Founding GTM Lead
Build your Go-to-Market engine from zero with experienced early-stage leadership
Key Takeaways
- 1Fractional CFOs work 1-3 days per week, providing senior expertise without full-time costs
- 2UK day rates range from £800 to £1500, depending on experience and sector
- 3Typical engagements save 50-70% compared to full-time executive hires
- 4Ideal for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs needing strategic leadership
- 5No employment overhead: no pension, NI, benefits, or notice periods
What is a Founding GTM Lead?
Quick Definition
A Founding GTM Lead is an early-stage go-to-market executive who joins a startup to build the revenue function from scratch. They combine strategic vision with hands-on execution, often as the first dedicated GTM hire, working closely with founders to establish product-market fit and build the first sales motions.
Founding GTM Leads are critical hires for venture-backed startups transitioning from founder-led sales to a scalable revenue function. They bring startup experience and are comfortable with ambiguity, wearing multiple hats while building the foundation for growth.
Founding vs Fractional GTM
Founding GTM Leads are typically full-time employees with significant equity, joining the founding team. Fractional GTM Leads work part-time, often for multiple companies. Choose Founding when you need full commitment and can offer meaningful equity. Choose Fractional when you need senior expertise but are not ready for a full-time hire.
Cost Comparison
Fractional vs Full-Time Executive
Your Potential Savings
£180k+
Time Allocation
How fractional executives spend their time
UK Fractional Executive Day Rates
Compare day rates across C-suite roles
Fractional vs Interim vs Full-Time
Choose the right engagement model
| Aspect | Fractional | Interim | Full-Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Commitment | 1-3 days/week | 4-5 days/week | 5 days/week |
| Duration | Ongoing/flexible | 3-12 months | Permanent |
| Annual Cost | £50-150k | £150-300k | £200-400k+ |
| Best For | SMEs, startups, scale-ups | Crisis, transitions | Large enterprises |
| Flexibility | ★★★ High | ★★☆ Medium | ★☆☆ Low |
Costs are indicative UK market rates. Actual costs vary by role, experience, and sector.
Calculate Your Day Rate
Calculate Your Potential Income
Based on 2.5 days/week x 2 clients x 48 working weeks. CFO UK average day rate: £1000.
BetaThis calculator provides rough estimates for illustration only. Actual rates and salaries vary based on location, experience, industry, and market conditions.
Related Executive Roles
Complementary leadership for your organisation
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know
Typically at Seed or Series A stage, when you have initial product-market fit signals and want to build a repeatable, scalable sales motion. Earlier stage, founders should lead sales themselves to understand customers deeply. Later stage (Series B+), you might hire a VP Sales or CRO with team management experience instead.
Industry Resources & Authority Links
Resource
Industry resource
www.scaleupinstitute.org.uk
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Industry resource
technation.io
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Industry resource
www.british-business-bank.co.uk
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Industry resource
www.ismprofessional.com
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Industry resource
www.saastr.com
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Industry resource
www.seedlegals.com
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Industry resource
www.managers.org.uk
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Industry resource
www.gov.uk
Related Pages
The Fractional Executive Trend
Industry data on the rise of fractional leadership
of executives who moved to fractional work report higher job satisfaction
Source: Harvard Business Review ↗Platform Stats
Founder's background
📊 Exec Market Snapshot
💰 Exec Day Rates
Based on 2026 market data for UK Exec roles.
