LION Finance

What LION Finance does

LION Finance is a privately held Dutch financial services firm headquartered at Koninginnegracht 46 II in The Hague, founded in 2016 by professionals originating from PwC. The firm operates a fractional CFO model branded as CFO-to-Share, delivering part-time senior financial leadership to small and medium-sized enterprises (MKB) in the Netherlands that are too large to operate without financial expertise but too small to afford a full-time CFO or traditional top-tier accounting firm.

The core technology and service stack is built around Exact Online accounting software (recognized via Gouden Luca partnership awards in 2021 and 2025) and combines several modular offerings: CFO-to-Share as the anchor engagement, Cijfers-as-a-Service for foundational bookkeeping and reporting, Compliance for tax filings and annual statements, and a SWAT Team for cleaning up distressed administrations or preparing for transactions. Around this core, LION bundles a Specialisten-to-Share network covering HR, fiscal, legal, IT, and marketing expertise, with dedicated sub-brands for Marketeer-to-Share and HR-to-Share, and a Skin in the Game model that converts part of the fee into client equity in exceptional cases.

LION generates revenue primarily through recurring CFO retainers and professional services engagements priced for the SME segment, supplemented by occasional equity upside through Skin in the Game. Distribution is regional and direct, primarily serving clients in the Randstad region through on-site advisory visits, while top-of-funnel demand is generated via the 'De Leeuw Brult' podcast and an active content marketing program. The firm employs approximately 20 professionals, has been recognized as an FD Gazelle for three consecutive years, and is led by managing partner Marco Zevenbergen alongside partners Jeroen Rondeel and Max Kuijvenhoven.

Name

LION Finance

Legal name

Lion Finance

Website

https://lion-finance.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LION Finance is a The Hague-based financial services firm founded in 2016 that provides fractional CFO services, compliance, and specialist advisory to Dutch SME entrepreneurs through its proprietary CFO-to-Share model, Exact Online-integrated accounting, and a Skin in the Game equity-aligned engagement option.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fractional CFO & SME Financial Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fairness Opinions & Independent Board Advice (FSAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Fractional CFO services
• SME financial advisory
• Accounting compliance services
• Business recovery consulting
• Tax filing services

Headquarters

HQ city

The Hague

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. CFOtoShare Retainer: Part-time CFO services provided to SME entrepreneurs on a retainer basis, offering strategic financial leadership, compliance support, and advisory services at costs suitable for SMEs.
2. Compliance Services: Administrative services including financial administration optimization, tax filings (BTW, VPB, LH, IB), and annual report preparation and filing.
3. Skin in the Game Equity: In exceptional cases, LION converts a portion of fees into equity stakes in client companies, creating mutual investment in growth outcomes.
4. Specialisten-to-Share: Access to network of HR, fiscal, legal, IT, marketing specialists on an as-needed basis, integrated with the CFOtoShare service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LION Finance delivers part-time CFO expertise to Dutch SME (MKB) entrepreneurs through its proprietary CFOtoShare model on a retainer basis. The offering combines strategic financial leadership, foundational accounting (Cijfers-as-a-Service), compliance and tax filing services, business recovery via a dedicated SWAT Team, and access to a network of HR, fiscal, legal, IT and marketing specialists (Specialisten-to-Share). Complementary offerings include Marketeer-to-Share for integrated marketing support and an optional Skin in the Game equity partnership for exceptional growth situations.

