Operate stage · Three tiers, $5k to $35k/month
RoboCFO Operations Retainer
Ongoing AI operations, governance, and use case expansion for finance teams in production.
Three tiers calibrated to scale. Essentials for small finance teams running one use case. Standard for mid-cap teams running two to four use cases. Embedded for enterprise finance orgs running a full AI program with named workstream leads and dedicated capacity. Pick the tier that matches where your AI footprint actually is, not where you hope it will be in two quarters.
Best for
Who this is for
Any finance team running AI capabilities in production that needs ongoing tuning, governance updates, vendor evaluations, and use case development. The retainer is where the value of the earlier engagements compounds.
If you don't have AI in production yet, a Pilot is the right entry point. The retainer assumes you have something to operate.
Tier comparison
At a glance
Detailed breakdowns of each tier follow.
Essentials Starting at $5k/month | Standard Starting at $15k/month | Embedded Starting at $35k/month | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small finance teams (under 25), single AI use case | Mid-cap finance teams (25 to 100), two to four use cases | Enterprise finance orgs (100+), multi-workstream AI program |
| Cadence | Quarterly working session, monthly async | Monthly working session, biweekly async | Weekly cadence, named workstream leads, dedicated capacity |
| Use cases under management | 1 | 2 to 4 | Multi-workstream program |
| Governance | Updates as policies change | Quarterly governance refresh | Continuous governance with regulated-industry support |
| Use case expansion | Quarterly review and recommendation | One use case expansion per quarter | Continuous pipeline |
| Reporting | Quarterly summary | Monthly summary plus quarterly review | Board-ready quarterly reports |
| Starting price | $5k/month | $15k/month | $35k/month |
Essentials
Starting at $5k/month
- Best for
- Small finance teams (under 25), single AI use case
- Cadence
- Quarterly working session, monthly async
- Use cases under management
- 1
- Governance
- Updates as policies change
- Use case expansion
- Quarterly review and recommendation
- Reporting
- Quarterly summary
- Starting price
- $5k/month
Standard
Starting at $15k/month
- Best for
- Mid-cap finance teams (25 to 100), two to four use cases
- Cadence
- Monthly working session, biweekly async
- Use cases under management
- 2 to 4
- Governance
- Quarterly governance refresh
- Use case expansion
- One use case expansion per quarter
- Reporting
- Monthly summary plus quarterly review
- Starting price
- $15k/month
Embedded
Starting at $35k/month
- Best for
- Enterprise finance orgs (100+), multi-workstream AI program
- Cadence
- Weekly cadence, named workstream leads, dedicated capacity
- Use cases under management
- Multi-workstream program
- Governance
- Continuous governance with regulated-industry support
- Use case expansion
- Continuous pipeline
- Reporting
- Board-ready quarterly reports
- Starting price
- $35k/month
Tier detail
What each tier includes
Essentials
Starting at $5k/month
Best for: Small finance teams (under 25) running their first AI capability in production.
What's included:
- Quarterly working session with finance leadership (90 minutes, typically virtual)
- Monthly async check-in via email or Slack
- Model tuning and performance monitoring on the live capability
- Governance updates as policy frameworks or regulations change
- Quarterly use case review with directional recommendation for the next move
- On-demand questions within reason (typical buyer asks 2 to 4 times per month)
Pairs naturally with: Sprint outcomes that did not require Pilot follow-on, single-Pilot deployments that need light operational support, Governance Pack outcomes that need ongoing maintenance.
Standard
Starting at $15k/month
Best for: Mid-cap finance teams (25 to 100) running two to four AI use cases in production.
Everything in Essentials, plus:
- Monthly working session with finance leadership and use case owners
- Biweekly async cadence
- One use case expansion per quarter, scoped within retainer hours (additional expansions billed as small projects)
- Audit support and documentation maintenance
- Vendor reviews as new tools enter the stack
- Quarterly governance framework refresh
Pairs naturally with: Pilot outcomes that need ongoing tuning and use case expansion, Governance Pack outcomes for teams running multiple AI capabilities, post-Academy continuation as the team adopts AI more broadly.
Embedded
Starting at $35k/month
Best for: Enterprise finance orgs (100+) running a multi-workstream AI program. The default landing tier for engagements transitioning out of a RoboCFO Transformation: the embedded delivery team that ran the Transformation continues into ongoing program management, named workstream leads stay in place, and the cadence carries through without a handoff gap.
Everything in Standard, plus:
- Weekly cadence with named workstream leads embedded in your finance organization
- Dedicated capacity from the implementation team for ongoing build and integration work
- Multi-workstream coordination across finance functions
- Board-ready quarterly reporting formatted for audit committee or board distribution
- Regulated-industry compliance support (SOX, banking, insurance, public company reporting)
- Continuous use case development pipeline with quarterly prioritization
Pairs naturally with: Transformation outcomes (this is the default landing tier post-Transformation), large-scale Pilot deployments that need ongoing program management, PE portfolio company finance teams running coordinated AI programs.
How we deliver Embedded
Embedded is delivered by the same multi-disciplinary team that runs Pilots and Transformations: finance technologists, data engineers, and AI specialists, with named workstream leads operating inside your finance organization on a weekly cadence. Glenn Hopper stays in the executive seat for quarterly reviews and board-level reporting; the workstream leads handle day-to-day operations, build, tuning, and governance.
