching (even if they don’t engage immediately).
✔ Engage with others. Visibility leads to credibility, which leads to opportunity.

4. Selling My Skills Instead of Solutions 💡

Initially, I treated sales like a job interview—listing my skills instead of solving problems. Wrong approach!

✔ Focus on the client’s pain points—how can you solve their problems?
✔ Position yourself as a trusted advisor, not just a finance professional.
✔ Confidence is key—own your value.
✔ Consider a lead magnet (like a useful checklist) to build relationships before selling.

5. Not Setting Boundaries From Day One ⏳

In my excitement to land clients, I was too flexible, leading to scope creep and burnout.

✔ Have clear engagement letters outlining terms, scope, and payment schedules.
✔ Set defined working days/hours—don’t let work creep into personal time.
✔ Decide when (and how often) you’ll check emails—constant availability isn’t necessary.

Final Thoughts

Going fractional is exciting, but success isn’t just about technical skills—it’s about thinking like a business owner.

Learn from my mistakes: get set up properly, build your brand, master LinkedIn, sell solutions (not skills), and establish boundaries early. You’ll thank yourself later! 😉

I teach all of this in my exclusive programme, PowerUP! I designed the course based on my own experience and all I learnt along the way.

Find out more here if you’d like the blueprint in making fractional finance work a success.

     

    CONTACT DETAILS

    Wainwright Consulting Limited
    Company Number: 12778152

    Registered Office:
    26 Wynmore Avenue
    Leeds
    LS16 9DE

    Phone: 07802 445680

    Email: info@wainwrightconsulting.co.uk

     

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