What is a Fractional CTO?
A Fractional CTO is an experienced technology executive who works with your company part-time—providing the strategic leadership of a CTO without the full-time salary.
Unlike consultants who deliver reports and leave, a Fractional CTO becomes part of your team—accountable for results, not just advice.
When Should You Hire a Fractional CTO?
A full-time CTO in the US costs $300K-500K+ annually with equity, benefits, and the time investment of a lengthy hiring process. A Fractional CTO gives you that same caliber of leadership at 20-40% of the cost, with the flexibility to scale up or down as your needs change.
Scaling Your Startup
When you're growing fast and need technical leadership to guide architecture decisions, team building, and product strategy.
Digital Transformation
When modernizing legacy systems, adopting cloud infrastructure, or building new digital products from scratch.
Team Leadership Gap
When your team needs mentorship, your developers need direction, or you're building a remote engineering team.
The common thread? You need someone who can own the technical vision—not just advise on it—but you're not ready to make a full-time hire.
Fractional CTO vs. Other Roles
The key difference: a Fractional CTO is embedded in your team and accountable for results, not just delivering advice or filling a temporary gap.
| Fractional | Consultant | Interim | Advisor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Embedded with team? | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| End date? | Usually not | Yes | Usually | No |
| Full-time? | Usually not | Maybe | Yes | No |
| Represents company? | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Leads team? | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Source: FractionalDefined.com
Want a deeper dive? Read my full comparison of Fractional CTO vs Consultant, or check out my case studies with US startups.
How Much Does a Fractional CTO Cost?
Pricing depends on experience, engagement level, and geography. Here are typical ranges:
Hourly or Daily Rates
Ideal for short-term needs or advisory roles, with rates typically ranging from $150 to $300 per hour, depending on experience and expertise.
Monthly Retainer
For ongoing support, companies may opt for a retainer, usually between $5,000 and $15,000 per month, based on engagement level.
Project-Based Pricing
For well-defined projects, a flat fee ensures cost predictability, with prices typically starting from $20,000 for specific deliverables.
In Europe, rates typically range from €100 to €250 per hour. In Latin America, experienced professionals charge $50 to $150 per hour—often with US education and work experience, and the added benefit of overlapping time zones with North American teams.
Not Sure If You Need a Fractional CTO?
Start with a technical assessment. I'll review your current situation and give you an honest recommendation—even if that means you don't need me.
- Review of your tech stack, architecture, and team structure
- Identify what's slowing you down and what's working well
- Concrete recommendations you can act on immediately
- Honest assessment of whether fractional leadership makes sense for you
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Fractional CTO actually do day-to-day?
A Fractional CTO splits time between strategic work (roadmap planning, architecture decisions, investor presentations) and hands-on leadership (code reviews, team mentoring, vendor evaluations). The exact mix depends on your needs—some clients need more strategy, others need someone in the trenches with their developers.
How many hours per week does a Fractional CTO work?
Typically 10-20 hours per week, though this varies by engagement. Some clients start with 8 hours/week for strategic guidance, others need 30+ hours during critical periods like launches or fundraising. The fractional model lets you scale up or down as needs change.
Can a Fractional CTO work with my existing technical team?
Absolutely—that's the most common scenario. A good Fractional CTO elevates your existing team by providing direction, mentorship, and removing blockers. They're not there to replace your developers but to help them ship better products faster.
What's the difference between a Fractional CTO and a VP of Engineering?
A CTO focuses on technology strategy, architecture, and external-facing responsibilities (investors, partners, technical due diligence). A VP of Engineering focuses on team management, delivery execution, and engineering processes. Many Fractional CTOs cover both roles for smaller companies.
How long do Fractional CTO engagements typically last?
Most engagements run 6-18 months. Some clients need help through a specific phase (fundraising, product launch, scaling) and then hire full-time. Others maintain the fractional relationship for years because it continues to provide value without the overhead of a full-time executive.
Will a Fractional CTO write code?
I do when it's the right tool for the job—architecture spikes, proof-of-concepts, debugging gnarly production issues, or unblocking the team. But my value isn't in churning out features; it's in making your whole team ship faster. If you need someone writing code 40 hours a week, you need a senior engineer, not a CTO.
How do I know if I need a Fractional CTO vs. hiring developers?
If your challenge is "we need more hands to build features," hire developers. If your challenge is "we're not sure what to build, how to architect it, or how to organize the team"—that's a leadership gap, not a capacity gap. A Fractional CTO addresses the latter.
Can a Fractional CTO help with fundraising?
Yes. Fractional CTOs regularly help with technical due diligence, investor presentations, and answering deep technical questions from VCs. Having experienced technical leadership on your team—even part-time—signals maturity to investors.
What happens when we're ready to hire a full-time CTO?
A good Fractional CTO helps you make that transition. They can define the role, help with the search, evaluate candidates, and ensure a smooth handoff. Some stay on in an advisory capacity; others step back entirely. The goal is always what's best for your company.
How do I evaluate if a Fractional CTO is the right fit?
Look for relevant industry experience, communication style that matches your culture, and references from similar-stage companies. Have them meet your team before committing. Most importantly: do they ask good questions about your business, or just talk about technology?