Product overview

LION Finance operates as a next-generation financial services provider offering a unified CFO-to-Share concept for SMB entrepreneurs. The core offering combines part-time CFO expertise (CFO-to-Share) with complementary service modules: Cijfers-as-a-Service for foundational accounting, Compliance for tax and regulatory work, and SWAT Team for administrative cleanup and business recovery. The offering extends through Specialisten-to-Share (network of HR, fiscal, legal, IT, marketing experts) and Marketeer-to-Share for integrated marketing support. In exceptional cases, Skin in the Game enables LION to take equity stakes in client companies. Together these services form a one-stop-shop delivering 'Rust, Resultaat en Rendement' (Peace of Mind, Results, and Returns) for MKB businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CFO-to-Share: Part-time CFO services for SMB enterprises providing strategic financial guidance, cashflow management, and growth support.
• Marketeer-to-Share
• HR-to-Share
• Skin in the Game
• SWAT Team
• De Leeuw Brult

Products and services

• CFO-to-Share Part-time, retainer-based CFO service for Dutch SME (MKB) entrepreneurs, delivering strategic guidance on growth, cashflow, financing, and value creation, functioning as a financial partner who thinks alongside, participates in, and stands beside the entrepreneur.
• Cijfers-as-a-Service Foundational accounting service providing accurate, complete, and current financial figures, serving as the data backbone for forward-looking business planning and CFOtoShare advisory.
• Compliance Administrative optimization and Dutch tax filing services covering BTW (VAT), VPB (corporate tax), LH (payroll), IB (income tax), and preparation and filing of annual financial statements for SME clients.
• SWAT Team Specialist intervention team for cleaning contaminated administrations, restoring disrupted processes, properly implementing systems, and preparing businesses for share sales, transfers, or turnaround situations.
• Specialisten-to-Share On-demand network of vetted specialists covering HR, fiscal, legal, IT, and marketing expertise, accessed through the CFOtoShare relationship so SMEs obtain all required expertise via a single partner.
• Marketeer-to-Share Flexible, tailored marketing expertise for growing SMEs, including campaign setup, professional imagery, content management, and strategic event networking, delivered alongside the CFOtoShare engagement.
• Skin in the Game Strategic partnership model in which LION converts part of its advisory fee into an equity stake in exceptional growth situations, becoming financially involved and participating in strategic decision-making alongside the entrepreneur.

Quantifiable outcome

• €16 million growth capital raised for Urban Gym Group through strategic CFO support
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Exact OnlinecoreTechnology or Integration · 31 December 2021LION Finance uses Exact Online accounting software for client financial administration. They were awarded Gouden Luca 2021 and 2025 by Exact Online for excellent partnership. This integration enables automated financial processes allowing LION to focus on working with figures rather than processing them.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Oaklins: Global M&A advisory firm with a Dutch presence. Adjacent peer relevant to LION's M&A support, growth-capital advisory and Skin in the Game equity participation activities.

Broad incumbents

• BDO Nederland: Major Dutch accounting and advisory network within the global BDO alliance. Overlaps with LION in SME tax, compliance and advisory services, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Mazars Nederland: International accounting and advisory firm with a Dutch practice serving SMEs and mid-market companies. Competes with LION in financial advisory, tax and compliance engagements, but as part of a global full-service portfolio.

Direct peers

• Twynstra Gudde: Leading Dutch management consulting firm advising on strategy, finance and organizational change. Comparable in providing high-end strategic and financial advisory to Dutch organizations, though serving a broader client mix.
• HeadFirst Group: Major Dutch interim management provider with a strong finance professional placement practice. Comparable in providing senior finance talent to organizations on a flexible basis, though structured around interim placement rather than ongoing advisory.
• Credion: Dutch business financing intermediary connecting SMEs with banks, investors and alternative lenders. Overlaps with LION's growth-capital facilitation and Skin in the Game equity participation activities.
• The Finance Bar: Netherlands-based fractional CFO and finance-as-a-service provider serving SMEs. Directly comparable to LION in delivery model, target customer and 'subscription CFO' positioning.
• CFO Centrum: Dutch firm specializing in fractional and interim CFO services for SME/MKB entrepreneurs. Closest direct peer to LION's CFOtoShare model, targeting the same underserved Dutch SME segment with comparable service packaging.
• 2-Control: Dutch financial advisory firm offering finance leadership and controller services to SMEs. Competes with LION in the same fractional finance/customer space in the Netherlands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/preload/?_bprMode=vanilla

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LION Finance