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- Departure of CFO (new) — The appointment of a new CFO implies the departure or absence of a prior CFO, though no explicit departure details are provided in this filing.
Laser Photonics hires fractional CFO on six-month contract at $22,500/month
Filed May 12, 2026 · Period ending May 7, 2026 · ~1 min read
Key Changes
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high
Roman Franklin appointed CFO through The CFO Portal LLC on a six-month initial term with month-to-month renewal thereafter, either party can terminate with 30 days notice—less stability than traditional executive employment.
Item 5.02 verify on EDGAR → -
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Base compensation is $22,500/month ($270K annualized), but capital raises, SEC filings, M&A work, restatements, and enforcement matters will be billed separately at additional fixed fees—total costs could spike during active periods.
Item 5.02 verify on EDGAR → -
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Franklin founded The CFO Portal in September 2025 and specializes in fractional CFO services for microcap companies; has experience with SEC reporting, material weakness remediation, and capital markets transactions.
Item 5.02 verify on EDGAR → -
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Company retains option to convert Franklin to full-time CFO on mutually agreed terms, suggesting this may be a trial or transitional arrangement rather than permanent leadership.
Item 5.02 verify on EDGAR →
Summary
Laser Photonics has hired Roman Franklin as CFO through an unconventional fractional services arrangement rather than traditional full-time employment. Franklin will work through his firm The CFO Portal LLC on a six-month initial contract that converts to month-to-month renewal, with either party able to exit on 30 days notice.
The base fee is $22,500 monthly, but significant corporate events like capital raises, SEC filings, M&A activity, or restatements will trigger additional charges. This structure is unusual for a public company CFO role and may signal cost management priorities or uncertainty about long-term needs.
Franklin founded The CFO Portal just eight months ago and specializes in serving microcap companies with SEC compliance and capital markets readiness. While his background includes CFO experience at a public esports company, the short-term nature of this engagement and variable cost structure create less executive stability than investors typically expect. Retail holders should watch whether this arrangement converts to permanent employment or whether the company cycles through additional fractional executives. The filing doesn't explain what happened to the prior CFO, and the lack of long-term commitment could signal financial constraints or ongoing transition. Pay attention to whether upcoming filings show additional fees beyond the base retainer.
Section-by-Section Diff
Event · Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Compensation
Item 5.02 — Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Compensation filed; see Key Changes for terms.
Added in current filing · verify on EDGAR →
On May 7, 2026, the registrant (“Laser Photonics” or the “Company”) appointed Roman Franklin to serve as its Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer under the terms of a Master Services Agreement (the “MSA”) between the Company and The CFO Portal, LLC, a Florida limited liability company specializing in fractional Chief Financial Officer services for microcap public companies and private companies preparing for public markets (the “MSA”).
Laser Photonics hired Roman Franklin as CFO through a fractional services arrangement with The CFO Portal, LLC rather than as a traditional full-time employee. This is a six-month initial term with month-to-month renewal thereafter. The fractional CFO model is less common for public companies and may signal cost management or transitional leadership.
Added in current filing · verify on EDGAR →
Mr. Franklin, age 42, has more than 20 years of experience in finance and operations leadership in several public and private companies. Since September 2025, Mr. Franklin has served as Chief Executive Officer of The CFO Portal, LLC, where he leads engagements covering SEC reporting (Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K), material weakness remediation, SEC comment letter response, audit management and capital markets readiness, including S-1 preparation, Regulation A+ offerings, and reverse merger integration.
The new CFO founded The CFO Portal in 2025 and has experience with SEC reporting, material weakness remediation, and capital markets transactions. His background includes serving as CFO of a public company (Simplicity Esports) from 2017-2023 and currently serving as CFO of a religious non-profit managing over $100 million in assets.
Added in current filing · verify on EDGAR →
Under the terms of the MSA, Mr. Franklin is engaged to serve as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and the Principal Financial Officer (the “Services”) for an initial six month term that automatically renews on a month-to-month basis unless either party provides a written notice of non-renewal 30 days prior to the end of the then-current term. Either party can terminate the MSA following 30 days prior notice or for cause.
The CFO arrangement is short-term with a six-month initial commitment followed by month-to-month renewal, and either party can terminate with 30 days notice. This provides flexibility but less stability than a traditional multi-year employment agreement with severance protections.
Event · Item 7.01 — Regulation FD Disclosure
Laser Photonics appointed Mr. Franklin as Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer effective May 7, 2026.
Added in current filing · verify on EDGAR →
Laser Photonics issued a press release on May 12, 2026, regarding the appointment of Mr. Franklin as Chief Financial Officer and Principal Financial Officer
The company appointed Mr. Franklin to the CFO role, responsible for financial reporting and principal financial officer duties. This is a key leadership position overseeing the company's financial operations and SEC reporting obligations.
Event · Item 9.01 — Financial Statements and Exhibits
Laser Photonics entered a Master Services Agreement with Roman Franklin on May 7, 2026.
Added in current filing · verify on EDGAR →
Master Services Agreement dated May 7, 2026, between Laser Photonics Corporation and Roman Franklin
The company entered into a Master Services Agreement with Roman Franklin on May 7, 2026. The 8-K does not provide details about the nature of services, financial terms, or strategic rationale. The agreement is material enough to warrant an 8-K filing and press release.
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Figures/quotes linked to EDGAR · Narrative written by AI · Jun 1, 2026 · How we verify