FAQ
Common questions.
Honest answers.
Everything you need to know about how Waves Fractional works — for businesses and CPA consultants alike. We'd rather you ask now than wonder later.
For Businesses
Questions from business owners.
Waves Fractional is a technology platform that connects businesses with
independently licensed consultants. We are not a CPA firm and do not provide accounting,
tax, or advisory services. Think of us the way you'd think of Uber — we don't drive you
anywhere, we connect you to a licensed driver who does. We connect you to an independently
licensed consultant who advises your business on their own professional license.
No. Waves Fractional is not a CPA firm and does not hold a CPA firm license in
any jurisdiction. We are a technology platform. Every consultant on the platform is an
independent contractor operating under their own individual CPA license. They are not employees,
agents, or representatives of Waves Fractional. Waves Fractional does not supervise, direct, or
take professional responsibility for the work of any consultant on the platform.
It's free to create a business profile and post a contract opportunity. You pay
nothing until you've selected a consultant, held your free 30-minute scoping call, and decided
to move forward with a Statement of Work. There are no monthly platform fees for businesses.
The free 30-minute scoping call happens after you've posted a contract, reviewed
applicants, and selected a consultant you'd like to speak with. During the call, you and the
consultant discuss your specific needs, their approach, their relevant experience, and whether
there's a good fit. There's no obligation on either side. If it's not the right fit, you can
move on to another applicant at no cost.
Every consultant on the platform must provide proof of an active CPA license
and meet a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience before being approved. Waves Fractional
verifies license status before approval. Consultants are assigned to one of three experience
tiers based on their background. You see each consultant's tier, experience summary, and hourly
rate on their profile before your scoping call.
consultants on Waves Fractional specialize in internal finance and advisory
services: fractional CFO leadership, fractional controller services, FP&A and cash flow
management, financial cleanup and systems (QuickBooks, NetSuite), interim financial leadership,
and financial reporting and advisory. The platform does not facilitate external tax filing, tax
return preparation, or external audit/attestation services.
Fixed fees create the wrong incentive structure for the client. When a consultant
earns the same regardless of hours spent, they're quietly rewarded for doing less. Hourly
billing aligns consultant incentives with your outcomes — they earn more by doing more for you.
We also believe it's more transparent. You pay for exactly what you get, and you can see every
hour tracked in the platform in real time.
Yes. Engagements on the platform range from 1 to 40 hours per week. You define
the expected weekly hours when you post your contract. This flexibility is one of the core
advantages of the fractional model — you get the level of support you need, scaled to exactly
what your business requires at any given stage.
For consultants
Questions from CPAs considering the platform.
Apply through the CPA registration page on the platform. You'll need to
provide proof of your active CPA license and a summary of your professional experience. If
approved, you'll be assigned to an experience tier and can begin browsing and applying to
posted contracts. There is no fee to join the platform. You operate as an independent
contractor — you choose every engagement you take on.
No. Waves Fractional does not facilitate external tax filing, tax return
preparation, or external audit or attestation engagements. All work on the platform is
internal finance and advisory in nature. consultants on the platform may use their tax
and audit knowledge to inform their advisory work, but the platform is not designed or
intended for external compliance engagements.
Platform & Legal
Questions about how the platform operates.
No. Waves Fractional is not a CPA firm and does not hold a CPA firm license
in any jurisdiction. We are a technology platform. Every consultant on the platform is
an independent contractor operating under their own individual CPA license. They are not
employees, agents, or representatives of Waves Fractional. Waves Fractional does not
supervise, direct, or take professional responsibility for the work of any consultant on the
platform.
All payments flow through Waves Fractional. You pay the platform — not the
consultant directly. Waves Fractional processes payments and remits earnings to the
consultant. This protects both parties and keeps the transaction fully documented. Waves
Fractional handles 1099 reporting for all consultants at year-end, so there's no additional
paperwork on your end.
Since all payments flow through the platform and are tied to your Statement
of Work, you have leverage at every billing cycle. If expectations aren't being met, you can
initiate a change order, pause the engagement, or raise a dispute with the platform team
before the next payment processes. Your satisfaction with the engagement matters — and the
structure of the platform is designed to protect you throughout.
Yes. Every consultant on the platform operates under professional
confidentiality obligations tied to their CPA license — obligations that carry real legal
and regulatory consequences. Your Statement of Work also includes confidentiality
provisions. The accountability is personal and professional — which is a stronger protection
than most institutional firm arrangements.
Waves Fractional connects businesses in a wide range of industries with CPA
consultants who have sector-specific experience — including SaaS and technology, real
estate, healthcare and medical practices, professional services, e-commerce and retail,
manufacturing and distribution, nonprofit organizations, construction and contracting, and
more. When you post a contract, you can see each applicant's industry experience background
before selecting who to speak with.
Have a question we didn't answer?
Reach out directly. We'll respond within one business day.
Contact UsReady to get started?
Create your free business profile and post your first contract. Or, if you're a licensed CPA, apply to join the network.