The Embedded tier is what makes RoboCFO defensible at enterprise scale. Buyers comparing this against an internal hire or a Big 4 retainer get a senior practitioner team with finance-specific depth, AI implementation experience, and skin in the game on outcomes, without the enterprise overhead of a Big 4 SOW.
How it runs
Monthly recurring, quarterly tier changes
The retainer is monthly recurring. There is no minimum commitment, but most engagements run 12-month terms because the value compounds over time.
Each tier has a defined cadence and a clear scope of what's included. We track time and deliverables transparently; if you're consistently using less than your tier supports, we'll suggest moving down. If you're consistently bumping against scope limits, we'll suggest moving up.
Tier changes happen at quarter boundaries with 30 days' notice in either direction. We handle the transition (capacity adjustment, named lead changes if needed, scope shift) without disruption to the live capabilities.
What you bring
What we need from your team
Inputs vary slightly by tier, but the core is consistent.
- Internal point person for the relationship (typically a Controller for Essentials, FP&A or finance ops lead for Standard, finance program manager for Embedded).
- AI use cases in production or moving toward production within the first quarter.
- Existing governance baseline or willingness to build it during the engagement (the Governance Pack is a common parallel engagement for clients arriving without one).
- Tool stack documentation so we can support the actual environment your capabilities run in.
- Cadence commitment matching the tier you're on (quarterly for Essentials, monthly for Standard, weekly for Embedded).
How we know it worked
Outcomes that compound
The retainer is judged on outcomes that compound over time, not deliverables on a checklist.
- Use cases stable in production with no drift, no broken integrations, no quiet adoption decline.
- Governance current and reflective of your actual practice, not a stale document.
- Team capability growing through the working sessions and exposure to ongoing decisions.
- ROI continuing to compound through use case expansion and tuning.
- Tier upgrade conversations happening as your AI footprint grows, signaling that the program is working.
We review explicitly at quarterly intervals, with both parties able to adjust tier or end the engagement.
Where this fits on the spectrum
Before and after the retainer
Starts with
The closing milestone of any Build-stage engagement (Pilot or Transformation), or any post-Diagnose engagement (Sprint, Governance Pack, Academy) where the team needs ongoing support after the engagement closes.
Leads to
Tier upgrade as the AI footprint grows, or expansion engagements (additional Pilots, second Transformation phase, refresh Academy cohorts). The retainer is rarely a terminus; it's the ongoing relationship that produces the next engagement.
FAQ
Common questions
How do we choose between tiers?
Three questions decide it. First, how many AI use cases do you have running in production? One means Essentials, two to four means Standard, multi-workstream program means Embedded. Second, what cadence do you actually need? Quarterly for Essentials, monthly for Standard, weekly for Embedded. Third, what does your finance org look like? Under 25 people typically Essentials, 25 to 100 typically Standard, 100+ typically Embedded. The three usually align.
Can we move between tiers?
Yes, at quarter boundaries with 30 days' notice. Up or down. Most clients move up over time as their AI footprint grows. A few move down after a peak transformation period when the program stabilizes into lighter ongoing maintenance.
What's the minimum commitment?
Monthly recurring with no minimum, but most engagements run 12-month terms. Shorter than that and the value of the cadence does not compound; longer than that without quarterly check-ins and the engagement risks drifting from real needs.
What if we just want occasional advisory, not ongoing?
Then a retainer is not the right shape. Occasional advisory is better handled as scope-defined engagements (Sprint, Governance Pack, or one-off project work). The retainer assumes ongoing live capabilities that benefit from regular touch.
Is this priced per tier flat or per use case?
Tier flat with use case scope built in. Essentials covers one capability. Standard covers two to four. Embedded covers a multi-workstream program. We do not nickel-and-dime by use case within the tier; we move tiers when scope genuinely shifts.
Do we get one named contact?
Yes. Essentials and Standard have a named retainer lead. Embedded has named workstream leads (one per workstream, not one per retainer). The lead is a known person, not a rotating account manager.
What if we don't have anyone yet to be the internal point person?
Common situation. We can structure the early months of the retainer to help identify and onboard the right person from your team. The retainer cadence makes this kind of capability building natural.
Can we pause the retainer?
Yes, with 30 days' notice. Common reasons: budget cycles, organizational change, leadership transition, or a deliberate pause between phases of a larger initiative. We unpause smoothly when the time comes.
What happens if we cancel?
30 days' notice in either direction. We hand off cleanly: documentation is current, the steward or workstream leads have what they need, and we're available for follow-up questions for 60 days post-engagement at no charge. We do not lock you in.
Ready for the engagement that runs in the background?
Schedule a 30-minute scoping call. We'll talk through your AI footprint, your team, and which tier fits today (and which tier you'll likely grow into). The retainer is structured so you can change your mind quarterly without disruption.
Explore other engagements
Other stages on the spectrum
RoboCFO Sprint
$15k–$25k·3–4 weeks
Directional read on AI maturity and 90-day path
RoboCFO Governance Pack
$25k–$45k·4–6 weeks
Defensible AI policy, vendor review, rollout plan
RoboCFO Academy
Starting at $30k·8 weeks
Cohort program for finance teams, two tiers
RoboCFO Pilot
Starting at $60k·8–12 weeks
Ship one AI use case end-to-end with measured ROI
RoboCFO Transformation
Starting at $500k·6–18 months
Multi-workstream AI program for finance at scale
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