Fractional CTO
Fractional CTO cost, hours, and engagement
Cost
$15,000 to $25,000 a month
My fractional CTO retainer is $15,000 to $25,000 a month. It is month to month, with no long-term contract. The fee covers strategic work and hands-on work. A full-time CTO hire is $300K+ a year. This is that leadership on a part-time retainer.
Hours
10 to 25 hours a week
I work 10 to 25 hours a week. Early-stage startups might need 10 to 15 hours for strategic guidance. Companies in growth mode or crisis might need 20 to 25 hours for more hands-on involvement. I work with 2 to 3 companies at a time.
How an engagement runs
Discovery call
We start with a free 30-minute call. What's working, what's broken, and what you need in the next 6 to 12 months. I will tell you honestly if I can help.
Assessment week
If we are a fit, I spend the first week in the codebase, with the team, and on the process. I identify the highest-impact work and write a 90-day roadmap.
Ongoing partnership
I work as a part-time executive. Weekly 1:1s with you and your leads, the meetings that matter, architecture reviews, hiring support, and planning. I am in Slack, I am in the codebase, and I am accountable for results.
Most engagements run 6 to 12 months. Some companies use this as a bridge while they hire a full-time CTO. Others keep it. I can help define the role, screen candidates, and hand off when you are ready.
Common questions
How much does a fractional CTO cost?
My fractional CTO retainer is $15,000 to $25,000 a month. It is month to month, with no long-term contract. The fee covers strategic work and hands-on work.
How many hours a week does a fractional CTO work?
I work 10 to 25 hours a week. Early-stage startups might need 10 to 15 hours for strategic guidance. Companies in growth mode or crisis might need 20 to 25 hours for more hands-on involvement. I work with 2 to 3 companies at a time.
How does a fractional CTO engagement work?
We start with a free 30-minute call. If we are a fit, I spend the first week on the codebase, the team, and the processes, and I write a 90-day roadmap. After that I work as a part-time executive: weekly 1:1s, key meetings, architecture reviews, hiring support, and planning. I am in Slack and in the codebase. Most engagements run 6 to 12 months.
Want to know if this fits?
Book a free 30-minute call. I will tell you whether a fractional CTO engagement is the right move.
Schedule Free Consultation