Virtual CFO
Fundraising financial models
A fundraising financial model builds a three-statement forecast from your actual historical numbers and a growth plan you can defend, giving US founders and owners a model that survives an investor's or lender's questions about the assumptions behind every line.
13-week cash forecast
Illustrative client · August 2026
USD
- Cash today
- $244,220
- Lowest week ahead
- 239,800
- Largest outflow
- Payroll, 46,300
Illustrative. An example of the document, not a client's figures.
Built to be tested, not just presented
Most investors and lenders spend less time on the model's output than on its assumptions: what growth rate is driving revenue, what the burn multiple looks like, whether the unit economics actually support the plan. We build the model so those assumptions are visible and defensible, sourced from your historical actuals rather than a top-down guess.
What the model includes
A full three-statement build (profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow) driven by operating assumptions you control: headcount plan, pricing, customer acquisition cost, churn where relevant. Historical actuals for the prior 12 to 24 months are pulled directly from your QuickBooks Online, Xero or NetSuite file so the forecast connects cleanly to where the business actually is today.
Use of funds and sensitivity
The model ties the raise amount to a specific use of funds, whether that is hiring, inventory, marketing spend or a capital purchase, and includes a sensitivity view on the one or two assumptions most likely to be challenged, such as a slower sales ramp or a higher customer acquisition cost than planned. A model that only shows the best case invites harder questions than one that shows the range.
Equity or debt
The same underlying build supports either an equity raise or a debt financing conversation; the assumptions and the specific outputs a lender wants (debt service coverage, for instance) differ from what an equity investor focuses on, and we build the model for the audience you are presenting to. This pairs with investor reporting once the raise closes and ongoing updates become part of the relationship. See pricing for how a one-time model build is scoped.
Questions
Frequently asked questions: Fundraising financial models
How long does it take to build a fundraising model?
Typically a few weeks from kickoff, depending on how quickly historical data and your growth assumptions come together, with time built in for revisions once you review a first draft.
Can you build the model for both an equity raise and a bank loan?
Yes. The core three-statement build is the same; we adjust the outputs and assumptions to match whether you are presenting to an equity investor or a lender.
Do you help with the pitch deck too?
We build the financial model and the numbers that go into a deck. Deck design and the broader investor narrative typically sit with you or a separate advisor, though we support the financial slides directly.
What if we do not have two years of clean historical data?
We work with whatever clean history exists and are transparent with investors about where the model relies more heavily on assumptions versus actuals, rather than overstating the historical base.
What does fundraising financial models actually include, month to month?
Fundraising financial models covers a three-statement model (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) driven by real assumptions, along with historical actuals tied to your books, not estimated. The work runs inside Excel or Google Sheets, the file stays under your own subscription, and a senior principal reviews the output before it reaches you each period.
Will you help us defend the model to investors?
We build the model to withstand scrutiny and can walk you through the assumptions before a raise, though we are not a party to your investor conversations.
How far back does the historical data need to go?
As far back as clean records exist. Most models use 12 to 24 months of actuals as the base for the forward assumptions.
Can the same model support a debt raise instead of equity?
Yes. The model logic is the same; the assumptions and the output a lender wants differ from what an equity investor wants, and we build to the audience.
What if our records for fundraising financial models are not up to date?
If your records are behind, we scope a catch-up first so fundraising financial models starts from a clean, reconciled base. That catch-up is priced and timed separately from the ongoing engagement, so you always know what each part costs.
Related services
- Virtual CFOInvestor reportingA recurring investor update built from your actual numbers: the metrics investors expect, delivered on a schedule you can rely on.
- Virtual CFO13-week cash flow forecastA rolling week-by-week cash forecast that shows what is coming in, what is going out, and where the next 13 weeks get tight.
- Virtual CFOPricing and unit economicsA clear read on what each customer, order or unit actually costs and earns, so pricing decisions are based on margin rather than a guess.
Industries
- Startups and VC-backed companiesBookkeeping and reporting for early-stage, venture-backed companies watching burn, runway and investor reporting closely.
- SaaSBookkeeping and reporting for subscription software businesses tracking recurring revenue, deferred revenue and burn.
- Crypto and web3Bookkeeping for businesses holding, trading or earning cryptocurrency across wallets and exchanges.
- Real estate and property managementBookkeeping for property owners and managers tracking income, expenses and reserves at the level of each individual property.
- ManufacturingBookkeeping for small and mid-size manufacturers tracking raw materials, work in process and finished goods inventory.
Next step
Talk to the team that would run your books
A short call covers your setup, your software and what a first month would look like. You get a written scope and price after it.